1994 Dodge Spirit

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

• 12/18/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  THE GAS PEDAL STICKS AND THERE WAS A SPRING MISSING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 12/15/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT DURING ACCIDENT KNOCKED OUT DRIVER.

• 12/12/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING AT ANY SPEED. DODGE FINALLY SAID CO PILOT SHOULD BE INSTALLED, ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/09/2002· AIR BAGSCrashFire

  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

• 12/08/1997· STRUCTURE

  THE REAR CARRIER THAT CARRIES WHEEL WELL IS BROKEN ON THE END CARRIER. DEALER SAID WILL REPLACE PART ,OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK DEALER REPLACED REAR TRAIL AXLE. *SLC

• 12/07/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SEAT BELTSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT AND DID NOT HOLD THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET.

• 12/05/1996· POWER TRAIN

  DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. *AK

• 11/27/2003· SUSPENSION

  FOR OVER A YEAR, WE KEPT HEARING A METAL ON METAL THUNKING NOISE. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. TWO DAYS AGO, WHEN RETURNING HOME, WE HEARD A LOUD METALLIC THUNKING NOISE THAT WAS MUCH WORSE THAN PREVIOUSLY HEARD. IT SOUNDED LIKE WE WERE DRAGGING A TAIL PIPE OR MUFFLER. YET, WE FOUND NOTHING UNDER THE CAR. WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE JACKED UP THE CAR TO SEE IF WE WOULD FIND THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. THE DODGE SPIRIT IS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT USES A SOLID REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONSISTS OF A METAL "V" SHAPED CHANNEL CROSSMEMBER WITH A TORQUE TUBE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT. THE TORQUE TUBE IS RIGIDLY WELDED TO END PLATES AND IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AXLE ASSEMBLY AND CANNOT BE INDIVIDUALLY REPLACED. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE TORQUE TUBE HAD BROKEN THE WELD AT THE END PLATE AS WELL AS SNAPPING COMPLETELY IN HALF ABOUT 6" FROM THE END PLATE. THE NOISE WE HEARD WAS THIS TUBE SLAPPING UP AND DOWN IN THE "V" CHANNEL CROSSMEMBER. IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR DODGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP AS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. THE DODGE DEALER WASN'T MUCH HELP EITHER. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING (OBVIOUSLY) AND WOULD COST NEARLY $800 FOR THE PART. WE LIVE IN ARIZONA WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT IS DRY AND NON-CORROSIVE. THERE IS NO RUST ON THIS CAR, NOR ARE THERE SIGNS OF ABUSE OR DAMAGE. THE WELD FAILED ON THIS MAJOR COMPONENT. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR! SO, NOW, WE HAVE AN UGLY CAR (PAINT FAILED-SEPARATE COMPLAINT FILED) WITH A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION (COMPLAINT FILED) THAT IS SITTING LAME IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS HORRIBLE FOR A 9-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT HAS RECEIVED ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE REGULARLY, INCLUDING WHEEL ROTATIONS. *LA

• 11/27/2003· STRUCTURE

  WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OUR PURCHASE OF THIS USED CAR IN 1999, THE PAINT WENT VERY FLAT AND THE CLEAR COAT STARTED FLAKING OFF IN LARGE CHUNKS. THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE LEPROSY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE DEALER "DETAILED" THE CAR FOR SELLING AS THE PAINT WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED FOR US THAT QUICKLY. IN FACT, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE TIMING WAS "JUST ABOUT RIGHT" TO SUPPORT "DETAILING" OF THE CAR. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND WERE TOLD THAT SINCE WE ARE NOT ORIGINAL OWNERS, THEY COULDN'T HELP US. EVEN IF WE WERE ORIGINAL OWNERS, THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON PAINT OR FINISH. YET, EVERY DODGE SPIRIT THAT WE HAVE SEEN SINCE SUFFERS THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE CONTACTED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AGREES THAT THEY ALL SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT A RECALL. WE CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN TO THIS DATE, BUT HAVE HAD NEGATIVE RESULTS. SO, NOW WE DRIVE AN UGLY CAR THAT ALSO HAS SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *LA

