IllustrationAS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE, SHIFTING DOWN FROM 4TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR DANGEROUSLY SLOWING THE CAR FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH A CHRYSLER REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB
1990 Dodge Spirit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Dodge Spirit do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 48.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Spirit years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 0 of 63 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.
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports9 injury reports
Power Train complaints
17 reports3RD TRANSMISSION; 1ST REPLACED AT 115K MILES,2ND AT 117K,3RD AT 113K,2ND & 3RD ARE CHRYSLER REMANF TRANSMISSION. TRANS WENT INTO LIMP MODE AT 60MPH, DANGEROUS LOST OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC.*AK
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 …
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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. *AK *ML
CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN LESS THA 85,000 MILES. NLM
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THREE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. *MJS
TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN SECOND GEAR, AND ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES WITH A REBUILD TRANSMISSION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY
HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT 2 TIMES BY DEALER, 3RD BY INDEPENDENT GARAGE. DEALER SAID VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY.
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…
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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". CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON PREVIOUS FAILURES, INSISTING ON REPAIRS & ATTEMPTING TO HAVE ME PAY DEDUCTIBLES. HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER USA; CONNIE IN CUSTOMER RELATIONS;"CHRYSLER IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE GOOD WILL ASSISTANCE" ALTHOUGH VEHICLE PURCHASED & DRIVEN FOR OVER 2 YEARS IN USA, BECAUSE I'M IN GERMANY I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO CONTACT THE EUROPEAN OFFICE. THIER REPS. ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. I WANT TO KNOW IF CHRYSLER IS STILL LIABLE FOR THIS RECENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING IN THE ENDANGERMENT OF MY LIFE. CHRYSLER USA ACCEPTED MY PAYMENTS FOR 2 & 1/2 YEARS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HERE IN EUROPE, WHY DO THEY NO LONGER SUPPORT ME?
Official recalls
189V237000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.