1992 Dodge Stealth Transmission Problems

I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS OF STRIPPED SPLINES ON THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT [THAT GOES TO THE TRANSFER CASE]. THE BEVEL CUT GEAR IN THE TRANSFER CASE HAS ALSO STRIPPED IN BOTH INSTANCES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE HAVING THE TRANSMISSION TORN DOWN TO REPLACE THE SHAFT [NOT TO MENTION RENTAL CAR NEEDED DURING THE REPAIR]. ONCE THE SHAFT SPLINES STRIP OUT - THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE AND PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE DRIVER WHO IS OUT ON THE ROAD! *NM

NHTSA ID

10175958

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

129,000 mi

OUTPUT SHAFT IN TRANSMISSION HAS BROKE TWICE, ONCE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, NO MORE THAN A FEW HUNDRED MILES LATER THE SHAFT SNAPPED AGAIN. THE SHOP THAT REPLACED EVERYTHING THE FIRST TIME STATED THAT THE SHAFT IS VERY WEAK UNDER PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BABIED AND TAKEN WELL CARE OF, NEVER DRIVEN VERY HARD, BUT A FEW TIMES OF TAKING OFF AND THE SHAFT HAS BROKEN ON ME 2 TIMES. THIS TIME, THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR MONTHS BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER $4000 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BREAK AGAIN. ITS NOT MUCH CHEAPER TO INSTALL A PERFORMANCE OUTPUT SHAFT, WHICH COSTS AROUND $600 FOR THE SHAFT ALONE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170818

Incident

Feb 3, 2006

Mileage

105,000 mi

DODGE STEALTH (1992 RT AWD MODEL) TRANSMISSION FAILED ON HIGHWAY. FAILURE MODE WAS LOSS OF POWER. CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF ROAD SAFELY, BUT POSED A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO LACK OF POWER. *AK THERE IS A RECALL AGAINST THE GETRAG TRANSFER CASE (POSSIBLE BEARING SEIZURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEAL AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF LUBRICANT). BASED ON INITIAL RESEARCH (WEB, DEALER AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP STATEMENTS), IT APPEARS THE GETRAG TRANSMISSION IN THE STEALTH AND MITSUBISHI 3000GT MODELS ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR THE APPLICATION. THIS CAR HAS HAD EXQUISITE CARE AND IS DRIVEN IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION IS FUNDAMENTALLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND MITSUBISHI DO NOT ADMIT TO A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE PART. FURTHERMORE, THEY AND GETRAG HAVE CREATED A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS ON THIS PART SINCE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT OFFERED; REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

10066498

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

18 SPLINE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT IN MY 1992 TWIN TURBO DODGE STEALTH BROKE TWICE. FIRST TIME WAS JUNE 2002 AND THE CAR HAD APPROX. 91000 MILES. SECOND TIME WAS JULY 2003 AND THE CAR HAD APPROX. 114000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058180

Incident

Jul 16, 2003

Mileage

114,000 mi

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR THERE'S A HARD CLUNK SOUND. CONSUMER FEELS TRANSFER CASE IS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018044

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL WITH POSSIBLE WHEELS LOCKING DUE TO NO FLUID PASSING THROUGH MECHANISM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB

NHTSA ID

8017995

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSFER CASE HAS CRACKED AND FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT.THIS COULD CAUSE STEERING WHEEL OR ALL FOUR TIRES TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017871

Incident

Aug 22, 2002

FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION OF MALE OUTPUT SPLINES (STRIPED) OF SHAFT LEADING TO THE TRANSFER CASE (AWD UNIT).*AK

NHTSA ID

762315

Incident

May 24, 2002

IT COST OVER $4000.00 TO GET THE TRANSAXLE REPLACED. IF YOU NEED EXACT DATES, MILEAGE OR THE VIN # PLEASE CONTACT ME. I AM ASSOCIATED WITH THE 3SI CLUB. MANY OF THEM SAID THEY RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION OF SOME KIND WHEN THEY FILED THERE REPORT. THIS IS THE SECOND REPORT I HAVE FILED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM.THE FIRST REPORT SHOULD HAVE ALL INFO YOU REQUESTED EARLIER ON THIS FORM. (VIN, MILEAGE AT FAILURE AND DATE OF FAILURE)I FILED IT BECAUSE OF THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CORROSPONDENCE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF 3SI ,GETRAG AND MITSUBISHI MOTOR COMPANY. P.S. I STILL HAVE THE COMPLETE TRANSAXLE WITH ALL BROKEN PARTS IF THAT WILL HELP IN AN INVESTIGATION.IT SURE WOULD BE NICE TO GET IT REPLACED. THE CURRENT TRANSAXLE THAT I PURCHASED TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE HAS ALWAYS GROUND SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH. AND WHILE YOU ARE LOOKING INTO ALL THIS ASK THEM ABOUT THE $1000.00 3 PIECE DRIVESHAFT WITH UNIVERSAL JOINTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED. NLM

NHTSA ID

760820

Incident

Jun 20, 2000

THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LEAK IN DEC. 2001, I TOOK IT IN AND FOUND THERE WAS A LEAK AND IN ORDER TO FIX IT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS DONE UNDER EXT WARRANTY, LUCKILY, GOT THE CAR BACK 2-2-02, AND THE RE-MAN CARRIED A 3YR/36K WARRANTY. NOW AS OF FEB. 2002 THE TRANSMISSION LEAKING AGAIN, I HAVE ONCE AGAIN TAKEN IT BACK TO MY LOCAL 5 STAR DEALER, CARLIN DODGE, AND THEY ARE FORCED TO ORDER ANOTHER RE-MAN, DUE TO THE FACT THAT, PARTS CANNOT BE REPLACED ON THIS TRANNY, THE WHOLE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, AND THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THESE TRANNIES WOULD FAIL WHEN THEY WERE PUT IN, IE: MITSU AND GETRAG, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THESE TRANNIES COULD GO WITH NO WARNING AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