• 11/27/2003· POWER TRAIN

  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. *LA

• 11/26/1998· SUSPENSION

  REFER TO PAGE 2-50 IN 1994 SPIRIT SERVICE MANUAL I HAVE PHOTO OF THE "CRACKED" "TORQUE TUBE OR ROD" WHICH IS A TUBE THAT IS WELDED WHERE IT PASSES THRU A HOLE IN EACH END PLATE (TO WHICH THE WHEELS ARE ATTACHED) OF THE REAR AXLE. THE CRACK WAS THREE INCHES FROM THE LEFT END PLATE. THE CRACK WAS CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND SHOWED RUST. MY DEALER MAJOR DODGE RAN A REPORT AND WOULD NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE SAYING THAT ALL WARANTEES HAD NO COVERAGE FOR THIS

• 11/14/1999· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VEHICLE STALLS OUT COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. *AK

• 11/07/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHEN THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED DURING COLLISION, DRIVER'S HANDS WERE INJURED, DRIVER'S THUMBS WERE ALMOST CUT OFF BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE AIR BAG COVER. *CJ

• 10/31/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PEELING PAINT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. SOMETIMES IN SMALL SPOTS BUT RECENTLY HALF THE ROOF OF THE CAR ROLLED OFF OVERNIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 BODY SHOPS & BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MARSHALL DODGE IN COVINGTON, KY WHERE I NOW GO FOR SERVICE THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT. I WAS ADVISED BY MARSHALL DODGE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE. I DID THIS & IT CAME BACK REFUSED WITH NO REASON GIVEN. I THEN WROTE TO THE COMPANY & AGAIN IT CAME BACK THAT THEY'D HAVE TO UPHOLD THE ORIGINAL DECISION BASED ON THE FACTS. NO ONE EVER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE OR CALLED TO QUESTION ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE ROOF IS STARTING TO RUST IN PLACES & I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR PAINTED. OBVIOUSLY I'D PREFER TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER DO SOMETHING THAN HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. IT IS HIS PROBLEM AFTER ALL. NO ONE WHO HAS LOOKED AT IT OR DONE ANY SPOT PAINT WORK ON IT WILL GUARANTEE THE WORK DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. DT

• 10/26/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  UPON TURNING IGNITION SWITCH SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN THEN FROM DASH. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND HAD CAR TOWED. DEALER STATES THAT IGNITION GROUNDED OUT AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE BURNING OF WIRING SYSTEM THROUGHOUT DASH AND MOTOR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN HIGH TRAFFIC WHERE IGNITION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY EVEN MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURED. THE DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS COULD HAPPEN.

• 10/24/1996· STEERING

  STEERING COLUMN IS BROKEN. *AK

• 10/20/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING REAR END COLLISION RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

• 10/15/1999· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULDER BELT TIGHTENS AROUND PASSENGER WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF OR DOOR OPENED.

• 10/14/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CRANKSHAFT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

• 10/08/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAG DEPLOY DARN NEAR TOOK THUMBS OFF MY HANDS, REQUIRED 15 STITCHES IN ALL. HIT DEER, CAUSING AIR BAG TO DEPLOY.

• 10/02/2000· TIRES

  BOUGHT FROM PEP BOYS, TIRE SIZE P18575R14, M/S, STEEL BELTED. DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE TREAD CAME OFF. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES DUE TO THE BAD CONDITION OF THEM. DOT#HVJ7ND069. *SLC

• 09/29/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANAMISSION AND SEALS FAILED CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL.

• 09/29/1997· VISIBILITY

  HEATER CORE FAILURE. *AK

• 09/28/1998· EQUIPMENT

  WARNING CHIMES WHEN KEYS ARE LEFT IN IGNITION OR THE LIGHTS ARE LEFT ON. NOW THE DOORS WILL LOCK WITH THE ENGINE ON AND THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION.

