DODGE STEALTH · model year

1991 DODGE STEALTH

72 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991DODGESTEALTH carries 72 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1991 STEALTH is power train:manual transmission with 12 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (11) and power train:automatic transmission (10). 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 STEALTH, 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.

72
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

72 filings

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

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR11
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION10
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT4
AIR BAGS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
WHEELS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM1

Recent Complaints

20120302POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS TO UNLOCK THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V143002 (POWER TRAIN: TRANSFER CASE: 4-WHEEL DRIVE), BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ

Mileage: 160,000

20120302POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS TO UNLOCK THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V143002 (POWER TRAIN: TRANSFER CASE: 4-WHEEL DRIVE), BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ

Mileage: 160,000

20100107POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. RECALL# 02V143002, POWER TRAIN, TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED. THE OIL LEAKS FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO BE LOCK AND DAMAGE THE DRIVE TRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IT WAS DENIED STATING THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20070629SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED SINCE I OWNED THE CAR. ON (MAY, 200) THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. UPON TALKING TO OTHER CAR OWNERS THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

20070401SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH AND THE RETRACTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN YOU PUT ON THE SEAT BELT IN MOST CASES THE SLACK IS NOT TAKEN UP. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HOPE I'M NOT. *JB

Mileage: 150,000

20070321SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN I PULL IT OUT TO BUCKLE UP THE EXTRA SLACK DOES NOT GET TAKEN CARE OF. IT JUST REMAINS LOOSE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL IT WOULD HOLD UP IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE MOST OF THE TIME BUT ONCE IN A WHILE FOR SOME REASON IT WILL RETRACT THE EXTRA SLACK.*AK

Mileage: 18,000

20070115SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

1. SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, AND REMOVE SLACK ONCE THE SEAT BELT IS LATCHED.--- 2. AFTER BUCKLING MY SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. IT WILL LEAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLACK BETWEEN MY BODY AND THE SEAT. IN A WRECK, IF THERE IS SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE SEAT, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE BODY. RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY, TRAUMA, AND POSSIBLE EJECTION FROM THE CAR, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF PARALYSIS OR DEATH.--- 3.TRIED CLEANING THE SEAT BELT HANGER AND THE PLACE THE BELT GOES INTO THE CAR, BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.--- *THERE HAVE BEEN WELL OVER 250 FAILURES, I CAN NOT GIVE AN EXACT AMOUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES I GET IN AND OUT OF MY CAR OVER A COURSE OF TIME, SO THE NUMBER I PUT BELOW IS AN CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW, AND DRIVE THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, AND ON ERRANDS. *JB

Mileage: 92,000

20061211SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT ON BOTH PASSENGER/DRIVER SIDES FAIL TO RETRACT. *NM

Mileage: 119,500

20060717SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING SLACK WHILE DRIVING IN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BELTS. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

20060508SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY CAUSING THEM TO POSSIBLY FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 126,000

20060425SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE SEAT BELT DO NOT FULLY RETRACT, LEAVING A LOT OF SLACK. THIS MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE, SINCE IT IS NOT DOING ITS JOB. WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING LOOSE, IF I WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD NOT BELT ME IN, WITH ALL THAT EXTRA SLACK HANGING OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME. *NM

20060416SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN IN NORMAL USE, CAUSING EXTREME SLACK AND GIVING NO RESTRAINT IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NO AMOUNT OF COAXING WILL HELP THE BELT RETRACT. *NM

20060413SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

I OWN A 1991 DODGE STEALTH R/T TWIN TURBO VERSION. MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ON ITS OWN, AND THERE IS CONSISTENTLY SLACK IN THE LINE WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED THAT UPON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER OBJECT, MY BELT WILL NOT BECOME RESTRICTIVE AND HOLD ITS PLACE. *JB

20060411SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETRACT AS IT SHOULD. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEAT BELT FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK. *JB

Mileage: 98,200

20051031POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKED. HE FOUND NHTSA RECALL 93V033001. THE MANUFACTURE SAID THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN 2002. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM NOW. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK

Mileage: 104,500

20050308POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY BLOCK, STOPPED FULLY AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATED GENTLY AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT IN MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH TWIN TURBO SNAPPED, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOR A BIT UNTILT HE VCU BURNT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT SNAPPED.*AK

Mileage: 650,000

20041212POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT INTO GEAR, CAR QUIT MOVING. *JB

Mileage: 96,500

20041006POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM. AT ONE TIME THIS WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. LAST YEAR THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER RECALL REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, SO THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ONLY. *AK RECALL 02V143002. *SC

Mileage: 85,000

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I'VE HEARD THAT THERE IS OR WAS A CLASS ACTION AGAINST CHRYSLER FOR PAINT PROBLEMS. MY CLEARCOAT IS SPIDERING AND PEALING IN SPOTS. I WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULD GET ANY COMPENSATION FROM CHRYSLER TO GET THESE PROBLEMS REPAINTED.

20040411POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH RT TURBO. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, POWER IS NO LONGER TRANSMITTED TO THE REAR WHEELS WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO "TORQUE STEER". BASICALLY EVEN MODERATE ACCELERATION CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO UNPREDICTABLY VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *JB

Mileage: 113,775

Compare 1991DODGESTEALTH to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 DODGE STEALTH have?
The 1991 DODGE STEALTH has 72 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 DODGE STEALTH?
The most-complained component for the 1991 DODGE STEALTH is POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1991 DODGE STEALTH 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.