1990 Dodge Spirit Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the automatic transmission, which they say drops into second gear or a limp mode at speed and has in some cases been replaced or rebuilt several times. A second cluster covers the airbag system, with deployments reported during ordinary driving without an impact and, in one complaint, no deployment in a crash. The rest centre on ignition-switch and steering-column wiring heat and on rear axle and trailing-arm breakage, with a few owners also describing engine oil leaking at the valve cover gasket, the part named in a recall for this year.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission drops into second gear or limp mode

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 10.0 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners describe the automatic transmission dropping out of top gear into second while travelling at highway speed, or entering a limp mode that cuts road speed with no warning. Several complaints say the unit was replaced or rebuilt more than once, with three and four replacements appearing in the sample, and that the same behaviour came back. Others report harsh or delayed shifting, a gear selector that no longer shows the correct range, or the car refusing to come out of park. Dealers replaced or rebuilt the transmission, and in some cases told owners they could not pin down the underlying fault. No mileage is recorded in the sample; owners describe these events at highway speed, often after one or more earlier transmission replacements.

   What to check: On a test drive, confirm clean upshifts and that the car holds overdrive and does not drop into second on the highway. Ask for receipts for any transmission work and whether a rebuilt or remanufactured unit was fitted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling on a german autobahn at ~75mph; without any warning indications, transmission shifted into 2nd gear. Speed was suddenly reduced to below 40mph; unable to maintain minimum speed according to german law. Other traffic successfully avoided my slowed vehicle, some travelling in excess of 100mph. I was able to pull to the side, where I drove to the next exit, in 2nd gear. This is the third failure for this transmission. Previous failures; jan '91- repaired apr '95 - rebuilt . …”

   NHTSA complaint #702218, filed 1999-01

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #863775, filed 2000-06
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag deploys without an impact

   • 13 complaints (21%)
   • typically at 7.4 yrs old
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Complaints describe the driver's airbag firing during ordinary driving or while rolling to a stop, with no impact beforehand; one owner reports cuts and burns from the airbag chemicals. Others describe deployment after a low-speed impact that they felt should not have set it off, and one owner says the airbags did not deploy at all in a crash with a tree. A further complaint notes the airbag warning lamp staying lit continuously. Most of these filings do not record any dealer diagnosis of the airbag module. The sample contains no mileage figures; deployments are described at around 40 mph on secondary roads and while braking to a stop.

   What to check: Watch the airbag warning lamp at start-up and ask whether the system has been scanned for stored codes or whether any module or airbag has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #866530, filed 2000-08

   “False deployment of driver's airbag when coming to a stop, resulting in a cut and burns from airbag chemicals. Consumer also mentioned that when she had an accident five years ago, there was no deployment of the airbag at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #515638, filed 1997-03
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and steering-column wiring overheat

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 9.1 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2001

   Owners describe the ignition switch failing and stalling the engine, and in several cases smoke or heat coming from the steering column area. Two complaints tie the heat to running the air conditioning or heater fan on high, with the connector at the switch becoming very hot and melting the plastic below it. One owner found burned wiring after smoke filled the cabin while the car was parked and running. Repeat switch replacement is reported, sometimes with the same symptom returning a few years later. Mileage is not recorded in the sample; complaints were filed from the mid-1990s into the early 2000s, and several describe a second or third switch.

   What to check: Look for discoloured or melted plastic around the ignition switch and its connector, and feel for heat at the steering column with the blower on high. Ask whether the switch or dash harness has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The ignition switch started to smoke when I was driving down a main artery of traffic and I litterally had to turn on my signal and then make a quick exit off the road so not to intterrupt any traffic behind me.”

   NHTSA complaint #708478, filed 1999-07

   “Vehicle parked; driver got into vehicle & started it; noticed white smoke coming from steering column & filling vehicle; turned vehicle off & took key out of ignition; smoke stopped; took plastic cover off steering wheel & noticed wiring had burned.”

   NHTSA complaint #814206, filed 1997-07
4. 4
   Suspension

   Rear axle and trailing-arm breakage

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • typically at 6.3 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2002

   Complaints describe a clunk or squeak from the rear, followed by the back of the car swaying or a wheel sitting visibly crooked. Owners who had the car inspected were told the rear axle shaft or the trailing arm had broken at a weld. In one case the owner was told the replacement part was a national back-order item, and another describes waiting weeks for it while the car was off the road. No mileage figures appear in the sample; one owner places the breakage under 70,000 miles, and others report it during ordinary driving and cornering.

   What to check: Have the rear axle, trailing arms and their welds checked on a lift, and listen for clunks or squeaks from the rear over rough road on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There was a squeaking noise coming from rear. Rod in axle broke. Consumer feels that wheel may come off. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #8015695, filed 2002-08

   “While driving vehicle made turn and heard a noise and rear started to sway. Took vehicle to dearlership and found the rear axle trailing bar was broken, will not have replacement part for another month and 1/2.”

   NHTSA complaint #801336, filed 1996-08

Buying note. Ask for service records covering the transmission and the ignition switch, and have the rear axle and its welds inspected before buying, since these are the areas owners describe most often. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who knows the model is the practical way to check all of them on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 29 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.