FaultScore

1990 Dodge Spirit electrical problems

15 of the 82 complaints about the 1990 Dodge Spirit are about the electrical system — 18% of everything reported for this model year.

F

15

Complaints

0

Crashes

7

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 5 33.3%
Switch 4 26.7%
Front Underhood 2 13.3%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 13.3%
Module 1 6.7%
Electrical System 1 6.7%

Electrical System across every Dodge Spirit year

1990 15 27.3%
1991 13 23.6%
1993 16 29.1%
1994 11 20.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Vineland, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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 complaint #751117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cedar Hill, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 complaint #9001728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyvale, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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

NHTSA complaint #863775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyvale, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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

NHTSA complaint #863775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawthorne, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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

NHTSA complaint #863303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Syracuse, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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 complaint #708478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

NHTSA complaint #814206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Valley Stream, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR BELT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #510482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyvale, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #511493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gastonia, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TRIED TO START CAR SMOKE POURED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #803176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Porter, OK Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

NHTSA complaint #986123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverbank, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #500601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverbank, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #500601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Voorheesvi, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

COMPUTER MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #480207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crete, NE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #479618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Dodge Spirit problems

← Full 1990 Dodge Spirit report