1992 Dodge Spirit

Routine

Owners filed 58 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Dodge Spirit years to avoid. Which Dodge Spirit years to avoid →

Most common 1992 Dodge Spirit problems

13 of the 58 complaints (22%) are about the transmission.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission7
110
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes5
100
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner4
000
Power Train › Axle Assembly · transmission3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine3
000
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags3
101
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor2
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration2
000
Suspension › Rear2
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar2
010

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar92V015000
Filed Feb 14, 199220,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.

Risk. FRACTURES OF THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLINGBOLT RESULT IN A LACK OF COUPLING LOAD ON THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL.

Remedy. REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Sep 7, 201960,000 milesCA

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 7, 2019CA

I AM RETRACTING WHAT I REPORTED ON MY AIRBAG LIGHT...IT DOES COME ON AND THEN GO OUT BUT STILL...I DONT KNOW IF ITS SAFE... UPDATED

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 4, 2004FL

CONCERNS REGARDING RECALLS ON 1992 DODGE SPIRIT.*MR CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION ON 1992 DODGE SPIRIT RECALLS. *NM *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jan 8, 200468,840 milesPA

LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM OR PIVOT SUDDENLY CAME LOOSE IN HEAVY SNOW. THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER CONTINUED TO WORK BUT THE LEFT SIDE ONLY MOVED INCHES IF AT ALL. WHILE TRYING TO PULL OFF I-79 I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR DUE TO SNOW COVERED LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD. WIPER ARM IS LOOSE ON PIVOT OR PIVOT IS LOOSE. WE'VE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE, DODGE WAS TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PIVOT WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MY MOTHER'S NAME. *LA

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 22, 2002WA

FUEL ODORS ARE GETTING INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionFire
Filed Aug 1, 2001MI

CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS USED ON ALL SPIRITS, ACCLAIMS, LEBARON SEDANS, CIRRUS, STRATUS, ALL MINIVANS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. THERE IS A BUILT IN DEFECT. I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS SOONER, BUT I WAS A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE. THE SECOND TIME THE TRANS FAILED WAS AT 65-70 MPH IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL, SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 22, 2001OH

HEAD GASKET CRACKED ON ORIGINAL AND ON THE SAMEPLACE ON THE REPLACEMENT. *SLC

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 13, 2000WA

THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY LEASED NEW BY A FORMER EMPLOYER IN 1992. I AM THE ORIGINAL DRIVER AND HAS TRULY FOLLOWED ALL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES AND PERFORMED ALL REQUIRED REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN MODERATELY ALL DURING ITS LIFE. THE REAR TORSION BAR, WHICH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE REAR AXLE AND RUNS BETWEEN BOTH REAR WHEELS, HAS APPARENTLY BROKEN. THE REPAIR WILL COST $650 PLUS TAX. THE INTEGRITY OF THE REAR SUSPENSION IS PRESUMABLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEREAS THE FRONT SUSPENSION, STEERING, AXLES ARE VERY COMPLEX IN A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE AUTO, THE REAR AXLE AND SUSPENSION IS, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, VERY LOW-TECH AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE AUTO. INSTEAD, THE TORSION BAR IN THIS RATHER INERT PART OF THE CAR HAS SIMPLY BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER CASES OF A BROKEN REAR TORSION BAR, BOTH AT THIS DEALER'S SERVICE OPERATION AND AT MY LOCAL GARAGE. THIS STRIKES ME AS BEING AN ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION RATHER THE RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND USE. MY DODGE SAYS CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY IN THE REPAIR, SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO SET A "PRECEDENT." PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

Power Train
Filed Apr 28, 2000NM

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. ON 04/23, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK FOR THE FIRST 5 MILES, THEN IT WOULD START WORKING. ON 4/27 THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. ON 01/07/98, I WAS CHARGED 320.52 TO REPLACE THE SPEED AND EMISSION SENSORS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS DEFECT CORRECTED. WITH ACCESSING THIS WEBSITE I WAS UNAWARE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALER (ZANGARA DODGE) KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFEATS YEARS IN ADVANCE, YET I WAS CHARGED TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS REACCURED, ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WILL BE APPRECIATED. DRIVING WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER IS SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS....I JUST DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER $320 TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 22, 2000IL

I DID A REPORT YESTERDAY, BUT I HAD THE DATE I BOUGHT THE CAR WRONG, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999 MAY 8, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS SAFETY WISE. I HAVE A DODGE SHEET RECALL LISING THE TBS NUMBER FOR THE ITEMS ON MY CAR THAT HAV\E A DEFAUL\T IN IT IS AS FOLLOWS #081695A SPEED CONTROL DONT WORK, #2210695A SHIFT QUALITY POOR #31804936 POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING, #4210193 WHISTLING NOISE AT IDLE, NUMBER 5110193 SQUEAKING NOISE FROM EXHAUST PIPE. NUMBER #7 060292 IGNITION KEY HARD TO TURN, 050692 REAR BRAKE RATTLES THE SPPED ODOMETER NEVER WORKED, I DID NOT RECEIVE A OWNER MANUAL, I RECEIVE THE LIST FROM AUTOMOTIVE RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIONS FOR 1992 DODGE SPIRIT V6-181 3.0L SOCH VIN 3 FL PROVIDE BY ALLDATA ISSUE FEB 92 SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 538 TSB NUMBER 538, I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DEFEACTS PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 21, 2000IL

SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, I HAD TO HAVE A LOT OF REPAIRS, I JUST LEARN FROM A CAR DEALER THAT DODGE SPIRIT 92 ARE RECALLED CARS, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PAINT PEELING SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT AT HAD ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT WAS PEELING, NOW ITS PEELING VERY WHERE, THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR I NOTICED THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING AND TO THIS DAY IT STILL DO NOT WORK, SO I DONT KNOW HOW FAST I DRIVE, WHEN I DRIVE I LOSE POWER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THIS IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS, IT JUST CUT OFF. *AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Feb 1, 2000CA

