1994 Dodge SPIRIT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 51 complaints (11.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 9.8% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Suspension:Rear | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Suspension:Rear: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 47 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 14; 1996: 12; 2000: 9; 2001: 6; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005953 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
FUEL SMELL SEEPS ONTO THE CAR WHEN HEAT IS ON. DEALER STATES THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR IS LEAKING, BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047686 · 2003-11-27 (November 27, 2003)
WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OUR PURCHASE OF THIS USED CAR IN 1999, THE PAINT WENT VERY FLAT AND THE CLEAR COAT STARTED FLAKING OFF IN LARGE CHUNKS. THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE LEPROSY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE DEALER "DETAILED" THE CAR FOR SELLING AS THE PAINT WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED FOR US THAT QUICKLY. IN FACT, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE TIMING WAS "JUST ABOUT RIGHT" TO SUPPORT "DETAILING" OF THE CAR. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND WERE TOLD THAT SINCE WE ARE NOT ORIGINAL OWNERS, THEY COULDN'T HELP US. EVEN IF WE WERE ORIGI…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047688 · 2003-11-27 (November 27, 2003)
SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER IN 1999, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP. WE COMPLAINED, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. IN 2001, WE TOOK THE CAR TO YET ANOTHER DODGE DEALER. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THE PRICE THEY QUOTED WAS $1,800. SO NOW, WE DRIVE A CAR WITH A HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION THAT SLIPS UPON TAKE OFF AND HARD ACCELERATION WHILE PASSING. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047690 · 2003-11-27 (November 27, 2003)
FOR OVER A YEAR, WE KEPT HEARING A METAL ON METAL THUNKING NOISE. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. TWO DAYS AGO, WHEN RETURNING HOME, WE HEARD A LOUD METALLIC THUNKING NOISE THAT WAS MUCH WORSE THAN PREVIOUSLY HEARD. IT SOUNDED LIKE WE WERE DRAGGING A TAIL PIPE OR MUFFLER. YET, WE FOUND NOTHING UNDER THE CAR. WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE JACKED UP THE CAR TO SEE IF WE WOULD FIND THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. THE DODGE SPIRIT IS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT USES A SOLID REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONSISTS OF A METAL "V" SHAPED CHANNEL CROSSMEMBER …
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229532 · 2008-05-22 (May 22, 2008)
1994 DODGE SPIRIT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. CONSUMER STATES HE PULLED OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS THEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. *KB THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT# 10-0372-91
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10229532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 479617 · 1995-05-27 (May 27, 1995)
CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. (2ND VEHICLE ON 480806/479618) *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 479617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482744 · 1995-03-27 (March 27, 1995)
DRIVER'S THUMB WAS CUT WHEN DEPRESSING RELEASE BUTTON OF DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486307 · 1995-05-16 (May 16, 1995)
POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486307 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
94V023000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1994-02-08 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