The 1991 Dodge Spirit has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 148,398 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS91V1220001991-07-11130,000 affected
Defect
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
LATCH MAY OPEN DURING ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, EXPOSINGSEAT OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy
REPLACE BUCKLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT.
AIR BAGS90V1940001990-11-19398 affected
Defect
THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC90V1620001990-09-0418,000 affected
Defect
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
25
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9
AIR BAGS
6
1crashes4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
6
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
3crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
3crashes2injuries1deaths
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
5
1crashes2injuries
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
3
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
3
1fires
Total complaints135
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“*ohio traffic crash report* the vehicle started to hesitate. Consumer noticed smoke and flames and pulled off the road. Functional damage was sustained to the engine and under carriage areas. *jg *jb”
“While driving 25 to 30 mph, consumer heard a flapping noise. Got out and checked right rear tire which had shredded. Steelbelts were showing. 1991, dodge, spirit, tire size p195/70r14, dot# hhhd514x25.*ak michelin treadware 310 traction a m and s tubular. *mj”
“Consumer stated that after a leakage on vehicle had found out that head gasket had been leaking due to a crack. *ak the design of the cylinder head was defective. The consumer's internet research indicated that there were other consumers who experienced the same cylinder head crack and the…”
“Twice now oil pan has been damaged because it is too low. Once it was damaged going on a country road and scrapeing the crown in the road and causing the oil pan to leak. Another time in the snow we hit an ice ball from the car infront of us causing a huge dent in the oil pan. The oil pan is…”
“While driving over a stoney road at 10mph, the anti sway bar broke.*ak after drivng over freshly laid gravel which was deep in some areas, the vehicle started emitting a high pitched noise characteristic of a broken anti sway bar. This bar was welded at a local auto repair but later broke again.…”
“Repeated attempts by the dealer to repair this problem/defect have not ever actually fixed it--it keeps reoccurring. No safety defect listed in the summary. *ak”
“Repeated attempts by the dealer to repair this problem/defect have not ever actually fixed it--it keeps reoccurring. No safety defect listed in the summary. *ak”
“Consumer heard metal to metal noise coming from rear driver's side. Repair shop determined that rear axle assembly broke. Consumer had to purchase a whole new axle assembly because they would not weld it back together. It was a safety hazard. Three dodge dealership had no clues as to what the…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE91080 Opened 1991-05-30 · closed 1991-09-30
ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE96008 Opened 1996-01-25 · closed 1996-06-28
SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE96036 Opened 1996-05-14 · closed 1996-10-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Dodge Spirit as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.