Total Complaints
25 filings
DODGE SPIRIT · model year
1989 DODGE SPIRIT
25 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989DODGESPIRIT carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 SPIRIT is engine and engine cooling:engine with 4 filings, followed by suspension:rear (3) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1989 SPIRIT, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
25
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130616ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ODOMETER QUIT WORKING BUT SPEEDOMETER STILL WORKS, NEED ODOMETER FOR UPDATE ON STATE INSPECTION. *TR
Mileage: 54,845
20040306UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 1989 DODGE SPIRIT (WHITE IN COLOR). ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED PEELING PAINT OFF OF IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RODE WHEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD RIPPING NOISE. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHITE FLAKES FLYING OFF OF MY CAR, SO I PULLED OFF IN A PARKING SPOT & GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING & ALL I SAW WAS A LARGE SPOT ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR WHERE PAINT CAME OFF. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO EVER SINCE. *JB
20020930FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IDLE CONTROL MOTOR. NLM
19990930SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE REAR END TO DROP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990721ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
467. CONSUMER HAS DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS THAT LEAK ALL AROUND THE VALVE COVER. DEALER CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL DUE TO VIN. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990622POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK UNLESS DRIVER STARTS ENGINE AND PRESSES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND THEN SHIFTS IT INTO PARK. WHEN RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO TRY TAKING IT OUT OF PARK AT THE SAME TIME, OR IF SOMEONE ROCKS VEHICLE FROM THE BACK. *AK
19990219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON THE TRANSMISSION IT IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. ALSO THE REVERSE WENT OUT COMPLETELY,AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $1019. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. HE SHIFTER IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO WEAR AWAY, AND WILL SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NUETRAL BY ITSELF ON OCCASION. ALSO, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM SOMEWHERE, AND THERE IS A NEW SPOT UNDER THE CAR ON THE FLOOR WITH OIL. *AK
19990219POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON THE TRANSMISSION IT IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. ALSO THE REVERSE WENT OUT COMPLETELY,AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $1019. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. HE SHIFTER IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO WEAR AWAY, AND WILL SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NUETRAL BY ITSELF ON OCCASION. ALSO, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM SOMEWHERE, AND THERE IS A NEW SPOT UNDER THE CAR ON THE FLOOR WITH OIL. *AK
19990104ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A FAILING HEAD GASKET BY WEST LIBERTY DODGE, 1561 WEST LIBERTY AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15226, (412) 343-1300. THIS FAILURE WOULD SEEM TO BE COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 89V237000, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE RECALL. THIS REPAIR WILL COST $500+. WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO MAKE THE DEALER/MANUFACTURE COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY PHONE AND SEND MY VEHICLE INFORMATION TO THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU.
19970902ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. *AK
19970313POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BROKE, THE ROD ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD NOISE , CONTACT DEALERSHIP NO PARTS AVAILABLE, CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK
19961209POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
FLOOR SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT LOCK WHEN IN PARK, CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL BACXKWARDS. *AK
19961010STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION REPLACED.
19960625POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER STATES REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURE.*JB
19960312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKEN AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKEN AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS WHERE IT SAYS "PRESS", A PIECE BROKE OFF AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. *AK
19960220ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER AUTO CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ENGINE BURNED-AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROX 10 MILES. AUTO WAS TURNED OFF WHEN THE FIRE STARTED-CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK
19951127FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND GAS TANK CAUGHT ON FIRE.THE TRUNK NEAR REAR SEAT WAS ON FLAMES.THIS OCCURED WITH NO WARNING. TT
19951116SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR STABILIZER BAR FAILED, CAUSING NOISE.
Compare 1989DODGESPIRIT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 DODGE SPIRIT have?▼
The 1989 DODGE SPIRIT has 25 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 DODGE SPIRIT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 DODGE SPIRIT is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:REAR and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1989 DODGE SPIRIT safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.