IllustrationODOMETER QUIT WORKING BUT SPEEDOMETER STILL WORKS, NEED ODOMETER FOR UPDATE ON STATE INSPECTION. *TR
1989 Dodge Spirit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Dodge Spirit do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 48.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Spirit years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 21 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.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
21 reportsI HAVE A 1989 DODGE SPIRIT (WHITE IN COLOR). ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED PEELING PAINT OFF OF IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RODE WHEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD RIPPING NOISE. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHITE FLAKES FLYING OFF OF MY CAR, SO I PULLED OFF IN A PARKING SPOT & GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING & ALL I SAW WA…
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I HAVE A 1989 DODGE SPIRIT (WHITE IN COLOR). ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED PEELING PAINT OFF OF IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RODE WHEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD RIPPING NOISE. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHITE FLAKES FLYING OFF OF MY CAR, SO I PULLED OFF IN A PARKING SPOT & GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING & ALL I SAW WAS A LARGE SPOT ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR WHERE PAINT CAME OFF. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO EVER SINCE. *JB
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IDLE CONTROL MOTOR. NLM
REAR SUSPENSION HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE REAR END TO DROP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
467. CONSUMER HAS DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS THAT LEAK ALL AROUND THE VALVE COVER. DEALER CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL DUE TO VIN. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK UNLESS DRIVER STARTS ENGINE AND PRESSES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND THEN SHIFTS IT INTO PARK. WHEN RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO TRY TAKING IT OUT OF PARK AT THE SAME TIME, OR IF SOMEONE ROCKS VEHICLE FROM THE BACK. *AK
ON THE TRANSMISSION IT IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. ALSO THE REVERSE WENT OUT COMPLETELY,AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $1019. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. HE SHIFTER IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO WEAR AWAY, AND WILL SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NUETRAL BY ITSELF ON OCCASION. ALSO, IT IS…
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ON THE TRANSMISSION IT IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. ALSO THE REVERSE WENT OUT COMPLETELY,AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $1019. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. HE SHIFTER IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO WEAR AWAY, AND WILL SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NUETRAL BY ITSELF ON OCCASION. ALSO, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM SOMEWHERE, AND THERE IS A NEW SPOT UNDER THE CAR ON THE FLOOR WITH OIL. *AK
VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A FAILING HEAD GASKET BY WEST LIBERTY DODGE, 1561 WEST LIBERTY AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15226, (412) 343-1300. THIS FAILURE WOULD SEEM TO BE COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 89V237000, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE RECALL. THIS REPAIR WILL COST $500…
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VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A FAILING HEAD GASKET BY WEST LIBERTY DODGE, 1561 WEST LIBERTY AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15226, (412) 343-1300. THIS FAILURE WOULD SEEM TO BE COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 89V237000, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE RECALL. THIS REPAIR WILL COST $500+. WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO MAKE THE DEALER/MANUFACTURE COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY PHONE AND SEND MY VEHICLE INFORMATION TO THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. *AK
THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BROKE, THE ROD ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD NOISE , CONTACT DEALERSHIP NO PARTS AVAILABLE, CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
189V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Dec 27, 1989
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE89036 · Transmission Downshifting
Opened Jan 9, 1989 · Closed Jan 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
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