1991 Dodge Stealth

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT BY MITSUBISHI MOTOR CORPORATION FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE.

Risk. LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE NO OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE OIL CHANGED. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE RESEALED OR REPLACED IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 2, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Defect. UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Risk. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.

Defect. THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Risk. THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

Defect. A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE. LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE CAN CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND FAILURE.

Risk. BEARING FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTS INPOWER TRAIN LOCKUP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.THIS COULD CAUSE IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. INSTALL A C-RING TO TRANSFER CASE TO PREVENT OIL LEAKAGE, OR REPLACE TRANSFER CASE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS TO UNLOCK THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V143002 (POWER TRAIN: TRANSFER CASE: 4-WHEEL DRIVE), BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. RECALL# 02V143002, POWER TRAIN, TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED. THE OIL LEAKS FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO BE LOCK AND DAMAGE THE DRIVE TRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IT WAS DENIED STATING THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED SINCE I OWNED THE CAR. ON (MAY, 200) THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. UPON TALKING TO OTHER CAR OWNERS THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH AND THE RETRACTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN YOU PUT ON THE SEAT BELT IN MOST CASES THE SLACK IS NOT TAKEN UP. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HOPE I'M NOT. *JB

MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN I PULL IT OUT TO BUCKLE UP THE EXTRA SLACK DOES NOT GET TAKEN CARE OF. IT JUST REMAINS LOOSE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL IT WOULD HOLD UP IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE MOST OF THE TIME BUT ONCE IN A WHILE FOR SOME REASON IT WILL RETRACT THE EXTRA SLACK.*AK

1. SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, AND REMOVE SLACK ONCE THE SEAT BELT IS LATCHED.--- 2. AFTER BUCKLING MY SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. IT WILL LEAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLACK BETWEEN MY BODY AND THE SEAT. IN A WRECK, IF THERE IS SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE SEAT, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE BODY. RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY, TRAUMA, AND POSSIBLE EJECTION FROM THE CAR, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF PARALYSIS OR DEATH.--- 3.TRIED CLEANING THE SEAT BELT HANGER AND THE PLACE THE BELT GOES INTO THE CAR, BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.--- *THERE HAVE BEEN WELL OVER 250 FAILURES, I CAN NOT GIVE AN EXACT AMOUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES I GET IN AND OUT OF MY CAR OVER A COURSE OF TIME, SO THE NUMBER I PUT BELOW IS AN CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW, AND DRIVE THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, AND ON ERRANDS. *JB

SEAT BELT ON BOTH PASSENGER/DRIVER SIDES FAIL TO RETRACT. *NM

SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING SLACK WHILE DRIVING IN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BELTS. *JB

SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY CAUSING THEM TO POSSIBLY FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT. *NM

THE SEAT BELT DO NOT FULLY RETRACT, LEAVING A LOT OF SLACK. THIS MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE, SINCE IT IS NOT DOING ITS JOB. WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING LOOSE, IF I WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD NOT BELT ME IN, WITH ALL THAT EXTRA SLACK HANGING OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME. *NM

SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN IN NORMAL USE, CAUSING EXTREME SLACK AND GIVING NO RESTRAINT IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NO AMOUNT OF COAXING WILL HELP THE BELT RETRACT. *NM

I OWN A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TWIN TURBO VERSION. MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ON ITS OWN, AND THERE IS CONSISTENTLY SLACK IN THE LINE WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED THAT UPON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER OBJECT, MY BELT WILL NOT BECOME RESTRICTIVE AND HOLD ITS PLACE. *JB

SEAT BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETRACT AS IT SHOULD. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEAT BELT FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKED. HE FOUND NHTSA RECALL 93V033001. THE MANUFACTURE SAID THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN 2002. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM NOW. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK

I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY BLOCK, STOPPED FULLY AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATED GENTLY AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT IN MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH TWIN TURBO SNAPPED, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOR A BIT UNTILT HE VCU BURNT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT SNAPPED.*AK

I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT INTO GEAR, CAR QUIT MOVING. *JB

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM. AT ONE TIME THIS WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. LAST YEAR THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER RECALL REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, SO THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ONLY. *AK RECALL 02V143002. *SC

THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH RT TURBO. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, POWER IS NO LONGER TRANSMITTED TO THE REAR WHEELS WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO "TORQUE STEER". BASICALLY EVEN MODERATE ACCELERATION CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO UNPREDICTABLY VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *JB

I OWN A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TWINTURBO. THIS CAR USES A 5 SPEED GETRAG TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IS THE FIRST INITIAL DESIGN WITH AN 18 SPLINE OUTPUT SHAFT. MY CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE SHOP THAT DID THE WORK EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WORN, AND THIS WAS AFTER ONLY 25K MILES OF REGULAR DRIVING. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFERCASE WITH MITSUBISHI'S/GETRAG'S REVISED VERSION WHICH FEATURED A STRONGER 25 SPLINE OUTPUTSHAFT. THIS REPAIR/PARTS COST ME UPWARDS OF 2500 DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THAT ITS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THESE TRANSMISSIONS RECALLED BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN DRIVING. I ALSO FEEL ITS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE CAR, HENCE THE NEWER DESIGN IN LATE 92 AND 93.*AK

I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TURBO AND IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSON AND TRANSFER CASE REPLACED TWICE, INCLUDING THE OUTPUT SHAFT. CLEARLY THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL.*AK