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1994 Dodge Spirit

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Dodge Spirit do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 48.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 4 of 87 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Power Train complaints

14 reports
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80,000 miles · Nov 27, 2003
Power Train

SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER IN 1999, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP. WE COMPLAINED, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. IN 2001, WE TOOK THE CAR TO YET ANOTHER DODGE DEALER. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THE PR…

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SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER IN 1999, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP. WE COMPLAINED, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. IN 2001, WE TOOK THE CAR TO YET ANOTHER DODGE DEALER. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THE PRICE THEY QUOTED WAS $1,800. SO NOW, WE DRIVE A CAR WITH A HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION THAT SLIPS UPON TAKE OFF AND HARD ACCELERATION WHILE PASSING. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047688

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2002
Power TrainSuspension

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE, AND THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8018756

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2002
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARSHLY & GOING OUT OF GEAR WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A $2,000 RE-BUILD AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP OUT. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE CHRYSLER CARS AND MINI VANS HAVE BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR BAD A…

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THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARSHLY & GOING OUT OF GEAR WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A $2,000 RE-BUILD AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP OUT. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE CHRYSLER CARS AND MINI VANS HAVE BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR BAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. HOW HAS THIS BEEN PERMITTED TO GO ON FOR SO LONG? ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS EXPERIENCING A MAJOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE IS RIDICULOUS. THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY AN ELDERLY COUPLE WHO MAINTAINED IT TO THE MAX. AND BABIED IT ON THE ROAD. THE CAR LOOKS BRAND NEW AS IT HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A HEATED GARAGE. SUCH A MAROF FAILURE AT SUCH EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE IS UNREASONABLE, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FACT THAT SUDDEN POWER LOSS TO THE DRIVE WHEELS AND HARSH DOWNSHIFTING, SLOWING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY IS DANGEROUS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN GIVEN A "BYE" ON THIS ISSUE IN SPITE OF SO MANY PRODUCT FAILURES. WHY? THE4 TRANSMISSON SHOPS TELL ME THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN USE FACTORY PARTS WHEN THEY RE-BUILD. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY FROM A COMPANY THAT WAS SAVED FROM BANKRUPTCY BY "WE THE PEOPLE".*AK

NHTSA ODI #756622

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Power TrainSuspension

CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TOOK A LOOK, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND CONTINUED DRIVING. CONSUMER TRAVELED AT 65MPH, THE FASTER SHE DROVE LESS IT SEEMED TO WIGGLE. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT, AND IT WAS LEFT OUTER FRONT HALF SHAFT. PART WAS WIGGLING AND …

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CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TOOK A LOOK, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND CONTINUED DRIVING. CONSUMER TRAVELED AT 65MPH, THE FASTER SHE DROVE LESS IT SEEMED TO WIGGLE. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT, AND IT WAS LEFT OUTER FRONT HALF SHAFT. PART WAS WIGGLING AND RUBBING METAL ON METAL. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, LIKE BRAKE PAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889379

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Power Train

HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 65K AND REPLACED AT 83K--MECHANIC STATES THE ONLY WAY THIS IS POSSIBLE IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, I CONTACTED THE BBB WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $4000 ON TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT AM I TO DO?*AK

NHTSA ODI #745749

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 33,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #709872

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1999
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODIES, VALVE BODY SEALS, AND OVERHAUL OF REST OF TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #707826

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

FAILED DRIVE BELTS AND DIRTY FUEL INJECTION UNIT CAUSED VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA ODI #541394

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1997
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: BOUGHT CAR FEBRUARY 94, HAD NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN IN 1996. CURRENTLY, WHEN DRIVING ALONG IT DOWN SHIFTS ON ITS OWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL POP BACK INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES IT JUST GOES INTO SECOND AND WILL NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807925

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 1996
Power Train

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805959

Official recalls

1

94V023000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Feb 8, 1994

THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORS (BUCKLE LOCK BARS) DO NOT MEET THE STATIC LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL, EXPOSING THE RESTRAINED OCCUPANTS TO A GREATER RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: THE TRAVELING SAFETY BELT LOCK BAR ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED ON THESE VEHICLES.

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

2

DP03002 · Steering Column Separation

Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

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