AI Damage1991 Dodge Spirit: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Dodge Spirit filed 95 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 95
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 26% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 25 complaints (26% of all).
- Powertrain: 15 complaints (16% of all).
- Electrical system: 13 complaints (14% of all).
- Air bags: 12 complaints (13% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
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 · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 95 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 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.
My right arm was therefore in the 12:00 position on the steering wheel when the airbag deployed, and threw my right arm into the windshield smashing the windshield and my elbow knocked the rear view mirror off of the window.
Consumer was involved in an accident. Driver's airbag came out, but did not fully deploy, causing injuries and burning of mittens and coat.
Hit from the rear and the driver's seat disconnected from the frame.
Vehicle was impacted at 3:00 position, vehicle was at complete stop, driver side seat broke, and went into reclining position , causing seat back failure
Vehicle parked, put into drive, vehicle went into open throttle position, causing sudden acceleration, impact 1:00 position, speed unknown. Tt
Cruise control engaged from a parked position and caused an accident. Tt
*ohio traffic crash report* the vehicle started to hesitate. Consumer noticed smoke and flames and pulled off the road. Functional damage was sustained to the engine and under carriage areas.
The paint on the car's hood began to crack and peel 4 years after the car was manufactured. There are thousands of documented cases and still chrysler/dodge acknowledges any wrong doing.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,695 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Spirit has 49 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 95, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- 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 years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Dodge Spirit?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 95. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (7%), stalls while driving (6%), seat belts (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Dodge Spirit?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Dodge Spirit from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
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.