DODGE SPIRIT · model year

1992 DODGE SPIRIT

77 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992DODGESPIRIT carries 77 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 6 fires, 1 injury, 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 1992 SPIRIT is power train:automatic transmission with 9 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (6) and engine and engine cooling:engine (5). 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 1992 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.

77
Complaints
4
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

77 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS3
POWER TRAIN3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR3
SUSPENSION:REAR3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR2

Recent Complaints

20190907AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK.

Mileage: 60,000

20190907AIR BAGS

I AM RETRACTING WHAT I REPORTED ON MY AIRBAG LIGHT...IT DOES COME ON AND THEN GO OUT BUT STILL...I DONT KNOW IF ITS SAFE... UPDATED

20040818UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONCERNS REGARDING RECALLS ON 1992 DODGE SPIRIT.*MR CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION ON 1992 DODGE SPIRIT RECALLS. *NM *JB

20040108VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM OR PIVOT SUDDENLY CAME LOOSE IN HEAVY SNOW. THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER CONTINUED TO WORK BUT THE LEFT SIDE ONLY MOVED INCHES IF AT ALL. WHILE TRYING TO PULL OFF I-79 I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR DUE TO SNOW COVERED LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD. WIPER ARM IS LOOSE ON PIVOT OR PIVOT IS LOOSE. WE'VE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE, DODGE WAS TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PIVOT WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MY MOTHER'S NAME. *LA

Mileage: 68,840

20020222FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL ODORS ARE GETTING INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20010802FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS USED ON ALL SPIRITS, ACCLAIMS, LEBARON SEDANS, CIRRUS, STRATUS, ALL MINIVANS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. THERE IS A BUILT IN DEFECT. I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS SOONER, BUT I WAS A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE. THE SECOND TIME THE TRANS FAILED WAS AT 65-70 MPH IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL, SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

20010802FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS USED ON ALL SPIRITS, ACCLAIMS, LEBARON SEDANS, CIRRUS, STRATUS, ALL MINIVANS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. THERE IS A BUILT IN DEFECT. I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS SOONER, BUT I WAS A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE. THE SECOND TIME THE TRANS FAILED WAS AT 65-70 MPH IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL, SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

20010222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET CRACKED ON ORIGINAL AND ON THE SAMEPLACE ON THE REPLACEMENT. *SLC

20000623SUSPENSION:REAR

THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY LEASED NEW BY A FORMER EMPLOYER IN 1992. I AM THE ORIGINAL DRIVER AND HAS TRULY FOLLOWED ALL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES AND PERFORMED ALL REQUIRED REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN MODERATELY ALL DURING ITS LIFE. THE REAR TORSION BAR, WHICH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE REAR AXLE AND RUNS BETWEEN BOTH REAR WHEELS, HAS APPARENTLY BROKEN. THE REPAIR WILL COST $650 PLUS TAX. THE INTEGRITY OF THE REAR SUSPENSION IS PRESUMABLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEREAS THE FRONT SUSPENSION, STEERING, AXLES ARE VERY COMPLEX IN A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE AUTO, THE REAR AXLE AND SUSPENSION IS, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, VERY LOW-TECH AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE AUTO. INSTEAD, THE TORSION BAR IN THIS RATHER INERT PART OF THE CAR HAS SIMPLY BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER CASES OF A BROKEN REAR TORSION BAR, BOTH AT THIS DEALER'S SERVICE OPERATION AND AT MY LOCAL GARAGE. THIS STRIKES ME AS BEING AN ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION RATHER THE RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND USE. M

20000519POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. ON 04/23, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK FOR THE FIRST 5 MILES, THEN IT WOULD START WORKING. ON 4/27 THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. ON 01/07/98, I WAS CHARGED 320.52 TO REPLACE THE SPEED AND EMISSION SENSORS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS DEFECT CORRECTED. WITH ACCESSING THIS WEBSITE I WAS UNAWARE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALER (ZANGARA DODGE) KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFEATS YEARS IN ADVANCE, YET I WAS CHARGED TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS REACCURED, ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WILL BE APPRECIATED. DRIVING WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER IS SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS....I JUST DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER $320 TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *AK

20000222VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I DID A REPORT YESTERDAY, BUT I HAD THE DATE I BOUGHT THE CAR WRONG, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999 MAY 8, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS SAFETY WISE. I HAVE A DODGE SHEET RECALL LISING THE TBS NUMBER FOR THE ITEMS ON MY CAR THAT HAV\E A DEFAUL\T IN IT IS AS FOLLOWS #081695A SPEED CONTROL DONT WORK, #2210695A SHIFT QUALITY POOR #31804936 POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING, #4210193 WHISTLING NOISE AT IDLE, NUMBER 5110193 SQUEAKING NOISE FROM EXHAUST PIPE. NUMBER #7 060292 IGNITION KEY HARD TO TURN, 050692 REAR BRAKE RATTLES THE SPPED ODOMETER NEVER WORKED, I DID NOT RECEIVE A OWNER MANUAL, I RECEIVE THE LIST FROM AUTOMOTIVE RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIONS FOR 1992 DODGE SPIRIT V6-181 3.0L SOCH VIN 3 FL PROVIDE BY ALLDATA ISSUE FEB 92 SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 538 TSB NUMBER 538, I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DEFEACTS PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

