IllustrationI PREVIOUSLY OWNED AN 89 MODEL OF THIS CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW RECALL STATUS. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED IN SUMMARY. *AK
1990 Dodge Spirit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 0 of 63 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.
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports9 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
10 reportsWE GOT THE CAR FROM MY MOTHER WHO IN TURN BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.WHEN WE GOT IT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AWAY AND ONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN.ONE DAY THE OTHER WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN ANYMORE.A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE STEREO AND SPEAKERS QUITE WORKING.THE CAR BURNS OIL.IT WAS …
Read full complaint
WE GOT THE CAR FROM MY MOTHER WHO IN TURN BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.WHEN WE GOT IT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AWAY AND ONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN.ONE DAY THE OTHER WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN ANYMORE.A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE STEREO AND SPEAKERS QUITE WORKING.THE CAR BURNS OIL.IT WAS BROUGHT TO A SHOP,THEY SAID IT WAS THE GASKET COVERS,WHICH WOULD COST OVER$600.00. *AK
THEIRE IS AN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE GASKET VALVE COVER. DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET VALVE TWICE, AND THEY STILL CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKETS ON TO THE ENGINE. WAS LOSING OIL FAST. HAD TO REPLACE OIL ABOUT 3 TIMES OR MORE A MONTH. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET DISLOCATED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
VEHICLE LEAKS OIL FROM THE VALVE COVER ALLOT. OWNER BELIEVES VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN AN EXISTING RECALL.
ENGINE GASKET LEAKS.
THE VALVE COVER AND GASKET FAILED AND REPLACED.
AIR CONDITIONER BELT FAILED.
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.