RoadVitals

1989 Dodge Spirit Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jun 16, 2013
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 24, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Dodge Spirit. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–21 of 21

Electrical
Filed Jun 16, 2013

ODOMETER QUIT WORKING BUT SPEEDOMETER STILL WORKS, NEED ODOMETER FOR UPDATE ON STATE INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520002
Incident
May 22, 2013
Mileage
54,845 mi
Filed Mar 6, 2004

I HAVE A 1989 DODGE SPIRIT (WHITE IN COLOR). ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED PEELING PAINT OFF OF IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RODE WHEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD RIPPING NOISE. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHITE FLAKES FLYING OFF OF MY CAR, SO I PULLED OFF IN A PARKING SPOT & GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING & ALL I SAW WAS A LARGE SPOT ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR WHERE PAINT CAME OFF. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO EVER SINCE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10060559
Incident
Dec 6, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IDLE CONTROL MOTOR. NLM

NHTSA ID
8019893
Incident
Sep 24, 2002
Suspension
Filed Sep 30, 1999

REAR SUSPENSION HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE REAR END TO DROP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
849581
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 1999

467. CONSUMER HAS DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS THAT LEAK ALL AROUND THE VALVE COVER. DEALER CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL DUE TO VIN. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
842752
Incident
Jul 14, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 1999

WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK UNLESS DRIVER STARTS ENGINE AND PRESSES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND THEN SHIFTS IT INTO PARK. WHEN RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO TRY TAKING IT OUT OF PARK AT THE SAME TIME, OR IF SOMEONE ROCKS VEHICLE FROM THE BACK. *AK

NHTSA ID
840630
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 19, 1999

ON THE TRANSMISSION IT IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. ALSO THE REVERSE WENT OUT COMPLETELY,AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $1019. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. HE SHIFTER IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO WEAR AWAY, AND WILL SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NUETRAL BY ITSELF ON OCCASION. ALSO, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM SOMEWHERE, AND THERE IS A NEW SPOT UNDER THE CAR ON THE FLOOR WITH OIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
703493
Incident
Feb 19, 1999
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 1999

VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A FAILING HEAD GASKET BY WEST LIBERTY DODGE, 1561 WEST LIBERTY AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15226, (412) 343-1300. THIS FAILURE WOULD SEEM TO BE COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 89V237000, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE RECALL. THIS REPAIR WILL COST $500+. WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO MAKE THE DEALER/MANUFACTURE COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY PHONE AND SEND MY VEHICLE INFORMATION TO THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
701833
Engine
Filed Sep 2, 1997

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
518918
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 1997

THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BROKE, THE ROD ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD NOISE , CONTACT DEALERSHIP NO PARTS AVAILABLE, CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
809959
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Transmission
Filed Dec 9, 1996

FLOOR SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT LOCK WHEN IN PARK, CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL BACXKWARDS. *AK

NHTSA ID
512141
Steering
Filed Jul 29, 1996

RACK AND PINION REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
505288
Incident
Feb 1, 1992
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 25, 1996

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER STATES REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURE.*JB

NHTSA ID
986167
Incident
Mar 3, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Mar 12, 1996

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKEN AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
980558
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Feb 20, 1996

CONSUMER AUTO CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ENGINE BURNED-AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROX 10 MILES. AUTO WAS TURNED OFF WHEN THE FIRE STARTED-CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ID
979533
Fuel system
Filed Nov 27, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND GAS TANK CAUGHT ON FIRE.THE TRUNK NEAR REAR SEAT WAS ON FLAMES.THIS OCCURED WITH NO WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
975483
Incident
Nov 7, 1994
Brakes
Filed Nov 7, 1995

THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED NEED TO BE REPLACED THE BRAKE HOSE ON BOTH ARE CRACKED. TT

NHTSA ID
974710
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 30, 1995

HEADLIGHTS BECOME UNSEALED CAUSING CONDENSATION AND WATER TO COLLECT INSIDE HEAD LAMP; IMPAIRED HEADLIGHTS REFLECTIVE ABILITY. TT

NHTSA ID
974114
Incident
Mar 15, 1995
Suspension
Filed Jul 12, 1995

REAR STABILIZER BAR FAILED, CAUSING NOISE.

NHTSA ID
484070
Incident
Jun 16, 1995
Suspension
Filed Jun 5, 1995

REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ID
966312
Incident
May 19, 1995
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 1995

SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE. *AW

NHTSA ID
489577
Incident
Jul 1, 1992

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .