1991 Dodge Shadow America

Summary:

A good first car,. but not reliable in the end

Faults:

Hmmm...

When I received it at 50000 miles, the shocks and struts needed to be replaced.

Thermostat replaced at 58,920.

Thermostat replaced at 61,190.

Thermostat and radiator replaced at 64,000.

Brakes and Rotors, 69,000.

Fuel tank strap, 71,000

Exhaust needs replaced.

Muffler needs replaced.

Alarmingly loud

Engine ticks.

Fuel gauge, temperature gauge need to be replaced.

Leaks coolant.

Can't stay cool.

AC Broke, 79,000.

Water now shoots from bottom pass. vents.

Fuel leaks. About 1 cup/ day.

Very Hesitant in humidity.

Car enters vapor lock on hot days. (Fuel cannot pass the dense fuel vapors in fuel lines) In turn, won't start.

Caliper broke, 81,000.

Fuel pump now cuts out while driving, no longer safe.

General Comments:

When I got this car for my first car, it was wonderful. soon after the coolant system stopped working. I have invested nearly 1000$ US to keep it running smoothly. the car barely starts, and ticks alarmingly. when stopped in traffic it jumps around and makes much noise.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 30th August, 2007

30th Jul 2012, 19:15

Sounds to me like you blew your head gasket. Would explain the failure of anything in the cooling system and the problem with starting it may be from hydrolock (water in the cylinders) and coolant in the combustion chamber. Could also have a cracked cylinder head. Best advice is to find another motor; they are cheap and plentiful.

1991 Dodge Shadow S 2.2

Summary:

Tough, economical, cheap to own

Faults:

Over heated on long trips. Replaced the thermostat.

Speedometer only went to 140km/h...but it go faster than that.

Head gasket may have started to leak slightly around the time we sold it, but this isn't certain (and not the reason we sold it).

Would want to stall on occasion. Mostly when cold.

A fair bit of vibration. Would rattle a lot when idling or at a stop light.

The warning buzzer was crazy annoying... but added to the overall personality of the car, and made it impossible to forget your keys in it.

General Comments:

A tough, dependable car. Looked really good for its age, no rust anywhere except the floor (from sitting on the grass for 3 years before I bought it).

Speedo only went to 140km/h, but it could go a lot faster than that. A cool trick to show your friends (the speedo wrapping around back almost to "0"...which isn't advisable for safety reasons), but annoying because you don't know how fast your really going.

2.2 4cyl is noisy, rattly, but tough as it gets.

Over all a good car, as we did almost nothing to it, and drove it hard.

Great fuel economy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st March, 2007

1991 Dodge Shadow 2 door 4 cylnder

Summary:

Cute teal lemon!!!

Faults:

The catalytic converter was plugged and had to put new one on, expensive.

We found out someone put the wrong engine head on it, and it started blowing head gaskets and leaking antifreeze like crazy, had to keep filling it.

General Comments:

It was a cute little teal green car at first, but guy at work ripped us off. Sold it to us for $2500. It had higher miles on it and it had a little smash on the front fender, said he hit a deer with it.

We then found out he had changed the motor head and it had the wrong one on it and he denied the whole thing. So when it blew head gaskets we sold it for $300. They said they knew someone who could work on cars. They seen I had pulled up in my nicer newer beretta at the time a 96. So they asked if we were selling our shadow.

They might be an overall good little car if you know how it was maintained. But I, was so unlucky to have been sold a lemon! lol!!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd January, 2007

3rd Jan 2007, 13:44

You paid that much for a shadow. You need help.

3rd Jan 2007, 23:34

Yeah we paid that much for a shadow, me and my ex. I didn't know as much about cars back then and I wasn't going on the internet to look for them either like I do now. I will only pay like $1600 or less for my next car!

4th Jan 2007, 17:01

Anyone must be crazy to buy a dodge shadow!!! ha ha ha ha! lol!!!

4th Jan 2007, 23:19

Shawdows are really nice cars. the end of the K-car was with the Spirits and the Shawdows.