Total Complaints
82 filings
DODGE SPIRIT · model year
1990 DODGE SPIRIT
82 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990DODGESPIRIT carries 82 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 11 fires, 11 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 1990 SPIRIT is air bags:frontal with 11 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (9) and engine and engine cooling:engine (8). 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 1990 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.
82
Complaints
7
Crashes
11
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 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 |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 11 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020807SUSPENSION:REAR
THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. ROD IN AXLE BROKE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT WHEEL MAY COME OFF. *AK THE WELD BROKE AT THE SPINDLE IN THE REAR AXLE. THE MECHANIC HAS FIXED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES PAID TOWARDS REPIARS. CONSUMER FEELS AN AXLE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT OCCUR WITHIN 68000 MILES. *JG
20011001CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER YET. CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK *YD
20010828FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR WAS REPAIRED BY SELLER DUE TO MELTED WIRES, SELLER CLAIMED I BYPASSED FUSEABLE LINK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHICH I DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT CAR ELECT. COMPONENTS. MR. ROBERT'S MECHANIC REWIRED SYSTEM & REPLACED FUEL PUMP IN TANK 1 MONTH EARLIER FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONLY.AFTER FIRE I TOOK NUMEROUS PICTURES OF ENGINE & WIRING THAT HIS MECHANIC HAD DONE REWIRING TO. THERE WAS NUMEROUS WIRES CONNECTED TO POSITIVE TERMINAL THAT WERE NOT THERE PREVIOUSLY,THEREWAS A LOUD BANG & THERE WERE FLAMES EXTRUDING FROM UNDER THE HOOD , AFTER FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED VINELAND F.D. ASKED WHAT WERE ALL THE WIRES THERE FOR. I TOLD THEM THAT MR. ROBERT'S AUTO MECHANIC HAD REWIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM &REPLACED, THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT OUR INSURANCE COMPANCY &HAVE THEM INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. THE V.F.D. STATED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO ELECT. & OR FUEL MALFUNCTION. I STILL OWE OVER $2500.00 ON THIS VEHICLE & THE INSURANCE CO. HAS TOTALLED THIS CAR AT 2500.00 . I BELEIVE TH
20010507POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE, SHIFTING DOWN FROM 4TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR DANGEROUSLY SLOWING THE CAR FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH A CHRYSLER REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB
20010215SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE TOO LONG. *AK
20010213POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3RD TRANSMISSION; 1ST REPLACED AT 115K MILES,2ND AT 117K,3RD AT 113K,2ND & 3RD ARE CHRYSLER REMANF TRANSMISSION. TRANS WENT INTO LIMP MODE AT 60MPH, DANGEROUS LOST OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC.*AK
20001218ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PREVIOUSLY OWNED AN 89 MODEL OF THIS CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW RECALL STATUS. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED IN SUMMARY. *AK
20001019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING HIT AN ISLAND ,AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DIED IN CENTER, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK
20000905UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PEELING -CAR MUST BE STRIPPED COMPLETELY PAINT CENTER SAYS
20000824VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE GOT THE CAR FROM MY MOTHER WHO IN TURN BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.WHEN WE GOT IT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AWAY AND ONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN.ONE DAY THE OTHER WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN ANYMORE.A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE STEREO AND SPEAKERS QUITE WORKING.THE CAR BURNS OIL.IT WAS BROUGHT TO A SHOP,THEY SAID IT WAS THE GASKET COVERS,WHICH WOULD COST OVER$600.00. *AK
20000824VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WE GOT THE CAR FROM MY MOTHER WHO IN TURN BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.WHEN WE GOT IT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AWAY AND ONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN.ONE DAY THE OTHER WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN ANYMORE.A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE STEREO AND SPEAKERS QUITE WORKING.THE CAR BURNS OIL.IT WAS BROUGHT TO A SHOP,THEY SAID IT WAS THE GASKET COVERS,WHICH WOULD COST OVER$600.00. *AK
20000824ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE GOT THE CAR FROM MY MOTHER WHO IN TURN BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.WHEN WE GOT IT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AWAY AND ONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN.ONE DAY THE OTHER WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN ANYMORE.A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE STEREO AND SPEAKERS QUITE WORKING.THE CAR BURNS OIL.IT WAS BROUGHT TO A SHOP,THEY SAID IT WAS THE GASKET COVERS,WHICH WOULD COST OVER$600.00. *AK
20000823FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN AIR CONDITION IS ON HIGH THE STEERING COLUMN GOT HOT AND BURNED THE WIRE THAT INDICATES NO BRAKES. ALSO IT HAS MELTED THE COVER BELOW THE IGNITION SWITCH.
20000822TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPERATION FROM BODY, NO DEFLATION, HAPPENED ON 2 TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/65R15 )
20000801CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD GOING 40 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CONSUMER INTO A DITCH, AND RESULTED IN MINOR FACE INJURIES TO CONSUMER. AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. *AK
20000619FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML
20000619FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML
20000619FireVISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML
20000619FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML
20000619FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 3-4 YEARS AGO. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY, CAUSING HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SWITCH NOT TO OPERATE/ AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY ON THE DASHBOARD/,BRAKE PADS FELL OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY WARNING/ GEAR SELECTOR FAILED, DID NOT SHOW THE CORRECT GEAR, AND REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. PARTS FOR WIRING HARNESS PURCHASED AT DEALER. *AK *ML
Compare 1990DODGESPIRIT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 DODGE SPIRIT have?▼
The 1990 DODGE SPIRIT has 82 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 11 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 DODGE SPIRIT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 DODGE SPIRIT is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1990 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.