1991 Dodge Stealth Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Dodge Stealth, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission2739.1%
- Seat belts1318.8%
- Tires & wheels913.0%
- Brakes57.2%
- Engine45.8%
- Airbags34.3%
- Powertrain (other)22.9%
- Suspension22.9%
- Electrical22.9%
- Other / unspecified11.4%
- Driver assistance11.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS TO UNLOCK THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V143002 (POWER TRAIN: TRANSFER CASE: 4-WHEEL DRIVE), BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ
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
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED SINCE I OWNED THE CAR. ON (MAY, 200) THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. UPON TALKING TO OTHER CAR OWNERS THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK
I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH AND THE RETRACTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN YOU PUT ON THE SEAT BELT IN MOST CASES THE SLACK IS NOT TAKEN UP. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HOPE I'M NOT. *JB
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS TO UNLOCK THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V143002 (POWER TRAIN: TRANSFER CASE: 4-WHEEL DRIVE), BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. RECALL# 02V143002, POWER TRAIN, TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED. THE OIL LEAKS FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO BE LOCK AND DAMAGE THE DRIVE TRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IT WAS DENIED STATING THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION. ALSO, DEALERSHIP FAILED TO PERFORM REPAIRS FOR THE BRAKE RECALL 96V143003, BUT INDICATED THAT THEY DID. UPON INSPECTION THE ORIGINAL PART WAS STILL ON THE VEHICLE.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE BRAKE CALIPERS. *AK *CB *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHILED DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*AK
VALVES ARE VERY NOISY WITH NO APERENT FIX. THE MOTOR HAS BEEN REBUILT WITH NEW VALVES AND REPLACED BAD ROLLERS ROCKERS. MADE NOISE BEFORE AND AFTER REBUILD. HAS APROX. 30000 ON REBUILD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THOUSANDS OF OTHER STEALTH/3000GT OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. NOTED IN TSB, SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER, MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUALLY, DEALER NEEDS TO REPLACE AIRBAG SENSORS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSAXLE FROZE UP AND BUSTED AND THE SYNCHRONIZERS IN THE TRANSMISSION ARE SHOT MISTU/DODGE ONLY SELLS REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS NOT PARTS TO REPAIR ORIGINAL. AND AFTER CONTACTING THEM AND FINDING OUT THIS IS VERY COMMON BOTH THEM AND GETRAG HAVE GIVEN US THE RUN AROUND. *AK
TRANS AXLE FROZE/FAILED CAUSING ALL GEARS TO LOCK UP
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONTROL ARMS BENT, CAUSING BACK WHEELS TO BE MISALIGNED.
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING BECAME LOOSE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO TRANSAXLE AND OIL PAN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSE CONTINUED FAILURE OF THESE PARTS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE, BUT A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH OVER 50% OF ALL OWENERS. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION ,CAUSING ALL FAILURES TO COST IN EXCESS OF $5000. *AK
AFTER GETTING INFORMATION OFF THE WEB FROM OTHER STEALTH OWNERS, THE 2 ITEMS REPORTED ARE COMMON PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD 5 BATTERIES IN MY CAR SINCE 1991 AND EACH ONE HAS DIED AFTER A YEAR. ELECTRICAL SHOPS CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND WAS TOLD I HAD BAD BATTERIES. ONE MAYBE BUT NOT 5! OTHER OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AFTER 63,000 MILES. THIS COST OVER $2,600 TO REPLACE AND I COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER TO NO AVAIL. I HAD PROOF OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON THE TRANSMISSION AT 30,000 AND 60,000 MILES. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN MANY FAILURES ON THE MANUAL GETRAG TRANSMISSION ON THE STEALTH AND 3000 GT. BOTH CARS ARE MADE BY MITSUBISHI. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ONLY MANY PEOPLE DONT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES. I HOPE THAT THE DEPT WILL SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE SEPARATING AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENT ENGINE SURGES, RPM'S FLUCTUATES DRASTICALLY. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .