Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Colt.
The 1982 Dodge Colt, a subcompact from the early years of the model's run, recorded only two owner complaints—the lowest figure in the entire 1990–1996 complaint history—with exterior lighting being the most frequently cited issue, and it was subject to a single recall. This places the 1982 model year at the very top of the Colt's reliability record, matching the minimal complaint count seen in the best later years of the nameplate.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 157.1 in |
| Overall width | 62.6 in |
| Overall height | 50 in |
| Wheelbase | 90.6 in |
| Curb weight | 1870 lb |
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1982 Dodge Colt records only two complaint areas in the federal data—one for Exterior Lighting and one for Electrical System—along with zero crash and zero fire complaints. The provided year-by-year federal record contains no entry for 1982, instead spanning 1990 through 1996, so the target year cannot be directly compared to adjacent model years within this dataset. That available 1990–1996 arc shows generally low annual complaints until a sharp 1993 spike to 120 complaints, supported by two recalls in both 1992 and 1993, before falling to 18 complaints in 1994 and just 2 by 1996. Because 1982 sits entirely outside this recorded timeline, the federal data offers no basis to determine whether it shares any patterns with the elevated complaint and recall activity seen in the early 1990s. Given the minimal 1982-specific flags and the absence of crash or fire complaints, the year looks benign on paper, but the lack of longitudinal federal coverage means this record alone cannot support a confident buy recommendation.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.