AI Damage1995 Dodge Spirit: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Dodge Spirit filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 38
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 21% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (21% of all).
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (11% of all).
- Suspension: 4 complaints (11% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 38 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 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.
Brake system failure, loss of braking ability, resulted in an accident.
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..
1995 dodge spirit developed a crack in the inner torsion bar.** answer required***. The consumer had the rear end of the vehicle welded, but it did not hold for long and now the vehicle makes a loud noise when making right turns. The consumer believed this defect should be recalled.
1995 dodge spirit has a defective trailing arm assembly.** answer required***. The trailing arm was welded. The weld did not hold long and broke causing a loud pop when making right turns. The consumer believes the vehicle should be recalled for this problem since the problem is a common defect.
Consumer stated that the torque tube cracks inside of weld on left hand side of vehicle which weakens the trailing arm. Dealer contacted. Nlm
The vehicle leaked gasoline due to fuel line being abraded by friction.
While traveling 20mph and crossing railroad tracks, and without prior warning, driver's side airbag deployed. Dealership was aware of problem.
Driver alerted to a problem by honking of other drivers, and told gasoline was streaming from the tank area. Drove home, found that the fuel and brake lines had been mounted one above the other (rigid vs.
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 6,094 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Spirit has 49 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 38, below average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Dodge Spirit?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 38. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (8%), stalls while driving (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 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 1995 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 1995 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.