FaultScore report
Owners have filed 25 complaints about the 1989 Dodge Spirit with NHTSA between 1995 and 2013. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
25
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires
Median failure at 54,845 miles
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING
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A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
SUSPENSION
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.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Engine
ON VEHICLES WITH 2.2 LITRE OR 2.5 LITRE EFI(NON-TURBO) ENGINE, THE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY LEAK OIL CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: VALVE COVER GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED COVER AND RTV SEALANT APPLIED IN PLACE OF THE GASKET.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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 complaint #975483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ODOMETER QUIT WORKING BUT SPEEDOMETER STILL WORKS, NEED ODOMETER FOR UPDATE ON STATE INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10520002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #10060559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 complaint #8019893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE REAR END TO DROP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #849581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #842752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #840630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #703493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #703493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 complaint #701833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #518918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BROKE, THE ROD ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD NOISE , CONTACT DEALERSHIP NO PARTS AVAILABLE, CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #809959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
FLOOR SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT LOCK WHEN IN PARK, CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL BACXKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #512141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #505288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER STATES REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #986167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKEN AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKEN AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKE OFF AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH.
NHTSA complaint #980558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #979533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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 complaint #975483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR STABILIZER BAR FAILED, CAUSING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #484070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED NEED TO BE REPLACED THE BRAKE HOSE ON BOTH ARE CRACKED. TT
NHTSA complaint #974710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED NEED TO BE REPLACED THE BRAKE HOSE ON BOTH ARE CRACKED. TT
NHTSA complaint #974710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS BECOME UNSEALED CAUSING CONDENSATION AND WATER TO COLLECT INSIDE HEAD LAMP; IMPAIRED HEADLIGHTS REFLECTIVE ABILITY. TT
NHTSA complaint #974114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #489577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #966312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.