758418

Incident

Dec 16, 2001

THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, COULD NOT BE REBUILT.*AK

NHTSA ID

756025

I FEEL THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

754903

Incident

Aug 18, 2001

THE TRANSFER CASE OF MY 1992 DODGE STEALTH R/T TURBO HAS SEIZED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING A 4 WHEEL LOCKUP/SLIDE THROUGH TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY WITH ALL FLUIDS REPLACED WITH OEM OR BETTER FLUIDS. REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE SOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT SERIOUS INJURY IF NOT DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE INCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY WITH THESE CARS. THE SYNCHROS CAN WEAR WITHIN SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AVAILABLE DUE TO A CONTRACT BETWEEN MITSUBISHI AND GETRAG (MANUFACTURER OF THE TRANSMISSION). THEREFORE, REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS MUST BE PURCHASED FROM MITSUBISHI FOR OVER $5000. AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, THE 2-3 SYNCHRO WORE OUT. NOW REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IS BEYOND COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

749840

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

ALL 4 WHEELS LOCK UP UPON TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION IS PRONE TO LEAKING.TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE REBUILT, TOTAL REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. THIS IS A CONSISTANT PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR4S AND DODGE STEALTH R/T TURBOS, WHICH HAVE THE SAME DRIVETRAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

743257

Incident

Oct 13, 2000

I CONTACT YOU THE FIRST TIME THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, I WENT AND PAID $2,200 TO HAVE IT FIX .THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN I WAS STANDING STILL THE THE CAR FIRST JERK IN REVERSE WHILE IT WAS IN DRIVE THEN IT JUST STOP MOVING. I WAS WONDERING IS THE DODGE STEALTH IS PART OF THE MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORP COVER UP THATS GOING ON IN TOKYO. THANK YOU DAVID EARL CUMMINGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

740352

Incident

Apr 11, 2000

1ST TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE SHELLED AT 74K MILES. 2ND DEVELOPED PROBLEMS (GRINDING, NOTCHY SHIFTING, WHINING, BAD SYNCRHOS) AFTER LESS THAN 25K MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

738047

Incident

Aug 7, 1999

DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION EVEN UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

738046

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

THIS WILL NOW BE THE 5TH TRANSMISSION I HAVE HAD TO PUT INTO THIS VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED AND CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE $5000 IT WILL COST TO REPAIR THE CAR. THEY CLAIM NO PRIOR RECORD OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. BETWEEN FAILURE, I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS . IT HAS NEVER SHIFTED SMOOTHLY BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL IT CAME TIME TO REPLACE THE UNIT WHEN IT COMPLETLY FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ID

735738

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION IN LEARNING ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS FAILURE HAD VEHICLE "CHECKED" PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION (TIME VEHICLE STILL WITHIN MILEAGE) CHRYSLER UNWILLING TO HELP

NHTSA ID

730288

Incident

Aug 25, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

729361

Incident

May 4, 2000

THE MALE OUTPUT SPLINES WERE PREMATURLY STRIPED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT LEADS TO THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS IS CAUSED BY CLUTCH PARTICALS AND WEATHER GETTING INTO THE TRANSMISION CASE, AND WEARING THE SPLINES DOWN PREMATURELY. THIS HAPPENES ON "ALL" MODELS OF THIS CAR , AND IT HAPPENES INEVITABLY. AND THE CAR CANNOT DRIVE AT ALL UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED, AND THE REPARE IS A $7,000 TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM WHEN THE CAR WAS MADE, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

726592

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

I HAVE HAD ENDLESS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT. ABS, AIR BAG,ROTORS(5 TIMES AT LEAST), FUEL LINE, POWER STEERING LEAKS, TRANSMISSION, REAR END LEAKS, ENGINE LEAKS, DOESN'T DRIVE SAFELY AROUND CORNERS, GRINDING NOISE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, RINGING NOISE, TIRES, ETC! PROBABLY CLOSE TO $15,000 IN REPAIRS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS!

NHTSA ID

706407

Incident

Apr 29, 1999

THE 4TH GEAR SYNCHRONIZER IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS NOT WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST FALL. I CAN'T GET ANY SOLID ANSWERS ABOUT HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FROM THE DEALERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

705383

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED ON THE CAR JUST 1,000 MILES AFTER THE POWERTRAIN WARRENTY EXPIRED. I HAVE HEARD THAT DODGE/MITSUBISHI HAD A LOT OF FAILURES ON THESE CARS AND IN 93 BUILT THEM WITH STRONGER PARTS. I FEEL SOME IF NOT ALL OF THE REPAIR COSTS SHOULD BE COVERED AND WAS WONDERING IF THE NHTSA DOT HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINT/RECALL REQUESTS OR CLASS ACTION SUITS THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

NHTSA ID

703730

Incident

Nov 22, 1998

THE TRANSMISSION IN QUESTION IS MADE BY GETRAG. THE MANUFACTURE LISTES THIS AS UNSERVICEABLE. THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TRANY ARE INCREDABLE. WHAT CAN WE DO AS CONSUMERS TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM A FAULTY MANUFACTURED PART?

NHTSA ID

701572

Incident

Nov 1, 1998