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1989 Dodge Spirit

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Dodge Spirit do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 48.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 48

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
198963
199095
199158
1992
Compare all Spirit years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
5Power Train
5Suspension
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Electrical System
1
All reported categories
Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2004
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A 1989 DODGE SPIRIT (WHITE IN COLOR). ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED PEELING PAINT OFF OF IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RODE WHEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD RIPPING NOISE. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHITE FLAKES FLYING OFF OF MY CAR, SO I PULLED OFF IN A PARKING SPOT & GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING & ALL I SAW WA…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 1989 DODGE SPIRIT (WHITE IN COLOR). ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED PEELING PAINT OFF OF IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RODE WHEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD RIPPING NOISE. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHITE FLAKES FLYING OFF OF MY CAR, SO I PULLED OFF IN A PARKING SPOT & GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING & ALL I SAW WAS A LARGE SPOT ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR WHERE PAINT CAME OFF. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO EVER SINCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10060559

Official recalls

1

89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Dec 27, 1989

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE89036 · Transmission Downshifting

Opened Jan 9, 1989 · Closed Jan 31, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

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