IllustrationPART OF THE SUSPENSION KNOWN AS THE TRAILING ARM IS BROKEN, ORDERED PART SINCE AUGUST OF 96. CHRYSLER/DODGE CAN'T GIVE ANY IDEA ON SHIPMENT. DODGE STATED ON THE PHONE THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM. *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
What owners actually said
63 reportsTRIED TO START CAR SMOKE POURED OUT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MADE TURN AND HEARD A NOISE AND REAR STARTED TO SWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEARLERSHIP AND FOUND THE REAR AXLE TRAILING BAR WAS BROKEN, WILL NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PART FOR ANOTHER MONTH AND 1/2.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO BURN, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG, CAUSING INJURY. *SD
REAR AXLE STUDS FOR TRAILING ARM WELDING BROKE. *SD
OTHER: AIR BAG PROBLEMS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) (SECOND VEHICLE ON 503129, 601423, 601428) *DH
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE. TT
ONE INCH CIRCULAR HOLLOW BAR CRACKED, IN THE TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE REAR WHEELS IN POSITION. *SD
REAR AXLE; RIGHT SIDE BEAD WELDED TO AXLE AND LEFT SIDE TACT WELDED. WHILE DRIVING LEFT SIDE BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.