FaultScore

1994 Dodge Spirit transmission problems

18 of the 119 complaints about the 1994 Dodge Spirit are about the transmission — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.

B

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 11 61.1%
Axle Assembly 3 16.7%
Axle Shaft 2 11.1%
Torque Converter 1 5.6%
Seal 1 5.6%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Dodge Spirit year

1990 18 22.8%
1991 17 21.5%
1992 16 20.3%
1993 10 12.7%
1994 18 22.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 80,000 miles Wittmann, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER IN 1999, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP. WE COMPLAINED, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. IN 2001, WE TOOK THE CAR TO YET ANOTHER DODGE DEALER. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THE PRICE THEY QUOTED WAS $1,800. SO NOW, WE DRIVE A CAR WITH A HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION THAT SLIPS UPON TAKE OFF AND HARD ACCELERATION WHILE PASSING.

NHTSA complaint #10047688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Inez, TX

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE, AND THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8018756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport News, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARSHLY & GOING OUT OF GEAR WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A $2,000 RE-BUILD AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP OUT. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE CHRYSLER CARS AND MINI VANS HAVE BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR BAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. HOW HAS THIS BEEN PERMITTED TO GO ON FOR SO LONG? ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS EXPERIENCING A MAJOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE IS RIDICULOUS. THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY AN ELDERLY COUPLE WHO MAINTAINED IT TO THE MAX. AND BABIED IT ON THE ROAD. THE CAR LOOKS BRAND NEW AS IT HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A HEATED GARAGE. SUCH A MAROF FAILURE AT SUCH EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE IS UNREASONABLE, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FACT THAT SUDDEN POWER LOSS TO THE DRIVE WHEELS AND HARSH DOWNSHIFTING, SLOWING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY IS DANGEROUS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN GIVEN A "BYE" ON THIS ISSUE IN SPITE OF SO MANY PRODUCT FAILURES. WHY? THE4 TRANSMISSON SHOPS TELL ME THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN USE FACTORY PARTS WHEN THEY RE-BUILD. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY FROM A COMPANY THAT WAS SAVED FROM BANKRUPTCY BY "WE THE PEOPLE".

NHTSA complaint #756622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Owatonna, MN

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TOOK A LOOK, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND CONTINUED DRIVING. CONSUMER TRAVELED AT 65MPH, THE FASTER SHE DROVE LESS IT SEEMED TO WIGGLE. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT, AND IT WAS LEFT OUTER FRONT HALF SHAFT. PART WAS WIGGLING AND RUBBING METAL ON METAL. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, LIKE BRAKE PAD.

NHTSA complaint #889379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Battle Ground, WA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 65K AND REPLACED AT 83K--MECHANIC STATES THE ONLY WAY THIS IS POSSIBLE IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, I CONTACTED THE BBB WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $4000 ON TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT AM I TO DO?

NHTSA complaint #745749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sykesville, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 33,000 MILES

NHTSA complaint #709872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lorton, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODIES, VALVE BODY SEALS, AND OVERHAUL OF REST OF TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #707826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lorton, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODIES, VALVE BODY SEALS, AND OVERHAUL OF REST OF TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #707826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norfolk, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANAMISSION AND SEALS FAILED CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL.

NHTSA complaint #541394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norfolk, VA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

TRANAMISSION AND SEALS FAILED CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL.

NHTSA complaint #541394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meriden, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: BOUGHT CAR FEBRUARY 94, HAD NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN IN 1996. CURRENTLY, WHEN DRIVING ALONG IT DOWN SHIFTS ON ITS OWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL POP BACK INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES IT JUST GOES INTO SECOND AND WILL NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #807925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Four Oaks, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL.

NHTSA complaint #805959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charleroi, PA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE NOISE, DEALER SAID THE REAR AXLE BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #800863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REPLACED NOISY TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #960646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, OH

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

REPLACED NOISY TRANSAXLE.

NHTSA complaint #960646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REPLACED NOISY TRANSMISSION. TT

NHTSA complaint #960099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, OH

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

REPLACED NOISY AXLE SHAFT BEARINGS.

NHTSA complaint #960099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSFER GEARS ON THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED. TT

NHTSA complaint #958202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Dodge Spirit problems

← Full 1994 Dodge Spirit report