IllustrationFLOOR SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT LOCK WHEN IN PARK, CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL BACXKWARDS. *AK
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 reportsRACK AND PINION REPLACED.
THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER STATES REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURE.*JB
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKEN AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CONSUMER AUTO CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ENGINE BURNED-AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROX 10 MILES. AUTO WAS TURNED OFF WHEN THE FIRE STARTED-CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK
VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND GAS TANK CAUGHT ON FIRE.THE TRUNK NEAR REAR SEAT WAS ON FLAMES.THIS OCCURED WITH NO WARNING. TT
THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED NEED TO BE REPLACED THE BRAKE HOSE ON BOTH ARE CRACKED. TT
HEADLIGHTS BECOME UNSEALED CAUSING CONDENSATION AND WATER TO COLLECT INSIDE HEAD LAMP; IMPAIRED HEADLIGHTS REFLECTIVE ABILITY. TT
REAR STABILIZER BAR FAILED, CAUSING NOISE.
REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
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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