1991 Dodge Spirit

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  WHEN I USE MY A/C THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BEGANTO GET HOT, SO HOT THAT IT HAS MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN COVER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SWITCH, $150.00 LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO NOW STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR, SO I REPLACED THAT AS WELL. $170.00 LATER, STILL HAVEING PROBLEMS. LONG STORY SHORT I'VE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DUE WITH THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXSITS. I'VE GONE SO FAR AS TO VISIT LOCAL JUNK YARDS IN ORDER TO SEE IF EVIDANCE EXSITS THAT OTHER 91" DODGE SPIRITS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, OF THE 15 CARS THAT I INSPECTED ALL BUT ONE HAD THE SAME OVERHEATING PROBLEM, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT THESE CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS BY VIEWING THE WIRING SYSTEM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICE THAT THE WIRING AND STEERING COLUMN COVER WERE MELTED OR HAD HEAT DAMAGE CAUSED TO THEM AS DID MY OWN CAR.*AK

• 12/22/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  REPEATED TRANSMISSION REPAIRS & OIL LEAKS + HEAD REPLACEMENTS. *AK

• 12/14/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TWICE NOW OIL PAN HAS BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE IT IS TOO LOW. ONCE IT WAS DAMAGED GOING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND SCRAPEING THE CROWN IN THE ROAD AND CAUSING THE OIL PAN TO LEAK. ANOTHER TIME IN THE SNOW WE HIT AN ICE BALL FROM THE CAR INFRONT OF US CAUSING A HUGE DENT IN THE OIL PAN. THE OIL PAN IS ROUGHLY 2 INCHES LOWER THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR, WHICH MEANS THATANYTIME YOU HIT ANYTHING THE FIRST THING THAT GETS DAMAGED WILL BE OIL PAN AND IN RETURN COULD CAUSE MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. *AK

• 12/11/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PEDAL HITS BOTTOM DURING HEAVY BRAKING/PANIC STOPPING; NO WARNING; EXTENDED STOPPING; HIGH SPEED ON TURNPIKE, COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT. TT

• 12/10/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE GASKET KEEPS BLOWING AND WARPED THE ENGINE HEAD . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

• 11/27/1995· SEATS

  SEAT BACK RECLINED WHEN BOLT HOLDING SEAT BACK IN PLACE DISLODGED. *DSH

• 11/24/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DUE TO DESIGN FLAW TIMING BELT BROKE ON NINE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. DEALER CAN NOT DETERMINE WHAT'S CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/19/1996· SEATSCrash

  HIT FROM THE REAR AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. *AK

• 11/18/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  CONSUMER PARKED CAR AND WHILE STILL SITTING IN CAR STARTED TO FEEL VERY STRONG HEAT AND CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. CONSUMER BELIEVES FUEL LINE LEAK MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. *AK

• 11/17/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP WENT OUT, VEHICLE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ,PLEASE DISCRIBE PROBLEM. TT

• 11/14/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OIL PAN REPLACED DUE TO OIL LEAK.

• 11/06/1996· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 11/03/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN

  THE FIRST TIME I FILLED THE TANK THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT RAN GOO IN THE 39 DAYS I HAD IT, APPART FROM BEING HESITANT TO CHANGE GEAR AT TIMES. ON SUNDAY WHILE TAKING MY KIDS ON A TRIP TO GREAT ADVENTURE,I WAS JUST OVER THE BETSY ROSS BRIDGE WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE THROUGH MY REAR VIEW. I HURRIEDLY PULLED OVER AND IN A FEW SECOND WE NOTICE THE SMOKE WAS UNDER THE HOOD. AND WE STAND THERE WE NOTICE MELTED RUBBER OR WIRE WAS DROPPING DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT SO WE GRABBED A FEW THINGS FROM THE CAR AND KEPT OUR DISTANCE UNTILL THE POLICE AND FIRE TRUCK APPEARED.

• 11/03/1995· SEAT BELTS

  THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN LOCKED . TT

• 11/02/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSS ALL POWER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. *YC

• 10/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT BREAKS WHEN OPERATING AT 55-60 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, ON 7 OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. MJS

• 10/23/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  I TRIED TO STEER AWAY FROM A CRASH BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT. 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. THE SEATBELT RESTRAINED ME APPROPRIATELY AND I HAD SOME SEATBELT BRUISING BUT THE AIRBAG SEVERELY CONTUSED MY ARM AND ELBOW WITH POSSIBLE FRACTURES AND CRUSHED BONES RESULTING IN MY ARM BEING IMMOBILIZED IN A LONG ARM CAST. THE SWELLING AND PAIN WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE DOCTORS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE INJURIES. NOW TODAY THEY THINK THAT A TRAUMATIC FUSION MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN MY WRIST. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INJURIES REPORTED THAT HAVE CAUSED OTHER VICTIMS TO HAVE THEIR ARM/S THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD BY A DEPLOYING AIR BAG? I DO SIT AT LEAST 12 INCHES AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARDS MY FACE OR CHEST, BUT RATHER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION

• 10/22/1997· TIRES

  FOUR TIRES FAILED (METRIC MICHELIN 195/70/14).

