Illustration*OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT* THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE ENGINE AND UNDER CARRIAGE AREAS. *JG *JB
1991 Dodge Spirit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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 95 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
8 crash reports7 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
95 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE SWAY BAR BROKE. THE SWAY BAR BROKE AGAIN AFTER WELDING IT. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY BE REPLACED. *TT *NLM
THE PAINT ON THE CAR'S HOOD BEGAN TO CRACK AND PEEL 4 YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES AND STILL CHRYSLER/DODGE ACKNOWLEDGES ANY WRONG DOING. IT WAS THEIR PAINTING PROCESS THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN NOT THE THOUSANDS OF LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S DODGE CAR/TRUCK/VAN OWNERS. WILL SOM…
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THE PAINT ON THE CAR'S HOOD BEGAN TO CRACK AND PEEL 4 YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES AND STILL CHRYSLER/DODGE ACKNOWLEDGES ANY WRONG DOING. IT WAS THEIR PAINTING PROCESS THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN NOT THE THOUSANDS OF LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S DODGE CAR/TRUCK/VAN OWNERS. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER A STONEY ROAD AT 10MPH, THE ANTI SWAY BAR BROKE.*AK AFTER DRIVNG OVER FRESHLY LAID GRAVEL WHICH WAS DEEP IN SOME AREAS, THE VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE CHARACTERISTIC OF A BROKEN ANTI SWAY BAR. THIS BAR WAS WELDED AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR BUT LATER BROKE AGAIN. THE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DOD…
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WHILE DRIVING OVER A STONEY ROAD AT 10MPH, THE ANTI SWAY BAR BROKE.*AK AFTER DRIVNG OVER FRESHLY LAID GRAVEL WHICH WAS DEEP IN SOME AREAS, THE VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE CHARACTERISTIC OF A BROKEN ANTI SWAY BAR. THIS BAR WAS WELDED AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR BUT LATER BROKE AGAIN. THE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE. *JG
HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED FROM HEAT OF WEATHER AND CONSUMER CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC AND HEAT HAS BLURRED THE LIGHTS. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE. GOT OUT AND CHECKED RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH HAD SHREDDED. STEELBELTS WERE SHOWING. 1991, DODGE, SPIRIT, TIRE SIZE P195/70R14, DOT# HHHD514X25.*AK MICHELIN TREADWARE 310 TRACTION A M AND S TUBULAR. *MJ
THE VEHICLE WOULD REV UP TO 2000 RPM POSSIBLY DUE TO IDLE SPEED MOTOR FAILURE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE IDLE SPEED MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *YH
CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER A LEAKAGE ON VEHICLE HAD FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK. *AK THE DESIGN OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER'S INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THERE WERE OTHER CONSUMERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME CYLINDER HEAD CRACK AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL IT. *YH
WHEN I USE MY A/C THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BEGANTO GET HOT, SO HOT THAT IT HAS MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN COVER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SWITCH, $150.00 LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO NOW S…
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WHEN I USE MY A/C THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BEGANTO GET HOT, SO HOT THAT IT HAS MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN COVER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SWITCH, $150.00 LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO NOW STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR, SO I REPLACED THAT AS WELL. $170.00 LATER, STILL HAVEING PROBLEMS. LONG STORY SHORT I'VE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DUE WITH THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I'VE GONE SO FAR AS TO VISIT LOCAL JUNK YARDS IN ORDER TO SEE IF EVIDANCE EXSITS THAT OTHER 91" DODGE SPIRITS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, OF THE 15 CARS THAT I INSPECTED ALL BUT ONE HAD THE SAME OVERHEATING PROBLEM, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT THESE CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS BY VIEWING THE WIRING SYSTEM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICE THAT THE WIRING AND STEERING COLUMN COVER WERE MELTED OR HAD HEAT DAMAGE CAUSED TO THEM AS DID MY OWN CAR.*AK
Official recalls
391V122000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jul 11, 1991
FRONT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND OR UNLATCH DUE TO A WEBBING STIFFENER ENTERING THE BUCKLE HOUSING AND DISLODGING THE BUCKLE LATCH GUIDE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LATCH MAY OPEN DURING ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, EXPOSINGSEAT OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: REPLACE BUCKLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT.
90V194000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Nov 19, 1990
THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.
Remedy: REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.
90V162000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Sep 4, 1990
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.
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
3PE96036 · Throttle Will Not Return To The Position
Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED CONDITION RESULTS FRO THROTTLE SHAFT BINDING
PE96008 · Safety Blt Latch Operation
Opened Jan 25, 1996 · Closed Jun 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91080 · Engine Speed Fluctuation
Opened May 30, 1991 · Closed Sep 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available