IllustrationSEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN IN NORMAL USE, CAUSING EXTREME SLACK AND GIVING NO RESTRAINT IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NO AMOUNT OF COAXING WILL HELP THE BELT RETRACT. *NM
1991 Dodge Stealth
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Dodge Stealth do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Stealth 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: 15 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
63 reportsI OWN A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TWIN TURBO VERSION. MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ON ITS OWN, AND THERE IS CONSISTENTLY SLACK IN THE LINE WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED THAT UPON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER OBJECT, MY BELT WILL NOT BECOME RESTRICTIVE AND HOLD ITS PLACE. *JB
SEAT BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETRACT AS IT SHOULD. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEAT BELT FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKED. HE FOUND NHTSA RECALL 93V033001. THE MANUFACTURE SAID THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN 2002. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM NOW. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK
I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY BLOCK, STOPPED FULLY AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATED GENTLY AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT IN MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH TWIN TURBO SNAPPED, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOR A BIT UNTILT HE VCU BURNT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT SNAPPED.*AK
I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT INTO GEAR, CAR QUIT MOVING. *JB
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM. AT ONE TIME THIS WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. LAST YEAR THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO …
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THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM. AT ONE TIME THIS WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. LAST YEAR THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER RECALL REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, SO THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ONLY. *AK RECALL 02V143002. *SC
THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH RT TURBO. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, POWER IS NO LONGER TRANSMITTED TO THE REAR WHEELS WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO "TORQUE STEER". BASICALLY EVEN MODERATE ACCELERATION CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO UNPREDICTABLY VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *JB
I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TURBO AND IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSON AND TRANSFER CASE REPLACED TWICE, INCLUDING THE OUTPUT SHAFT. CLEARLY THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL.*AK
I OWN A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TWINTURBO. THIS CAR USES A 5 SPEED GETRAG TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IS THE FIRST INITIAL DESIGN WITH AN 18 SPLINE OUTPUT SHAFT. MY CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE SHOP THAT DID THE WORK EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WORN, AND THI…
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I OWN A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TWINTURBO. THIS CAR USES A 5 SPEED GETRAG TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IS THE FIRST INITIAL DESIGN WITH AN 18 SPLINE OUTPUT SHAFT. MY CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE SHOP THAT DID THE WORK EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WORN, AND THIS WAS AFTER ONLY 25K MILES OF REGULAR DRIVING. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFERCASE WITH MITSUBISHI'S/GETRAG'S REVISED VERSION WHICH FEATURED A STRONGER 25 SPLINE OUTPUTSHAFT. THIS REPAIR/PARTS COST ME UPWARDS OF 2500 DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THAT ITS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THESE TRANSMISSIONS RECALLED BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN DRIVING. I ALSO FEEL ITS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE CAR, HENCE THE NEWER DESIGN IN LATE 92 AND 93.*AK
Official recalls
402V143002 · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
May 14, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT BY MITSUBISHI MOTOR CORPORATION FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE NO OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE OIL CHANGED. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE RESEALED OR REPLACED IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 2, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
96V143003 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 8, 1996
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
95V103003 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
93V033001 · Power Train:driveline
Apr 8, 1993
A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE. LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE CAN CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BEARING FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTS INPOWER TRAIN LOCKUP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.THIS COULD CAUSE IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A C-RING TO TRANSFER CASE TO PREVENT OIL LEAKAGE, OR REPLACE TRANSFER CASE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE.
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
1EA92004 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Jan 23, 1992 · Closed Mar 26, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train
There is no summary currently available
Power Train
There is no summary currently available