RoadVitals

1990 Dodge Spirit Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Aug 25, 2001
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 63 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Dodge Spirit submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 2000
Fire reported

WHEN AIR CONDITION IS ON HIGH THE STEERING COLUMN GOT HOT AND BURNED THE WIRE THAT INDICATES NO BRAKES. ALSO IT HAS MELTED THE COVER BELOW THE IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
9001728
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Jun 19, 2000
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
863775
Electrical
Filed Jun 9, 2000

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS REPLACED SWITCH TWICE. NOW WHEN OWNER TURNS ON THE A/C OR HEATER FAN, THE SECTION OF THE SWITCH WHERE THE WIRES CONNECT BECOMES EXTREMELY HOT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
863303
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jul 10, 1999
Fire reported

THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ARTERY OF TRAFFIC AND I LITTERALLY HAD TO TURN ON MY SIGNAL AND THEN MAKE A QUICK EXIT OFF THE ROAD SO NOT TO INTTERRUPT ANY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ID
708478
Incident
Jul 8, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 1997

VEHICLE PARKED; DRIVER GOT INTO VEHICLE & STARTED IT; NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN & FILLING VEHICLE; TURNED VEHICLE OFF & TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION; SMOKE STOPPED; TOOK PLASTIC COVER OFF STEERING WHEEL & NOTICED WIRING HAD BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
814206
Incident
Jul 13, 1997
Electrical
Filed Nov 19, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA ID
511493
Incident
Sep 2, 1996
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 22, 1996

AIR CONDITIONER BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
510482
Incident
Oct 16, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 3, 1996

TRIED TO START CAR SMOKE POURED OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
803176
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO BURN, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986123
Incident
Jun 23, 1996
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 27, 1995

CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. (1ST VEHICLE ON 480806/479617). *AW

NHTSA ID
479618
Incident
May 27, 1995
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed May 23, 1995

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
500601
Incident
May 23, 1995
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1995

FRONT CALIPERS STICK, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR ON BRAKE PADS.

NHTSA ID
480207
Incident
Feb 1, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags15Transmission13Engine10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .