1991 Dodge Spirit

Defect. FRONT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND OR UNLATCH DUE TO A WEBBING STIFFENER ENTERING THE BUCKLE HOUSING AND DISLODGING THE BUCKLE LATCH GUIDE.

Risk. LATCH MAY OPEN DURING ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, EXPOSINGSEAT OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy. REPLACE BUCKLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT.

Defect. THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Risk. AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.

Remedy. REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.

Defect. FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.

*OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT* THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE ENGINE AND UNDER CARRIAGE AREAS. *JG *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE SWAY BAR BROKE. THE SWAY BAR BROKE AGAIN AFTER WELDING IT. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY BE REPLACED. *TT *NLM

THE PAINT ON THE CAR'S HOOD BEGAN TO CRACK AND PEEL 4 YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES AND STILL CHRYSLER/DODGE ACKNOWLEDGES ANY WRONG DOING. IT WAS THEIR PAINTING PROCESS THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN NOT THE THOUSANDS OF LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S DODGE CAR/TRUCK/VAN OWNERS. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER A STONEY ROAD AT 10MPH, THE ANTI SWAY BAR BROKE.*AK AFTER DRIVNG OVER FRESHLY LAID GRAVEL WHICH WAS DEEP IN SOME AREAS, THE VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE CHARACTERISTIC OF A BROKEN ANTI SWAY BAR. THIS BAR WAS WELDED AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR BUT LATER BROKE AGAIN. THE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE. *JG

HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED FROM HEAT OF WEATHER AND CONSUMER CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC AND HEAT HAS BLURRED THE LIGHTS. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE. GOT OUT AND CHECKED RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH HAD SHREDDED. STEELBELTS WERE SHOWING. 1991, DODGE, SPIRIT, TIRE SIZE P195/70R14, DOT# HHHD514X25.*AK MICHELIN TREADWARE 310 TRACTION A M AND S TUBULAR. *MJ

THE VEHICLE WOULD REV UP TO 2000 RPM POSSIBLY DUE TO IDLE SPEED MOTOR FAILURE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE IDLE SPEED MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *YH

CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER A LEAKAGE ON VEHICLE HAD FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK. *AK THE DESIGN OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER'S INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THERE WERE OTHER CONSUMERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME CYLINDER HEAD CRACK AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL IT. *YH

WHEN I USE MY A/C THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BEGANTO GET HOT, SO HOT THAT IT HAS MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN COVER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SWITCH, $150.00 LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO NOW STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR, SO I REPLACED THAT AS WELL. $170.00 LATER, STILL HAVEING PROBLEMS. LONG STORY SHORT I'VE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DUE WITH THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I'VE GONE SO FAR AS TO VISIT LOCAL JUNK YARDS IN ORDER TO SEE IF EVIDANCE EXSITS THAT OTHER 91" DODGE SPIRITS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, OF THE 15 CARS THAT I INSPECTED ALL BUT ONE HAD THE SAME OVERHEATING PROBLEM, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT THESE CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS BY VIEWING THE WIRING SYSTEM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICE THAT THE WIRING AND STEERING COLUMN COVER WERE MELTED OR HAD HEAT DAMAGE CAUSED TO THEM AS DID MY OWN CAR.*AK

TWICE NOW OIL PAN HAS BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE IT IS TOO LOW. ONCE IT WAS DAMAGED GOING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND SCRAPEING THE CROWN IN THE ROAD AND CAUSING THE OIL PAN TO LEAK. ANOTHER TIME IN THE SNOW WE HIT AN ICE BALL FROM THE CAR INFRONT OF US CAUSING A HUGE DENT IN THE OIL PAN. THE OIL PAN IS ROUGHLY 2 INCHES LOWER THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR, WHICH MEANS THATANYTIME YOU HIT ANYTHING THE FIRST THING THAT GETS DAMAGED WILL BE OIL PAN AND IN RETURN COULD CAUSE MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. *AK

NO SUMMARY

PAINT IS PEELING CONSTANTLY IN CHUNKS,AND STEERING WHEEL AND SURROUNDING AREAS BECOME HOT WITH HEAT FROM ASSUMEABLY THE IGNITION.

VEHICLE HAS A BROKEN TRAILING ARM ON THE REAR SUSPENSION, CAUSING A RATTLING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY COMPLETE ASSEMBLY. STABILIZER BAR DEFECT IS CAUSING PROBLEMS. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR/REPLACE IT, BUT OWNER NOT SURE IF NEW ONE WILL BE BETTER. *AK *ML

CONSUMER HEARD METAL TO METAL NOISE COMING FROM REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY BROKE. CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW AXLE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT WELD IT BACK TOGETHER. IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THREE DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD NO CLUES AS TO WHAT THE CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT.*AK

REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM/DEFECT HAVE NOT EVER ACTUALLY FIXED IT--IT KEEPS REOCCURRING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO TRAVEL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHENEVER IT WAS AT A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN /OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL GOING UNRESOLVED. (CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED). *AK

