IllustrationCONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP PRIOR TO DOWNSHIFTING. *AK
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 reportsPASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED THREE TIME , PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UP ON INCLINE, VEHICLE TOOK OFF;DRIVER FELT SURGE, AS IF BEING PUSHED;FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL;ENGINE KEPT ACCELERATING;BRAKES APPLIED;NO WARNING. *AK
TRANSAXLE FAILED. *DSH
OTHER: AIR BAG PROBLEMS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) (FOURTH VEHICLE ON 503129, 601422, 601423,) *DH
SERPENTINE BELT FAILS DUE TO DEBRIS COLLECTING BETWEENT BELT AND PULLEY. ALL OPERATION OF VEHICLE INTERRUPTED AND SHUT DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
POWER STEERING BELT TENSIONER BROKE, LOST POWER STEERING. TT
STEERING TIE ROD STRIPED AND PULLED OUT OF WHEEL BASE ASSEMBLY. TT
BRAKE PEDAL HITS BOTTOM DURING HEAVY BRAKING/PANIC STOPPING; NO WARNING; EXTENDED STOPPING; HIGH SPEED ON TURNPIKE, COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT. TT
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