92 of the
603 complaints filed about the Dodge Spirit
are about the transmission —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
92
Complaints
15%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I HAVE A 1995 DODGE SPIRIT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THERE STARTED TO BE A SHAKE ON THE FRONT END. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ITS SOMETHING WITH THE AXLE. I TALKED TO A FRIEND TONIGHT WHO HAS A 1995 ACCLAIM, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME VEHICLE JUST A DIFFERENT NAME PUT ON THE BACK.. HE HAD THAT SAME PROMBLEM A YEAR AGO.. TALKED TO ANOTHER FRIEND WHO HAS A 1995 DODGE SPIRIT. HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM 6 MONTHS AGO. TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO HAD A 1994 DODGE SPIRIT .. SHE NEVER HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.. IM THINKING THAT IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FRONT AXLE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10126587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I OWN A 1993 DODGE SPIRIT WITH ONLY 96000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHEN I AM DRIVING AROUND TOWN. IT HAPPENS AROUND 20-30 MPH. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION NOT CHANGING GEARS AS NEEDED. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF DEFECTS WITH THE 41TE AND 42LE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10013785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
REAR AXLE BAR BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DUE TO LOCATION OF BREAK, WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ($885.97). REPAIR SHOP COMMENTED THAT PART READILY AVAILABLE INDICATING A COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO THE CONNECTOR. WATER PUMP PULLEY AND BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF PULLEY WHICH CAUSED IT TO RUB ON BELTS. CREATED LARGE AMOUNT OF ENGINE NOISE. ADDITIONALLY VALVE GASKET COVER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE TO CORRECT RECURRENT OIL LEAK. CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE 9-3-02--CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY DON'T CARE.
NHTSA complaint #766617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR AXLE BAR BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DUE TO LOCATION OF BREAK, WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ($885.97). REPAIR SHOP COMMENTED THAT PART READILY AVAILABLE INDICATING A COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO THE CONNECTOR. WATER PUMP PULLEY AND BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF PULLEY WHICH CAUSED IT TO RUB ON BELTS. CREATED LARGE AMOUNT OF ENGINE NOISE. ADDITIONALLY VALVE GASKET COVER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE TO CORRECT RECURRENT OIL LEAK. CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE 9-3-02--CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY DON'T CARE.
NHTSA complaint #766617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS USED ON ALL SPIRITS, ACCLAIMS, LEBARON SEDANS, CIRRUS, STRATUS, ALL MINIVANS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. THERE IS A BUILT IN DEFECT. I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS SOONER, BUT I WAS A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE. THE SECOND TIME THE TRANS FAILED WAS AT 65-70 MPH IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL, SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #749553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE, SHIFTING DOWN FROM 4TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR DANGEROUSLY SLOWING THE CAR FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH A CHRYSLER REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #560750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
3RD TRANSMISSION; 1ST REPLACED AT 115K MILES,2ND AT 117K,3RD AT 113K,2ND & 3RD ARE CHRYSLER REMANF TRANSMISSION. TRANS WENT INTO LIMP MODE AT 60MPH, DANGEROUS LOST OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #740614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
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.
CONSUMER HEARD METAL TO METAL NOISE COMING FROM REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY BROKE. CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW AXLE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT WELD IT BACK TOGETHER. IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THREE DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD NO CLUES AS TO WHAT THE CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT.
NHTSA complaint #863192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO TRAVEL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #862371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. ON 04/23, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK FOR THE FIRST 5 MILES, THEN IT WOULD START WORKING. ON 4/27 THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. ON 01/07/98, I WAS CHARGED 320.52 TO REPLACE THE SPEED AND EMISSION SENSORS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS DEFECT CORRECTED. WITH ACCESSING THIS WEBSITE I WAS UNAWARE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALER (ZANGARA DODGE) KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFEATS YEARS IN ADVANCE, YET I WAS CHARGED TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS REACCURED, ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WILL BE APPRECIATED. DRIVING WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER IS SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS....I JUST DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER $320 TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #722040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.