Total Complaints
135 filings
DODGE SPIRIT · model year
1991 DODGE SPIRIT
135 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991DODGESPIRIT carries 135 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 8 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1991 SPIRIT is engine and engine cooling:engine with 25 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (9) and vehicle speed control (6). 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 1991 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.
135
Complaints
11
Crashes
8
Fires
10
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
11 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 | 25 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 9 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 6 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 5 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 3 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20030213FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
*OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT* THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE ENGINE AND UNDER CARRIAGE AREAS. *JG *JB
20030109POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING THE SWAY BAR BROKE. THE SWAY BAR BROKE AGAIN AFTER WELDING IT. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY BE REPLACED. *TT *NLM
20020731STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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
20020715SUSPENSION:REAR
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
20020523STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20020522EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED FROM HEAT OF WEATHER AND CONSUMER CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC AND HEAT HAS BLURRED THE LIGHTS. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
20020514STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK FAILED. *YH
20020514STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK FAILED. *YH
20020128TIRES
WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE. GOT OUT AND CHECKED RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH HAD SHREDDED. STEELBELTS WERE SHOWING. 1991, DODGE, SPIRIT, TIRE SIZE P195/70R14, DOT# HHHD514X25.*AK MICHELIN TREADWARE 310 TRACTION A M AND S TUBULAR. *MJ
20011113VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WOULD REV UP TO 2000 RPM POSSIBLY DUE TO IDLE SPEED MOTOR FAILURE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE IDLE SPEED MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *YH
20011113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED FAILED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED TWICE.*YH
20011113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
HEAD GASKET FAILED FAILED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED TWICE.*YH
20011113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED FAILED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED TWICE.*YH
20011113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
HEAD GASKET FAILED FAILED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED TWICE.*YH
20011113SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTOR FAILED. *YH
20011113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE IGNITION WIRES WERE REPLACED. *Y
20011113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TWO MUFFLERS AND EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED. *YH
20011113STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK FAILED. *YH
20011113STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK FAILED. *YH
20011113STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK FAILED. *YH
Compare 1991DODGESPIRIT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 DODGE SPIRIT have?▼
The 1991 DODGE SPIRIT has 135 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 8 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 DODGE SPIRIT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 DODGE SPIRIT is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 25 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1991 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.