IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODIES, VALVE BODY SEALS, AND OVERHAUL OF REST OF TRANSMISSION.
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.
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: 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
What owners actually said
87 reportsVEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE ELSE, AND DURING THAT TIME THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS OF 30 MPH, AND HIT DRIVER IN THE FACE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL NOT RELEASE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND NEW BUCKLE WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT AND DID NOT HOLD THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET.
REFER TO PAGE 2-50 IN 1994 SPIRIT SERVICE MANUAL I HAVE PHOTO OF THE "CRACKED" "TORQUE TUBE OR ROD" WHICH IS A TUBE THAT IS WELDED WHERE IT PASSES THRU A HOLE IN EACH END PLATE (TO WHICH THE WHEELS ARE ATTACHED) OF THE REAR AXLE. THE CRACK WAS THREE INCHES FROM THE LEFT END PLATE. THE CRACK WAS CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND SHOWED RUS…
Read full complaint
REFER TO PAGE 2-50 IN 1994 SPIRIT SERVICE MANUAL I HAVE PHOTO OF THE "CRACKED" "TORQUE TUBE OR ROD" WHICH IS A TUBE THAT IS WELDED WHERE IT PASSES THRU A HOLE IN EACH END PLATE (TO WHICH THE WHEELS ARE ATTACHED) OF THE REAR AXLE. THE CRACK WAS THREE INCHES FROM THE LEFT END PLATE. THE CRACK WAS CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND SHOWED RUST. MY DEALER MAJOR DODGE RAN A REPORT AND WOULD NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE SAYING THAT ALL WARANTEES HAD NO COVERAGE FOR THIS
FAILED DRIVE BELTS AND DIRTY FUEL INJECTION UNIT CAUSED VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER.
WARNING CHIMES WHEN KEYS ARE LEFT IN IGNITION OR THE LIGHTS ARE LEFT ON. NOW THE DOORS WILL LOCK WITH THE ENGINE ON AND THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION.
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE SEAT LATCH BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK
MOTORIZED PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT TIGHTENS AROUND THE PASSENGERS CHEST WHEN OPENING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE OR MOVE. DRIVER IS FORCED TO RELEASE THE BELT MANUALLY.
Official recalls
194V023000 · 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
2DP03002 · 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