RoadVitals

1990 Dodge Spirit

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
63
Latest Aug 7, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 14, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
13
11 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 63 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Dodge Spirit, most frequently naming the airbags, transmission and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 34 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E033000

SUSPENSION

Apr 14, 2008
6,903 units potentially affected
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov
89V237000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Dec 27, 1989
634,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
The risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
The remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 63
Suspension
Filed Aug 7, 2002

THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. ROD IN AXLE BROKE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT WHEEL MAY COME OFF. *AK THE WELD BROKE AT THE SPINDLE IN THE REAR AXLE. THE MECHANIC HAS FIXED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES PAID TOWARDS REPIARS. CONSUMER FEELS AN AXLE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT OCCUR WITHIN 68000 MILES. *JG

NHTSA ID
8015695
Incident
Jul 15, 2002
Airbags
Filed Oct 1, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER YET. CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK *YD

NHTSA ID
897134
Incident
Sep 9, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2001
Fire reported

CAR WAS REPAIRED BY SELLER DUE TO MELTED WIRES, SELLER CLAIMED I BYPASSED FUSEABLE LINK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHICH I DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT CAR ELECT. COMPONENTS. MR. ROBERT'S MECHANIC REWIRED SYSTEM & REPLACED FUEL PUMP IN TANK 1 MONTH EARLIER FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONLY.AFTER FIRE I TOOK NUMEROUS PICTURES OF ENGINE & WIRING THAT HIS MECHANIC HAD DONE REWIRING TO. THERE WAS NUMEROUS WIRES CONNECTED TO POSITIVE TERMINAL THAT WERE NOT THERE PREVIOUSLY,THEREWAS A LOUD BANG & THERE WERE FLAMES EXTRUDING FROM UNDER THE HOOD , AFTER FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED VINELAND F.D. ASKED WHAT WERE ALL THE WIRES THERE FOR. I TOLD THEM THAT MR. ROBERT'S AUTO MECHANIC HAD REWIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM &REPLACED, THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT OUR INSURANCE COMPANCY &HAVE THEM INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. THE V.F.D. STATED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO ELECT. & OR FUEL MALFUNCTION. I STILL OWE OVER $2500.00 ON THIS VEHICLE & THE INSURANCE CO. HAS TOTALLED THIS CAR AT 2500.00 . I BELEIVE THIS PROBLEM WAS INCURRED BY THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THIS CAR BY THE SELLER & OR THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY SELLER. MY WIFE WAS NOT INJURED PHYSICALLY BUT MENTALLY DUE TO THE FACT SHE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT . ANY SUGGESTION'S OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, I AM 1 PERSON TRYING TO SUPPORT A FAMILY OF 5 & DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY FOR A CAR I NO LONGER POSSESS OR CAN DRIVE. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHT'S?

NHTSA ID
751117
Incident
Aug 9, 2001
Transmission
Filed Apr 10, 2001

AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE, SHIFTING DOWN FROM 4TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR DANGEROUSLY SLOWING THE CAR FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH A CHRYSLER REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID
560750
Incident
Jan 25, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Feb 15, 2001

SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE TOO LONG. *AK

NHTSA ID
880681
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 2001

3RD TRANSMISSION; 1ST REPLACED AT 115K MILES,2ND AT 117K,3RD AT 113K,2ND & 3RD ARE CHRYSLER REMANF TRANSMISSION. TRANS WENT INTO LIMP MODE AT 60MPH, DANGEROUS LOST OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC.*AK

NHTSA ID
740614
Incident
Jan 28, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2000

I PREVIOUSLY OWNED AN 89 MODEL OF THIS CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW RECALL STATUS. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
736992
Airbags
Filed Oct 19, 2000

WHILE DRIVING HIT AN ISLAND ,AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DIED IN CENTER, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
873358
Incident
Oct 18, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

23-014-15

EQUIPMENT

Child Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child Seat Tether Anchors based on Customer Request. Retrofits are subject to part availability. Vehicles in the following list that are marked **** for the model year are no longer supported with OEM retrofit kits. NOTE: Dealers are encouraged to honor any customers? request for the installation of the Child Seat Tether Anchors and Dealer reimbursement will be made by FCA US LLC regardless of vehicle age or mileage. See the Warranty Policy and Procedure Manual and/or Warranty Bulletin D-08-33 for reimbursement detail.

0801001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

2100601

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

0800600 REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *TT

2300800B

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Spirit by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002100—
1998100—
1996001—
1995380244.1
1994871252.8
1993810246.1
1992581251.0
1991953363.7
1990Viewing632056.0
1989212148.6

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.