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HINGE BROKE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jan 31, 2000NM

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, HIT THE END OF CURB, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 14, 1999MD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 26, 1999MA

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE WILL SUDDENLY SHIFT FROM THIRD TO SECOND WHILE GOING 55 MPH, CAUSING DISINTEGRATION OF TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN PIECES OF METAL FALLING INTO THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed May 10, 1999KY

THE TRUNK SEAL LEAKS AT THE UPPER CORNERS OF THE TRUNK. WATER COLLECTED INSIDE AND TRUNK HAS RUSTED IN CERTAIN AREAS. THE JACK AND SPARE TIRE, WHICH SAT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK, WERE BEYOND REPAIR. ALSO, SEVERAL TIMES THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE FAILED. USUALLY HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART THE CAR TO GET THEM TO WORK. ELECTRICAL SHORT OF SOME KIND?

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Jan 14, 1999PA

SMELLED AN ODOR OF BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE OF VEHICLE. WHEN IGNITION SWITCH IS ON, WIRES WOULD GLOW BRIGHT ORANGE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK WIRE HARNESS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 4, 1999IL

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH RAIN PUDDLES OR SNOW, THE POWER STEERING /ALTERNATER BELT SLIPS OFF ITS PULLEYS

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Oct 22, 1998MO

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS RECONGNIZED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP WERE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 3, 1998CA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Aug 27, 1998AR

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON. A REPAIR SHOP CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY CANNOT TOUCH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Aug 5, 1998MN

ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE. RACTURES OF UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT, COULD RESULT IN LACK OF COUPLING LOAD AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. RECALL 92V-015.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 14, 1998IL

VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AS THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. HIT 70 MPH IN A 45 MPH ZONE. STOPPED VEHICLE BY TURNING IGNITION OFF.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 11, 1998NJ

VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 29, 1997OH

BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT, ATTEMTED TO STOP BRAKES GRABBED, BUT DID NOT HOLD. CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND WE WOUND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. DEALER CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jul 16, 1997IN

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE. OWNER NOTES THAT DEALERS STATED A BOLT BROKE. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Feb 21, 1997MA

POWER STEERING FAILURE; CANNOT TURN STEERING WHEEL.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 23, 1997NV

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON ICE OR WET SURFACE BRAKES LOCK UP AND VEHICLE WILL SLIDE, IN FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)
Filed Dec 9, 1996MO

THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LINE VALVE CRACKED AND GAS CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY AND A RAW FUEL SMELL WAS INSIDE VEHICLE, UNDERNEATH THE CAR GAS WAS PUMPING OUT. *SLC

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 5, 1996CO

PAINT IS PEELING ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. *AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Oct 15, 1996NJ

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE TRAILING BAR ASSEMBLY WELD BROKE ON IT AND THEN LOST CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Oct 1, 1996TX

IGNITION SWITCH SMOKED DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle BarFire
Filed Jul 25, 1996MD

THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 24, 1996OH

COMING TO A STOP, APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE SLID ACROSS CROSSWALK. NO RESPONSE FROM ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ROLLED ACROSS CROSSWALK WITH NO BRAKING AT ALL, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS MAKING A PERFECT STOOP AND WHEN HE GOT DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MPH HE LOST ALL BRAKING ACTION.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Feb 26, 1996MD

SERPENTINE BELT FAILS DUE TO DEBRIS COLLECTING BETWEEN BELT AND PULLEY. ALL OPERATION OF VEHICLE INTERRUPTED AND SHUT DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jan 17, 1996OH

RECLINER MECHANISM ON DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, ALLOWING SEAT BACK TO FALL BACKWARDS. *SD

Power Train
Filed Jan 17, 1996MD

SPEEDOMETER PERFORMS ERRATICALLY. TT

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Dec 5, 1995MO

DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT FRACTURED, ENTIRE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. TT

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Nov 8, 1995NY

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A GROUND WIRE FOR PROPER CONNECTION. TT WIPER MOTOR IS MOUNTED ON A PLATE AND PLATE IS ATTACHED TO CHASSIS, BOLTS ON MOUNTING PLATE HAD POOR GROUND CONNECTION. *SLC

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Oct 13, 1995FL

DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE, THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED, IMPAIRED DRIVER VISIBILITY. TT *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Sep 28, 1995TN

THE CAR ABS BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Parking Brake › Conventional › Mechanical
Filed Sep 28, 1995UT

FOOT OPERATED EMERGENCY BRAKE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WITH LARGE FEET TO OPERATE DUE TO ITS LOCATION. *DSH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Sep 25, 1995RI

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPIN DISTANCE. *DSH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 2, 1995NJ

OIL LEAK . TT

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Aug 31, 1995MO

REAR END TRAILING AXLE CRACKED; PROBLEM CONTROLLING REAR END OF VEHICLE; AXLE HOLDS BACK WHEELS TOGETHER. TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 2, 1995NY

EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT WILL NOT DUPLICATE FOR DEALER. TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Jul 24, 1995CT

FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED, RESULTING IN GRINDING NOISE/ EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Jul 7, 1995MA

THE WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 1995TX

TRANSMISSION CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING . TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 21, 1995PA

THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED. WHEN BRAKING THE PEDAL GOES DOWN AND KEEPS MOVING AND MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Complaints 1-50 of 58, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021000Routine
19981000Routine
199538030Routine
199487132Fatalities reported
199381040Routine
1992 — this page58140Routine
199195371Fatalities reported
199063260Routine

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: Feb 14, 1992. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.