REPEATED TRANSMISSION REPAIRS & OIL LEAKS + HEAD REPLACEMENTS. *AK

DUE TO DESIGN FLAW TIMING BELT BROKE ON NINE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. DEALER CAN NOT DETERMINE WHAT'S CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER PARKED CAR AND WHILE STILL SITTING IN CAR STARTED TO FEEL VERY STRONG HEAT AND CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. CONSUMER BELIEVES FUEL LINE LEAK MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. *AK

THE FIRST TIME I FILLED THE TANK THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT RAN GOO IN THE 39 DAYS I HAD IT, APPART FROM BEING HESITANT TO CHANGE GEAR AT TIMES. ON SUNDAY WHILE TAKING MY KIDS ON A TRIP TO GREAT ADVENTURE,I WAS JUST OVER THE BETSY ROSS BRIDGE WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE THROUGH MY REAR VIEW. I HURRIEDLY PULLED OVER AND IN A FEW SECOND WE NOTICE THE SMOKE WAS UNDER THE HOOD. AND WE STAND THERE WE NOTICE MELTED RUBBER OR WIRE WAS DROPPING DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT SO WE GRABBED A FEW THINGS FROM THE CAR AND KEPT OUR DISTANCE UNTILL THE POLICE AND FIRE TRUCK APPEARED.

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSS ALL POWER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. *YC

TIMING BELT BREAKS WHEN OPERATING AT 55-60 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, ON 7 OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. MJS

I TRIED TO STEER AWAY FROM A CRASH BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT. MY RIGHT ARM WAS THEREFORE IN THE 12:00 POSITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW MY RIGHT ARM INTO THE WINDSHIELD SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND MY ELBOW KNOCKED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF OF THE WINDOW. THE SEATBELT RESTRAINED ME APPROPRIATELY AND I HAD SOME SEATBELT BRUISING BUT THE AIRBAG SEVERELY CONTUSED MY ARM AND ELBOW WITH POSSIBLE FRACTURES AND CRUSHED BONES RESULTING IN MY ARM BEING IMMOBILIZED IN A LONG ARM CAST. THE SWELLING AND PAIN WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE DOCTORS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE INJURIES. NOW TODAY THEY THINK THAT A TRAUMATIC FUSION MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN MY WRIST. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INJURIES REPORTED THAT HAVE CAUSED OTHER VICTIMS TO HAVE THEIR ARM/S THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD BY A DEPLOYING AIR BAG? I DO SIT AT LEAST 12 INCHES AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARDS MY FACE OR CHEST, BUT RATHER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION

THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. DLR REPLACED TRANSMISSION.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND HAD HIS DOG IN THE CAR GOING ON A CAMPING TRIP. HE BARELY GOT THE CAR PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND GOT THE DOG OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMRNT WAS ALSO ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS OS INTENSE IT MELTED THE FRONT WHEELS OFF THE CAR. IT SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PROCEEDED INTO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. THE FIRE TRUCKS WERE ON THE SCENE FOR PROBABLY AN HOUR TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND GET IT UNDER CONTROL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE PLUS WHY IT SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SO QUICKLY AS TO BARELY ESCAPE ALIVE.

PAINT IS PEELING FROM VEHICLE.

TRANMISSION WENT OUT, AND WHEN PUTTING THE GEAR IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE ANYWHERE.VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHIN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S AIRBAG CAME OUT, BUT DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES AND BURNING OF MITTENS AND COAT. *AK

CAR WAS SITTING AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT. DID NOT LIST A CAUSE FOR THE FIRE.

DODGE SPIRIT SHOULD HAVE A TRANSMISSION RECALL!! COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT!

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN CONSUMER INJURY.

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD MOVE, BUT NOT CATCH ANY GEAR. THIS WAS DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING UNTO THE LEAKAGE CABLE FOR THE GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE ACID LEAKING ONTO THE CABLE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID REPLACED THE CABLE. *AK

PAINT IS PEELING FROM HOOD, ROOF AND FENDERS. OWNER TOLD THAT THIS IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY.

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURY TO FACE.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEED, OFTEN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *AK

CRACKED ENGINE HEAD, CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK. *AK

SMOKING STEERING COLUMN DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.

BRAKES FAILED.

THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED.

THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED A FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED NEXT WEEK. *AK THE DEALER SAID TO BE THE WIRING HARNESS AS DEFECTIVE. *YH

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND THEN SUDDENLY STARTED AGAIN. ALSO REPLACED OUL PRESSURE SENSOR. *AK

DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & DROVE A WHILE; VEHICLE STALLED OUT AGAIN. CALLED AAA & DID NOT FIND PROBLEM. FOLLOWED A WHILE; NO STALLING TILL TRUCK LEFT. TOOK TO DEALER; ON DIAGNOSTIC & NOTHING FOUND. VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. *AK

VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DURING STOPS OR WHEN IDLING; EXCESSIVE BREAKING IS REQUIRED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. *AK

REAR TRAILING SUSPENSION ARM BROKE AT WELD.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.

ENGINE HEAD FAILED 4TIMES.

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG, CAUSING BURNS TO DRIVER'S JAW/CHEST.

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION.