1987 Dodge COLT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 19 complaints (47.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 4; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10044237 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN A 5" CHUNK OF TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE AND EXPOSED THE STEEL BELTS IN THE TIRE. THE AIR STARTED TO LEAK OUT. *AK SOME TIME AFTER THE TREAD SEPARATED THE TIRE STARTED TO LOSE AIR. THE TREAD WEAR PATTERN INDICATED THAT THE TIRE MAY HAVE BEEN "SOMEWHAT" UNDER-INFLATED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY SO AND NOT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE TIRE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH THE PROBLEM. THE TIRE MODEL HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. (CORDOVAN GRAND PRIX RADIAL G/T) *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481673 · 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO LATCH. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485473 · 1995-06-20 (June 20, 1995)
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS TO LATCH.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506289 · 1996-07-09 (July 9, 1996)
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719136 · 2000-02-23 (February 23, 2000)
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE THROUGH VENTS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD OF CARBON MONOXIDE FOR THOSE INSIDE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 743602 · 2001-04-06 (April 6, 2001)
HELLO!I PURCHASED THIS 1987 DODGE COLT VISTA WAGON USED IN 1999 AND INITIALLY WHEN PURCHASED THE AUTO/TRANSMISSION FLOATED OUT OF GEAR IN A BUSY AREA AND WOULD NOT MOVE,UNTIL I PLAYED WITH THE LEVER,AND FINALLY IT JUMPED INTO GEAR.IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I MUST SIT IN CAR AT AN IDLE AT LEAST 5MINUTES BEFORE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK!SECOND PROBLEM IS MANIFOLD IS LEAKING AND ALSO MOTOR OIL IS LEAKING UNTO MANIFOLD AND CAUSES A LOT OF SMOKE UNDER ENGINE AND OUT THE EXHAUST.I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RECALLS ALREADY ON SOME MODELS OF THE 1987 DOD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960185 · 1995-02-17 (February 17, 1995)
SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK IN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960712 · 1995-02-27 (February 27, 1995)
PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT JAMMED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960712 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V103003 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