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#BS-1989-DODCOL-791B

1989 Dodge ColtProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 37 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
37
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Recalls
1
TSBs
4
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 37 complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine runs roughly

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Seat Belts:front:buckle AssemblyHIGH

14 owners reported seat belts:front:buckle assembly issues.

!Inspect the Seat BeltsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly (14 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly14 (38%)
Seat Belts8 (22%)
Speed Control3 (8%)
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights2 (5%)
Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers1 (3%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine1 (3%)
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner1 (3%)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights1 (3%)

1989 Dodge Colt: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly Issues

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly complaints account for 38% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Colt, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Seat Belts Issues

Seat Belts complaints account for 22% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Colt, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Colt, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Exterior Lighting:tail Lights Issues

Exterior Lighting:tail Lights complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Colt, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:tail lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

95V103003Dec 1995

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (3)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA96014ClosedOpened Jun 1996 · closed Jun 1997

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

SEAT BELTS

PE94093ClosedOpened Dec 1994 · closed Aug 1995

TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL

SEAT BELTS

PE96007ClosedOpened Jan 1996 · closed Jun 1996

AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

SEAT BELTS

The worst model year for the Dodge Colt is the 1993 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is fuel system.

1989 Dodge Colt vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

37

Class avg

25

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other subcompact cars vehicles from 1989.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 37 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Dodge Colt Model Years

19941993199219911990198919881987198619841983198219801978197719761971
View all Dodge Colt years →

1989 Dodge Colt: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1989 Dodge Colt?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1989 Dodge Colt is related to the seat belts:front:buckle assembly, with 14 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1989 Dodge Colt reliable?
The 1989 Dodge Colt has 37 complaints, 2 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1989 Dodge Colt problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1989 Dodge Colt have any recalls?
Yes, the 1989 Dodge Colt has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Colt problems start?
Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.
When was the 1989 Dodge Colt data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 37 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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