1993 Dodge Daytona Problems and Recalls (15 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1993 Dodge Daytona is Transmission / driveline (27% of 15 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 15 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 1993 Dodge Daytona?

4 of 15 filings named Transmission / driveline (27% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (2 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1992 has 17 reports on file; this year has 15. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1993 Dodge Daytona

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 4 complaints · 26.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
All Dodge Daytona years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 4 of 15 owner complaints (26.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 4 complaints, 26.7% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 · 26.7% Engine (ENGINE): 2 complaints, 13.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 fire reports 2 · 13.3% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 2 complaints, 13.3% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 · 13.3% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 2 complaints, 13.3% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 · 13.3% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 6.7% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 1 · 6.7% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 6.7% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 6.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 1 complaints, 6.7% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 · 6.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 15 complaints, 100.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 2 fire reports 15 · 100.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 26.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 2 13.3% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 13.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 13.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 6.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 15 100.0% 1 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 1993. 1995-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 1999-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 1993 May 2003 Recall campaign 93V114000 ◆ Recall campaign 93V114000 Investigation DP03002 ● Investigation DP03002
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 2
1996-Q1 Owner reports 1
1996-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q1 Owner reports 1
1997-Q2 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 2
1998-Q4 Owner reports 3
1999-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 93V114000
Defect investigation 1 DP03002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame.

  1. Recall campaign 93V114000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    THE IMPROPERLY WELDED AREAS COULD CAUSE BODY PANELFLEXING AND SHEET METAL CRACKING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE,COMPROMISING THE VEHICLE IMPACT PROTECTION CAPABILITY. THIS COULD INCREASE THELIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISIONACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    SECURE THE FLOOR PAN TO THE FRONT FRAME RAILS BY BOLTING BOTH FRAME RAILS TO THE FLOOR PAN.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 15 complaints · page 1 of 1
2002-09-29Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 567655
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, HE PULLED OVER ONTO THE BERM WHERE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AS A RESULT THERE WAS HEAVY FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF TE VEHICLE, POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
2000-09-01Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 554260
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE, PRIOR TO FIRE THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
2000-04-04Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 721002
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. DODGE HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE AND NOW IT IS GOING ON ITS THIRD. THE DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECK THE VEHICLE 3/18/00 AND CLAIMS TRANSMISSION IS FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION ESTABLISHMENT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ON ITS WAY OUT. I AM CURRENTLY BRINGING THE CAR BACK TO DODGE AND DEMANDING THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK
1999-01-20Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 702421
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AS I WAS BACKING SLOWLY IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY CAR STOPPED AS IF I STUCK IT IN NEUTRAL. AT THAT POINT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I CALLED UP REEDMAN AND CHRYSLER CORPORATION TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CHECKED. CHRYLSER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND IT'S NOT COVERED SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP. AT THAT TIME I EXPLAINED MY CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK 2 TIMES ALREADY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I HAD PROBLEMS WAS A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR. THE SECOND TIME (WHICH WAS ONLY AT 19,000MILES) THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND DID NOT REPLACE IT. CHRYSLER FEELS THAT IT IS PARTIAL MY RESPONSLIBLITY TO PAY SINCE MY 5YEAR,70THOUSAND MILE WARRANTY IS UP. AT THIS TIME, MY MILAGE AS YOU CAN SEE IS ONLY AT 36,000MILES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE CHRYSLER VEHICLES 1992-1993 AND THEY ALSO HAVE(HAD) PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AS WELL. TO ME THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOULSY INJURED OR KILLED IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR ROADWAY (ON WHICH I DRIVED ON DAILY). I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.
1998-11-16Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 700652
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 40/45 MILES PER HOUR, THE TRANSMISSION QUIT.
1998-10-29Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 700196
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. NO TENSION, INEFFECTIVE IN RESTRAINING DRIVER WHILE DRIVING. REAR BRAKE SHOES DRAG/DO NOT RELEASE FULLY, CAUSING BRAKE OVERHEAT, LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND PREMATURE WEAROUT OF BRAKE SHOES.
1998-10-29Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 700195
CrashFireInjuryDeath
LOWER LEFT DRIVERS SEAT BACK ATTACHMENT BOLT FAILED ALLOWING SEAT BACK TO FALL FLAT BACK. CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION.
1997-09-30Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 816765
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE DEFECTIVE LOWER DRIVER SEATBACK BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THE 1991 SHADOW RECALL. *AK
1997-08-12Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 815435
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HAD CLOSED PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR BY HANDLE; DOOR BROKE OFF THE HINGE CONNECTED TO DOOR FRAME; DOOR WAS UNEVEN AND NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. *AK AFTER CLOSING DOOR WHEN HINGE BROKE, THE FENDER WAS BENT, BODY SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE METAL IN THE DOOR WAS WEAK CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR HINGE. *SLC
1997-04-15Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 810983
CrashFireInjuryDeath
A CLAMP ON THE FUEL LINE HOSE CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY EVERYWHERE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1993 Dodge Daytona?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 4 of 15 reports (27%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Dodge Daytona?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1993 Dodge Daytona?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources