AI DamageDodge Spirit: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Dodge Spirit across 9 model years: 445 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 10% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 84 complaints (19% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 80 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 63 complaints (14% of all).
- Air bags: 50 complaints (11% of all), 19 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 44 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1989
- 2.2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 1991–1992
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1989–1995
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 1989–1992
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1989–1995named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 3-speed 1989–1995
- automatic, 4-speed 1989–1994
- manual, 5-speed 1989–1994
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 445 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 84 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 80 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 63 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 50 | 19 | 0 |
| Suspension | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 35 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving 65 mph, the cruise control was engaged and set itself to 90 mph without warning. The consumer was able to decelerate the vehicle to 30 mph. This problem caused a minor rear end collision. The consumer had the vehicle towed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Consumer state while traveling 35 mph in result of a vehicle crash consumer air bag deploy and caught passenger coat on fire. Please provide further information. Ph
Air bags did not deploy after a really bad impact. Also, seat belt buckles did not lock properly.dealer was notified.
Front crash 35 mph, driver's airbag deployed, and a 3 inch piece of hard plastic hit driver in face and caused injury.
While driving on a secondary road going 40 mph and without any advanced warning driver's side airbag deployed. Deployment caused consumer into a ditch, and resulted in minor face injuries to consumer. Airbag deployed on its own without any type of impact on the vehicle prior to deployment.
Vehicle caught on fire in engine compartment while parked. There were no injuries. Engine oil ignited when engine padding got heated by engine.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.