• 09/16/2002· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE, AND THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *YH

• 09/16/1998· SEATS

  WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE SEAT LATCH BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

• 08/29/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

• 08/27/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS FLUTTER ERRATICALLY, COULD RESULT IN FALSE READING OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT/A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITHIN DASH HARNSS, CAUSING DASH LIGHTS/TRUNK LIGHTS/ RADIO/BATTERY TO FAIL. *AK

• 08/25/1998· SEAT BELTS

  MOTORIZED PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT TIGHTENS AROUND THE PASSENGERS CHEST WHEN OPENING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE OR MOVE. DRIVER IS FORCED TO RELEASE THE BELT MANUALLY.

• 08/22/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAR SHUT OFF DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE, PURCHASED CAR USED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

• 08/21/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE TRAVELING TO MAKE A STOP THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 08/20/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DEALER FAILED TO CURE SEALER ON GASKET TO TRANSMISSION PAN,CAUSED LEAKS WHICH RESULTED IN TRANSAXLE FAILURE/SLIPPAGE

• 08/14/1996· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE NOISE, DEALER SAID THE REAR AXLE BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

• 08/11/1999· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 33,000 MILES

• 08/09/1996· STEERING

  POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY BROKE OFF AND THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOST.

• 08/07/2003· STRUCTURE,SEATS

  WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT BROKE. VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL CRACKING WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES. *NLM *CB *JB

• 08/07/1996· SEATS

  WHILE STARTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT INTERSECTION, THE SEATBACK RECLINER CONTROL FAILED AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK FELL INTO FULLY RECLINE DPOSITION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

• 08/07/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DRIVING AT SPEED 45MPH, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, TO STOP APPLIED BRAKES REAL HARD. *AK

• 08/04/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UP TO 35 MPH ENGINE SHUTS DOWN.THERE IS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER HAS INSTALLED A CO PILOT TO MONITOR VEHICLE.OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK *SLC

• 07/30/1997· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING IN A COLLISION. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. *AK

• 07/24/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

  THE AIR CONTIONER FAILED, NOT COOL ENOUGH DUE TO H-VALVE/CONDENSOR LEAKING, ALSO ROUGH IDLE/ VEHICLE STALLS AND NOISY BRAKES. *AK

• 07/23/2002· SUSPENSION

  T 30MPH AND WITH NO WARNING REAR AXLE SNAPPED, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

• 07/07/2000· SUSPENSION

  3 SPOT WELD FOR THE REAR SWAY BAR BROKE OFF, CAUSING A METAL TO METAL NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 07/01/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DOOR LOCKS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE.

• 06/26/1997· SEAT BELTS

  THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTS VERY TIGHTLY AROUND THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. PASSENGER REACH UP TO RELEASE PRESSURE OF THE BELT AND THE BELT TOOK HALF OF THE PASSENGER'S FINGER TIP OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL LISTED 94V-023 FOR SEAT BELT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SEAT BELT CONSUMER STATES. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS ALWAYS RETRACTED TIGHTLY SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATED. *AK

• 06/24/1996· EQUIPMENTFire

  VEHICLE'S CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS LOOSE, FELL OUT OF CONTAINER, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM LIGHTER FALLING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

• 06/23/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODIES, VALVE BODY SEALS, AND OVERHAUL OF REST OF TRANSMISSION.

• 06/21/2000· SEATS

  BOLT ON SEAT FRAME CAUSED SEAT BACK TO DROP TO THE REAR. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF CAR WAS MOVING. ENGINE BELT TENSIONOR BROKE LARGE ENGINE BELT , COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS TENSIONOR ALSO FROZE ON MY 1994 CARIVAN. MY FRIENDS 1998 CARIVAN BELT TENSIONOR ALSO BROKE AROUND 60000 MILES.. I SUSPECT AMNY DODGE CARS AND BREAKS HAVE BAD TENSIONOR'S. THIS WAS NOT FIXED AT DEALER. *AK

• 06/18/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HAS ROUGH IDLE UNTIL VEHICLE WARMS UP. WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ENGINE RUNS FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN STALLS. WHEN DRIVING OR TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, ENGINE STOPS. VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER.

• 06/16/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE GAS TANK HAS ROTTED AND GAS LEAKED OUT IN SEVERAL PLACES, CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *AK