1993 Dodge COLT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
108,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 54 complaints (48.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
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 | 26 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 13 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 7 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
Seat Belts: 26; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 13; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 7; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 51 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 | 15 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 15; 2000: 9; 2001: 9; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10048291 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE CABLE CORD CAME LOOSE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE CABLE CORD WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY SEAT BELT REPAIRS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED BACK IN 1997. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157541 · 2006-05-15 (May 15, 2006)
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS FOR MY 1993 DODGE COLT IN 1997. I HAD THEM FIXED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT THEY FAILED AGAIN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SLIDE FOR THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS AND IT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. I AM AFRAID TO USE MY CAR, AFRAID WE'LL DIE IN A CRASH. PLEASE GET THE MANUFACTURER TO RECALL THIS AGAIN OR AT LEAST ALLOW ME ANOTHER "FIX" SO THAT WE CAN BE SAFE. TIA. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446063 · 2012-01-31 (January 31, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE COLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CABLE WAS CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,194 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,194 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487431 · 1995-09-21 (September 21, 1995)
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561793 · 2001-06-27 (June 27, 2001)
SEAT BELT IS RAVELING, CONSUMER HAD RECALL 97V073002 COMPLETED REGARDING THE GUIDE RAIL. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563593 · 2001-10-03 (October 3, 2001)
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS ON RECALL AND FIXED, AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TRACK FELL APART. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718304 · 2000-02-04 (February 4, 2000)
THE DRIVER'SIDE SHOULDER BELT WAS REPLACED THROUGH RECALL IN 1997. IT HAD ORIGINALLY FAILED SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT. AT THAT TIME, I REQUESTED THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT ALSO BE REPLACED, BUT DEALER INFORMED ME IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. SINCE THEN, THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAD FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, IN THAT IT FAILED TO RETRACT AS DESIGNED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I COULD OFTEN MAKE IT DEPLOY BY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR AND "TIMING" THE IGNITION JUST RIGHT--BUT THIS DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK. FINALLY, IT FAILED COMPLETELY; I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726051 · 2000-07-26 (July 26, 2000)
MY COLT FIRST HAD TROUBLES WITH THE SEATBELT IN 1996. THA AUTOMATIC BELTS WOULD GET STUCK OR NOT MOVE EITHER FORWARD OR BACK. IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I GOT THE RECALL IN JAN1998 IT AGAIN WENT IN AFTER JUST STARTING TROUBLE AGAIN. NOW IN 2000 THEDRIVER SIDE HAS DONE IT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN FIXED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726051 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V063002 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Reported: 1997-05-12 (May 12, 1997)
EXCESS LUBRICATION CAN CAUSE THE RUBBER DOOR LATCH SWITCH COVER TO DEFORM, AND THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH TO MALFUNCTION, SO THAT THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH WITH A SWITCH THAT UTILIZES REDUCED LUBRICATING GREASE, IMPROVED CONTACT SURFACE, AND A DIFFERENT RUBBER ISOLATION BOOT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V073002 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1997-05-12 (May 12, 1997)
THE GUIDE RAIL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTAINS A COVERED CABLE AND ALSO AN ANGLED BELT GUIDE AT THE TOP END OF THE WEBBING. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS CAN LEAD, OVER TIME, TO THE CABLE'S MOVEMENT EXERTING ABRADING FORCE TO THE LOWER EDGES OF THE CABLE'S CHAMBER, SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE CABLE TO DROP OUT OF THE CHAMBER WITH THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE BECOMING STUCK.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT GUIDE RAIL THAT INCORPORATES A DOUBLE LIP DUST SEAL AND AN ANODIC OXIDE COATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