Illustration3 SPOT WELD FOR THE REAR SWAY BAR BROKE OFF, CAUSING A METAL TO METAL NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1994 Dodge Spirit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 4 of 87 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
87 reportsBOLT ON SEAT FRAME CAUSED SEAT BACK TO DROP TO THE REAR. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF CAR WAS MOVING. ENGINE BELT TENSIONOR BROKE LARGE ENGINE BELT , COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS TENSIONOR ALSO FROZE ON MY 1994 CARIVAN. MY FRIENDS 1998 CARIVAN BELT TENSIONOR ALSO BROKE AROUND 60000 MILES.. I SUSPECT AMNY DODGE CARS AND BREAK…
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BOLT ON SEAT FRAME CAUSED SEAT BACK TO DROP TO THE REAR. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF CAR WAS MOVING. ENGINE BELT TENSIONOR BROKE LARGE ENGINE BELT , COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS TENSIONOR ALSO FROZE ON MY 1994 CARIVAN. MY FRIENDS 1998 CARIVAN BELT TENSIONOR ALSO BROKE AROUND 60000 MILES.. I SUSPECT AMNY DODGE CARS AND BREAKS HAVE BAD TENSIONOR'S. THIS WAS NOT FIXED AT DEALER. *AK
THREE SPOT WELDS BROKE AT REAR LEFT SWAY BAR. MANUUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC PASSIVE RESTRAINT HAS WORN OUT, IT DOES NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
UNABLE TO GET A PART NEEDED FOR FLOAT SENDER. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 244 PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS OUT COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. *AK
UPON TURNING IGNITION SWITCH SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN THEN FROM DASH. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND HAD CAR TOWED. DEALER STATES THAT IGNITION GROUNDED OUT AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE BURNING OF WIRING SYSTEM THROUGHOUT DASH AND MOTOR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN HIGH TRAFFIC WHERE IGNITION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF IMMED…
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UPON TURNING IGNITION SWITCH SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN THEN FROM DASH. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND HAD CAR TOWED. DEALER STATES THAT IGNITION GROUNDED OUT AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE BURNING OF WIRING SYSTEM THROUGHOUT DASH AND MOTOR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN HIGH TRAFFIC WHERE IGNITION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY EVEN MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURED. THE DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS COULD HAPPEN.
SHOULDER BELT TIGHTENS AROUND PASSENGER WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF OR DOOR OPENED.
DEALER FAILED TO CURE SEALER ON GASKET TO TRANSMISSION PAN,CAUSED LEAKS WHICH RESULTED IN TRANSAXLE FAILURE/SLIPPAGE
TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 33,000 MILES
Official recalls
194V023000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Feb 8, 1994
THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORS (BUCKLE LOCK BARS) DO NOT MEET THE STATIC LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL, EXPOSING THE RESTRAINED OCCUPANTS TO A GREATER RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: THE TRAVELING SAFETY BELT LOCK BAR ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED ON THESE VEHICLES.
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
2DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
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