Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Spirit years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
No component reports in this snapshot.
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Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 0 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
No matching complaints in this snapshot.
Dec 13, 1982
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TRANSMISSION LUBRICANT USED IN THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LUBRICATION TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION"S FIRST GEAR.
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION LUBRICANT WITH AN EXTREME PRESSURE LUBRICANT AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.
Sep 22, 1981
THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS AND VENTILATING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. MISROUTING MAY CAUSE CHAFING BETWEEN THE HARNESS AND VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS, RESULTING IN SHORT CIRCUITS AND MALFUNCTION OF ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES. THE SWITCH WHICH ACTIVATES THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT MAY NOT FUNCTION. THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION HOSE MAY BE TOO CLOSE TO THE AIR INJECTION MANIFOLD TUBE AND COULD BE DAMAGED IF ENGINE OVERHEATS.
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: UPON INSPECTION, DEALER WILL REPAIR ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS, REROUTE THE HOSE, AND REPLACE THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WITHOUT CHARGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Opened Nov 16, 1987 · Closed Jan 9, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ANALYSIS:MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER OR THE\TV GASKETING MATERIAL LOSES ITS STRUCTURAL AND/OR SEALING INTEGRITY DUE TOTHE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMC 258 ENGINE.TESTINGPERFORMED BY A LOCAL FLEET CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVINGCONDITIONS, MOTOR OIL LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE #3 OR #4 CYLINDERS (OVERTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLD) CAN RESULT IN A FIRE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO DESTROY AVEHICLE.AMC HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS TSB'S REGARDING THE PROPER/IMPROPER METHOD OF SEAL-ING THE VALVE COVER-HEAD INTERFACE.1981-84 AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES AREEQUIPPED WITH A PLASTIC VALVE COVER WHICH HAS 5 GUIDE PINS AND 2 FASTENERS.THE COVER USED IN LATER MODELS WAS RE-DESIGNED TO HAVE 5 ATTACHING POINTS,AND THIS NEW VALVE COVER CAN BE USED ON OLDER ENGINES BY MEANS OF AMODIFICATION KIT.AS EXPECTED, COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES IN 1985 MODELSDROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, INDICATING THAT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW VALVE COVERMAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.STATUS: IR TO THE MANUFACTURER SENT 12/1/87.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===
Illustration