• 10/20/1998· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN CONSUMER INJURY.

• 10/19/2001· STEERING

  POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK FAILED. *YH

• 10/19/2000· STRUCTURECrash

  NO SUMMARY

• 10/17/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DEFECTIVE MOTOR MOUNTS, RESULTING IN POOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. TT *SLC

• 10/14/1997· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED.

• 10/11/1994· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHEEL BEARING FAILURE CAUSED RIGHT REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TW

• 10/04/1996· SUSPENSION

  SWAY BAR/TRAILING ARM CRACKED.

• 09/25/1995· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. *SD

• 09/24/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. DLR REPLACED TRANSMISSION.

• 09/23/1996· ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

  FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY FAILED DASH UNIT.

• 09/18/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PAINT IS PEELING CONSTANTLY IN CHUNKS,AND STEERING WHEEL AND SURROUNDING AREAS BECOME HOT WITH HEAT FROM ASSUMEABLY THE IGNITION.

• 09/17/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED A FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED NEXT WEEK. *AK THE DEALER SAID TO BE THE WIRING HARNESS AS DEFECTIVE. *YH

• 09/16/1996· STRUCTURE

  REAR CROSSMEMBER CRACKED. *AK

• 09/16/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASE CAR USED HAD IT A MONTH AND A HALF THE CAR BROKE DOWN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . TT

• 09/09/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD MOVE, BUT NOT CATCH ANY GEAR. THIS WAS DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING UNTO THE LEAKAGE CABLE FOR THE GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE ACID LEAKING ONTO THE CABLE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID REPLACED THE CABLE. *AK

• 08/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND HAD HIS DOG IN THE CAR GOING ON A CAMPING TRIP. HE BARELY GOT THE CAR PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND GOT THE DOG OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMRNT WAS ALSO ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS OS INTENSE IT MELTED THE FRONT WHEELS OFF THE CAR. IT SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PROCEEDED INTO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. THE FIRE TRUCKS WERE ON THE SCENE FOR PROBABLY AN HOUR TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND GET IT UNDER CONTROL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE PLUS WHY IT SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SO QUICKLY AS TO BARELY ESCAPE ALIVE.

• 08/29/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND THEN SUDDENLY STARTED AGAIN. ALSO REPLACED OUL PRESSURE SENSOR. *AK

• 08/24/1998· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  PAINT IS PEELING FROM HOOD, ROOF AND FENDERS. OWNER TOLD THAT THIS IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY.

• 08/22/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & DROVE A WHILE; VEHICLE STALLED OUT AGAIN. CALLED AAA & DID NOT FIND PROBLEM. FOLLOWED A WHILE; NO STALLING TILL TRUCK LEFT. TOOK TO DEALER; ON DIAGNOSTIC & NOTHING FOUND. VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. *AK

• 08/18/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY IN FUEL TANK, OVER HEATED WIRES CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. TT

• 08/17/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  UPON USING VEHICLE AFTER HOT START, VEHICLE PERFORMS ERRATIC W/STALLING AND HESITATION. TT

• 08/15/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE'S IGNITION SYSTEM ELECTRCAL WIRING SHORTED AND BURNED UP.CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION.*AK

• 08/12/1996· SEATSCrash

  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*AK

• 08/11/1995· STRUCTURE

  REAR CROSS MEMBER CRACK AT 50,000 MILES. TT

• 08/07/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM, W WHEEL DISC BRAKES HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, ALSO SOFT PEDAL AND PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. TT

• 07/31/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DURING STOPS OR WHEN IDLING; EXCESSIVE BREAKING IS REQUIRED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. *AK

• 07/26/2002· STRUCTURE

  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. IT WAS THEIR PAINTING PROCESS THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN NOT THE THOUSANDS OF LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S DODGE CAR/TRUCK/VAN OWNERS. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

• 07/24/1996· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP PRIOR TO DOWNSHIFTING. *AK

• 07/22/1997· SUSPENSION

  REAR TRAILING SUSPENSION ARM BROKE AT WELD.

• 07/15/2002· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING OVER A STONEY ROAD AT 10MPH, THE ANTI SWAY BAR BROKE.*AK AFTER DRIVNG OVER FRESHLY LAID GRAVEL WHICH WAS DEEP IN SOME AREAS, THE VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE CHARACTERISTIC OF A BROKEN ANTI SWAY BAR. THIS BAR WAS WELDED AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR BUT LATER BROKE AGAIN. THE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE. *JG

• 07/15/1996· SEAT BELTS

  PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 07/11/2000· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE HAS A BROKEN TRAILING ARM ON THE REAR SUSPENSION, CAUSING A RATTLING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY COMPLETE ASSEMBLY. STABILIZER BAR DEFECT IS CAUSING PROBLEMS. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR/REPLACE IT, BUT OWNER NOT SURE IF NEW ONE WILL BE BETTER. *AK *ML