1990 Dodge Spirit

Routine

Owners filed 63 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal10
607
Power Train › Automatic Transmission7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine6
000
Suspension › Rear5
000
Electrical System › Ignition4
020
Air Bags4
002
Power Train › Manual Transmission3
000
Power Train › Axle Assembly3
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch3
020
Vehicle Speed Control2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension08E033000
Filed Apr 14, 20086,903 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Chassis Products

Defect. FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

Risk. THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine89V237000
Filed Dec 27, 1989634,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Risk. THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy. REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Rear
Filed Aug 7, 2002OH

THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. ROD IN AXLE BROKE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT WHEEL MAY COME OFF. *AK THE WELD BROKE AT THE SPINDLE IN THE REAR AXLE. THE MECHANIC HAS FIXED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES PAID TOWARDS REPIARS. CONSUMER FEELS AN AXLE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT OCCUR WITHIN 68000 MILES. *JG

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 1, 2001WV

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER YET. CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK *YD

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Aug 25, 2001NJ

CAR WAS REPAIRED BY SELLER DUE TO MELTED WIRES, SELLER CLAIMED I BYPASSED FUSEABLE LINK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHICH I DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT CAR ELECT. COMPONENTS. MR. ROBERT'S MECHANIC REWIRED SYSTEM & REPLACED FUEL PUMP IN TANK 1 MONTH EARLIER FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONLY.AFTER FIRE I TOOK NUMEROUS PICTURES OF ENGINE & WIRING THAT HIS MECHANIC HAD DONE REWIRING TO. THERE WAS NUMEROUS WIRES CONNECTED TO POSITIVE TERMINAL THAT WERE NOT THERE PREVIOUSLY,THEREWAS A LOUD BANG & THERE WERE FLAMES EXTRUDING FROM UNDER THE HOOD , AFTER FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED VINELAND F.D. ASKED WHAT WERE ALL THE WIRES THERE FOR. I TOLD THEM THAT MR. ROBERT'S AUTO MECHANIC HAD REWIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM &REPLACED, THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT OUR INSURANCE COMPANCY &HAVE THEM INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. THE V.F.D. STATED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO ELECT. & OR FUEL MALFUNCTION. I STILL OWE OVER $2500.00 ON THIS VEHICLE & THE INSURANCE CO. HAS TOTALLED THIS CAR AT 2500.00 . I BELEIVE THIS PROBLEM WAS INCURRED BY THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THIS CAR BY THE SELLER & OR THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY SELLER. MY WIFE WAS NOT INJURED PHYSICALLY BUT MENTALLY DUE TO THE FACT SHE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT . ANY SUGGESTION'S OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, I AM 1 PERSON TRYING TO SUPPORT A FAMILY OF 5 & DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY FOR A CAR I NO LONGER POSSESS OR CAN DRIVE. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHT'S?

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 10, 2001CT

AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE, SHIFTING DOWN FROM 4TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR DANGEROUSLY SLOWING THE CAR FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH A CHRYSLER REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 15, 2001MD

SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE TOO LONG. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 2001CT

3RD TRANSMISSION; 1ST REPLACED AT 115K MILES,2ND AT 117K,3RD AT 113K,2ND & 3RD ARE CHRYSLER REMANF TRANSMISSION. TRANS WENT INTO LIMP MODE AT 60MPH, DANGEROUS LOST OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 28, 2000FL

I PREVIOUSLY OWNED AN 89 MODEL OF THIS CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW RECALL STATUS. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED IN SUMMARY. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Oct 19, 2000IN

WHILE DRIVING HIT AN ISLAND ,AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DIED IN CENTER, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 21, 2000PR

PEELING -CAR MUST BE STRIPPED COMPLETELY PAINT CENTER SAYS

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 11, 2000MD

WHEN AIR CONDITION IS ON HIGH THE STEERING COLUMN GOT HOT AND BURNED THE WIRE THAT INDICATES NO BRAKES. ALSO IT HAS MELTED THE COVER BELOW THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 10, 2000ND

WE GOT THE CAR FROM MY MOTHER WHO IN TURN BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.WHEN WE GOT IT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AWAY AND ONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN.ONE DAY THE OTHER WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN ANYMORE.A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE STEREO AND SPEAKERS QUITE WORKING.THE CAR BURNS OIL.IT WAS BROUGHT TO A SHOP,THEY SAID IT WAS THE GASKET COVERS,WHICH WOULD COST OVER$600.00. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 8, 2000TX

TREAD SEPERATION FROM BODY, NO DEFLATION, HAPPENED ON 2 TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/65R15 )

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 1, 2000WV

WHILE DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD GOING 40 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CONSUMER INTO A DITCH, AND RESULTED IN MINOR FACE INJURIES TO CONSUMER. AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchFire
Filed Jun 19, 2000CA

IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jun 9, 2000NJ

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS REPLACED SWITCH TWICE. NOW WHEN OWNER TURNS ON THE A/C OR HEATER FAN, THE SECTION OF THE SWITCH WHERE THE WIRES CONNECT BECOMES EXTREMELY HOT. *AK *ML

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2000MN

CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN LESS THA 85,000 MILES. NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 9, 2000MN

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THREE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. *MJS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 18, 1999MN

TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN SECOND GEAR, AND ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 27, 1999MN

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES WITH A REBUILD TRANSMISSION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Oct 27, 1999MA

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NOT SURE OF TYPE OF IINJURY SUSTAINED. *AK

20 of 63 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021000Routine
19981000Routine
199538030Routine
199487132Fatalities reported
199381040Routine
199258140Routine
199195371Fatalities reported
1990 — this page63260Routine

Compare every Spirit year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 14, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.