20000222POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I DID A REPORT YESTERDAY, BUT I HAD THE DATE I BOUGHT THE CAR WRONG, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999 MAY 8, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS SAFETY WISE. I HAVE A DODGE SHEET RECALL LISING THE TBS NUMBER FOR THE ITEMS ON MY CAR THAT HAV\E A DEFAUL\T IN IT IS AS FOLLOWS #081695A SPEED CONTROL DONT WORK, #2210695A SHIFT QUALITY POOR #31804936 POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING, #4210193 WHISTLING NOISE AT IDLE, NUMBER 5110193 SQUEAKING NOISE FROM EXHAUST PIPE. NUMBER #7 060292 IGNITION KEY HARD TO TURN, 050692 REAR BRAKE RATTLES THE SPPED ODOMETER NEVER WORKED, I DID NOT RECEIVE A OWNER MANUAL, I RECEIVE THE LIST FROM AUTOMOTIVE RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIONS FOR 1992 DODGE SPIRIT V6-181 3.0L SOCH VIN 3 FL PROVIDE BY ALLDATA ISSUE FEB 92 SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 538 TSB NUMBER 538, I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DEFEACTS PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

20000222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I DID A REPORT YESTERDAY, BUT I HAD THE DATE I BOUGHT THE CAR WRONG, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999 MAY 8, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS SAFETY WISE. I HAVE A DODGE SHEET RECALL LISING THE TBS NUMBER FOR THE ITEMS ON MY CAR THAT HAV\E A DEFAUL\T IN IT IS AS FOLLOWS #081695A SPEED CONTROL DONT WORK, #2210695A SHIFT QUALITY POOR #31804936 POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING, #4210193 WHISTLING NOISE AT IDLE, NUMBER 5110193 SQUEAKING NOISE FROM EXHAUST PIPE. NUMBER #7 060292 IGNITION KEY HARD TO TURN, 050692 REAR BRAKE RATTLES THE SPPED ODOMETER NEVER WORKED, I DID NOT RECEIVE A OWNER MANUAL, I RECEIVE THE LIST FROM AUTOMOTIVE RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIONS FOR 1992 DODGE SPIRIT V6-181 3.0L SOCH VIN 3 FL PROVIDE BY ALLDATA ISSUE FEB 92 SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 538 TSB NUMBER 538, I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DEFEACTS PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

20000221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, I HAD TO HAVE A LOT OF REPAIRS, I JUST LEARN FROM A CAR DEALER THAT DODGE SPIRIT 92 ARE RECALLED CARS, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PAINT PEELING SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT AT HAD ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT WAS PEELING, NOW ITS PEELING VERY WHERE, THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR I NOTICED THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING AND TO THIS DAY IT STILL DO NOT WORK, SO I DONT KNOW HOW FAST I DRIVE, WHEN I DRIVE I LOSE POWER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THIS IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS, IT JUST CUT OFF. *AK

20000221POWER TRAIN

SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, I HAD TO HAVE A LOT OF REPAIRS, I JUST LEARN FROM A CAR DEALER THAT DODGE SPIRIT 92 ARE RECALLED CARS, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PAINT PEELING SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT AT HAD ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT WAS PEELING, NOW ITS PEELING VERY WHERE, THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR I NOTICED THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING AND TO THIS DAY IT STILL DO NOT WORK, SO I DONT KNOW HOW FAST I DRIVE, WHEN I DRIVE I LOSE POWER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THIS IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS, IT JUST CUT OFF. *AK

20000201STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HINGE BROKE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

20000131AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, HIT THE END OF CURB, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

19991114POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

19990826POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE WILL SUDDENLY SHIFT FROM THIRD TO SECOND WHILE GOING 55 MPH, CAUSING DISINTEGRATION OF TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN PIECES OF METAL FALLING INTO THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19990510ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE TRUNK SEAL LEAKS AT THE UPPER CORNERS OF THE TRUNK. WATER COLLECTED INSIDE AND TRUNK HAS RUSTED IN CERTAIN AREAS. THE JACK AND SPARE TIRE, WHICH SAT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK, WERE BEYOND REPAIR. ALSO, SEVERAL TIMES THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE FAILED. USUALLY HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART THE CAR TO GET THEM TO WORK. ELECTRICAL SHORT OF SOME KIND?

Compare 1992DODGESPIRIT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 DODGE SPIRIT have?
The 1992 DODGE SPIRIT has 77 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 6 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 DODGE SPIRIT?
The most-complained component for the 1992 DODGE SPIRIT is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1992 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.