CONSUMER PARKED CAR AND WHILE STILL SITTING IN CAR STARTED TO FEEL VERY STRONG HEAT AND CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. CONSUMER BELIEVES FUEL LINE LEAK MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. *AK
1991 Dodge Spirit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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 95 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
What owners actually said
95 reportsTHE FIRST TIME I FILLED THE TANK THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT RAN GOO IN THE 39 DAYS I HAD IT, APPART FROM BEING HESITANT TO CHANGE GEAR AT TIMES. ON SUNDAY WHILE TAKING MY KIDS ON A TRIP TO GREAT ADVENTURE,I WAS JUST OVER THE BETSY ROSS BRIDGE WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE THROUGH MY REAR VIEW. I HURRIEDLY PULLED OVER AND IN A FEW SECOND W…
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THE FIRST TIME I FILLED THE TANK THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT RAN GOO IN THE 39 DAYS I HAD IT, APPART FROM BEING HESITANT TO CHANGE GEAR AT TIMES. ON SUNDAY WHILE TAKING MY KIDS ON A TRIP TO GREAT ADVENTURE,I WAS JUST OVER THE BETSY ROSS BRIDGE WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE THROUGH MY REAR VIEW. I HURRIEDLY PULLED OVER AND IN A FEW SECOND WE NOTICE THE SMOKE WAS UNDER THE HOOD. AND WE STAND THERE WE NOTICE MELTED RUBBER OR WIRE WAS DROPPING DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT SO WE GRABBED A FEW THINGS FROM THE CAR AND KEPT OUR DISTANCE UNTILL THE POLICE AND FIRE TRUCK APPEARED.
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSS ALL POWER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. *YC
TIMING BELT BREAKS WHEN OPERATING AT 55-60 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, ON 7 OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. MJS
I TRIED TO STEER AWAY FROM A CRASH BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT. MY RIGHT ARM WAS THEREFORE IN THE 12:00 POSITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW MY RIGHT ARM INTO THE WINDSHIELD SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND MY ELBOW KNOCKED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF OF THE WINDOW. THE SEATBELT RESTRA…
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I TRIED TO STEER AWAY FROM A CRASH BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT. MY RIGHT ARM WAS THEREFORE IN THE 12:00 POSITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THREW MY RIGHT ARM INTO THE WINDSHIELD SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND MY ELBOW KNOCKED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF OF THE WINDOW. THE SEATBELT RESTRAINED ME APPROPRIATELY AND I HAD SOME SEATBELT BRUISING BUT THE AIRBAG SEVERELY CONTUSED MY ARM AND ELBOW WITH POSSIBLE FRACTURES AND CRUSHED BONES RESULTING IN MY ARM BEING IMMOBILIZED IN A LONG ARM CAST. THE SWELLING AND PAIN WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE DOCTORS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE INJURIES. NOW TODAY THEY THINK THAT A TRAUMATIC FUSION MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN MY WRIST. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INJURIES REPORTED THAT HAVE CAUSED OTHER VICTIMS TO HAVE THEIR ARM/S THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD BY A DEPLOYING AIR BAG? I DO SIT AT LEAST 12 INCHES AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARDS MY FACE OR CHEST, BUT RATHER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. DLR REPLACED TRANSMISSION.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND HAD HIS DOG IN THE CAR GOING ON A CAMPING TRIP. HE BARELY GOT THE CAR PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND GOT THE DOG OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMRNT …
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND HAD HIS DOG IN THE CAR GOING ON A CAMPING TRIP. HE BARELY GOT THE CAR PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND GOT THE DOG OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMRNT WAS ALSO ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS OS INTENSE IT MELTED THE FRONT WHEELS OFF THE CAR. IT SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PROCEEDED INTO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. THE FIRE TRUCKS WERE ON THE SCENE FOR PROBABLY AN HOUR TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND GET IT UNDER CONTROL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE PLUS WHY IT SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SO QUICKLY AS TO BARELY ESCAPE ALIVE.
PAINT IS PEELING FROM VEHICLE.
TRANMISSION WENT OUT, AND WHEN PUTTING THE GEAR IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE ANYWHERE.VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHIN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S AIRBAG CAME OUT, BUT DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES AND BURNING OF MITTENS AND COAT. *AK
Official recalls
391V122000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jul 11, 1991
FRONT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND OR UNLATCH DUE TO A WEBBING STIFFENER ENTERING THE BUCKLE HOUSING AND DISLODGING THE BUCKLE LATCH GUIDE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LATCH MAY OPEN DURING ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, EXPOSINGSEAT OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: REPLACE BUCKLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT.
90V194000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Nov 19, 1990
THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.
Remedy: REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.
90V162000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Sep 4, 1990
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.
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
3PE96036 · Throttle Will Not Return To The Position
Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED CONDITION RESULTS FRO THROTTLE SHAFT BINDING
PE96008 · Safety Blt Latch Operation
Opened Jan 25, 1996 · Closed Jun 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91080 · Engine Speed Fluctuation
Opened May 30, 1991 · Closed Sep 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
Illustration