1992 Dodge Spirit Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this 1992 Dodge Spirit were filed between 1995 and 2004, and owners most often describe brakes that locked up or failed to hold, along with sudden transmission and drivetrain failures. Fuel odors, speedometer and odometer faults, and loose or broken bolts and mounts also come up, and a few complaints describe airbag warning lights. Mileage is recorded for only one complaint in this sample, so the sample does not show how these problems change with mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brakes locking up or failing to hold

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 3.9 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1997

   Owners describe brakes that locked up on ice or wet roads, letting the car slide, and ABS systems where the pedal went down and kept moving with a grinding noise. Others describe braking that stopped working at very low speed, or brakes that grabbed without holding while approaching a light, and one says the pedal went to the floor and an accident followed. According to the complaints, dealers sometimes found nothing wrong, while others sent the car in for rotor repair or replacement. Mileage is not recorded for these complaints, which were filed between 1995 and 1997, and some describe the failure on ice, on wet roads, or at low speed.

   What to check: Have the ABS system checked for stored fault codes, and ask for records of rotor and brake repairs. On a test drive on a dry, empty road, confirm the pedal stays firm and the ABS warning light stays off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Coming to a stop, applied brakes vehicle slid across crosswalk. No response from anti lock braking system. Consumer states vehicle rolled across crosswalk with no braking at all, consumer states he was making a perfect stoop and when he got down to about 5 MPH he lost all braking action.”

   NHTSA complaint #987270, filed 1996-07

   “Brakes: driving approximately 45mph and was approaching a light, attemted to stop brakes grabbed, but did not hold. Car would not stop and we wound up in the middle of the highway. Dealer cant find anything wrong with the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #817875, filed 1997-10
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and drivetrain failing suddenly

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 6.9 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners describe transmissions that shifted unexpectedly or broke apart, with metal pieces reported in the pan, and one says the transmission failed at highway speed in traffic and caught fire. Other complaints describe poor shift quality with power loss while driving, a rear axle that broke with a loud noise, and a car that jumped from park into reverse while idling and damaged a home. Mileage is not recorded for these complaints, which were filed between 1995 and 2001, and some describe the failure at highway speeds, while another happened with the car idling in park.

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced, and whether shifting is smooth in every gear. Check the rear axle and driveline for noise or vibration, and confirm the shift lever holds park and moves correctly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #749553, filed 2001-08

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #845877, filed 1999-08
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Fuel or burning smells, smoke in the cabin

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 5.2 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe fuel odors entering the cabin while driving, and a cracked fuel line valve that leaked gas with a raw fuel smell inside the car. Fumes through the firewall of unknown origin continued after dealers replaced several exhaust components. Another describes the smell of burning wires, with the wires glowing when the ignition was on, and one complaint describes smoke in the passenger area after a fire. Mileage is not recorded for these complaints, which were filed between 1995 and 2002, and some describe fuel odors while driving.

   What to check: Check the fuel lines, tank, and filler area for leaks, and ask whether any fuel odor was traced and repaired. Inspect the wiring under the dash and around the ignition switch for burnt or discolored insulation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle's fuel line valve cracked and gas came out of the vehicle. That could cause a fire. Consumer states that fuel gauge read empty and a raw fuel smell was inside vehicle, underneath the car gas was pumping out.”

   NHTSA complaint #806018, filed 1996-12

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #8004406, filed 2002-02
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Speedometer, odometer, and speed control faults

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 8.0 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2000

   Owners describe the speedometer and odometer quitting, at first intermittently and then together, and one owner paid for speed and emission sensor replacement. Others say the odometer or speedometer did not work from the day the car was bought, and one describes a throttle stuck wide open that accelerated the car rapidly until the ignition was turned off. A longer complaint also reports a speed control that did not work, among other items. Mileage is not recorded for these complaints, which were filed between 1998 and 2000, and some say the odometer did not work from the start of ownership.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the speedometer and odometer read correctly and move together, and ask whether the speed sensors have been replaced. At low speed in an empty area, confirm the throttle returns fully when the pedal is released and the car slows normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #722040, filed 2000-04

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #719065, filed 2000-02
5. 5
   Steering

   Bolts and mounts breaking or working loose

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 68,840 mi at 11.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe an upper steering column coupling bolt that broke, a problem covered by a recall, and the complaint says this could lead to loss of steering control. Other complaints describe a driver's seat back that broke because a bolt gave way, a wiper arm or pivot that came loose in heavy snow so the left wiper barely moved, and a wiper that failed completely until a ground wire was installed. Recorded mileage is 68,840 for one of these complaints, and the others do not record mileage; they were filed between 1995 and 2004.

   Recall 92V015000

   What to check: Check the upper steering column coupling bolt and the recall status for this VIN, and ask the dealer for the recall record. Inspect the wiper arm, pivot, and motor ground connections, and the seat back bolts, for looseness or corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10052697, filed 2004-01, 68,840 miles

   “Zinc plating operation performed on the upper steering column shaft coupling bolt caused hydrogen embrittlement and breakage. Ractures of upper steering column shaft coupling bolt, could result in lack of coupling load and loss of steering control. Recall 92v-015.”

   NHTSA complaint #780347, filed 1998-08

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year should check the recall status for the steering column coupling bolt, and ask for brake and transmission repair records, since these areas come up most often in the complaints. An inspection of the brakes, ABS, and transmission shifting before buying is worthwhile, and the speedometer and fuel odor items are easy to check during a test drive.

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.