IllustrationFALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG, CAUSING INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
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
What owners actually said
63 reportsVEHICLE PARKED; DRIVER GOT INTO VEHICLE & STARTED IT; NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN & FILLING VEHICLE; TURNED VEHICLE OFF & TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION; SMOKE STOPPED; TOOK PLASTIC COVER OFF STEERING WHEEL & NOTICED WIRING HAD BURNED. *AK
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG. DUP OF 515638, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK
THE VALVE COVER AND GASKET FAILED AND REPLACED.
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, KNOCKED GLASSES OFF, CUT CHIN, BURNED FACE/HAND/AND EYES.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE TO THE RECLINING POSTION, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT. *AK
CONSUMER HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND LOST CONTROL AND HIT A TREE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO BE INJURED. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT.
AIR CONDITIONER BELT FAILED.
FAILURE ON THE HEATER CORE, THE HEATER CORE IS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE ON THE DASH, CAUSING BAD ODOR/FUMES TO ENTER INTO THE 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.