1994 DODGE SPIRIT Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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

Fire

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 ORIGINAL OWNERS, THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON PAINT OR FINISH. YET, EVERY DODGE SPIRIT THAT WE HAVE SEEN SINCE SUFFERS THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE CONTACTED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AGREES THAT THEY ALL SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT A RECALL. WE CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN TO THIS DATE, BUT HAVE HAD NEGATIVE RESULTS. SO, NOW WE DRIVE AN UGLY CAR THAT ALSO HAS SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *LA

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 WITH A TORQUE TUBE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT. THE TORQUE TUBE IS RIGIDLY WELDED TO END PLATES AND IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AXLE ASSEMBLY AND CANNOT BE INDIVIDUALLY REPLACED. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE TORQUE TUBE HAD BROKEN THE WELD AT THE END PLATE AS WELL AS SNAPPING COMPLETELY IN HALF ABOUT 6" FROM THE END PLATE. THE NOISE WE HEARD WAS THIS TUBE SLAPPING UP AND DOWN IN THE "V" CHANNEL CROSSMEMBER. IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR DODGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP AS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. THE DODGE DEALER WASN'T MUCH HELP EITHER. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING (OBVIOUSLY) AND WOULD COST NEARLY $800 FOR THE PART. WE LIVE IN ARIZONA WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT IS DRY AND NON-CORROSIVE. THERE IS NO RUST ON THIS CAR, NOR ARE THERE SIGNS OF ABUSE OR DAMAGE. THE WELD FAILED ON THIS MAJOR COMPONENT. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR! SO, NOW, WE HAVE AN UGLY CAR (PAINT FAILED-SEPARATE COMPLAINT FILED) WITH A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION (COMPLAINT FILED) THAT IS SITTING LAME IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS HORRIBLE FOR A 9-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT HAS RECEIVED ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE REGULARLY, INCLUDING WHEEL ROTATIONS. *LA

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

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

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH IN RESULT OF A VEHICLE CRASH CONSUMER AIR BAG DEPLOY AND CAUGHT PASSENGER COAT ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Crash Fire

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PEELING PAINT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. SOMETIMES IN SMALL SPOTS BUT RECENTLY HALF THE ROOF OF THE CAR ROLLED OFF OVERNIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 BODY SHOPS & BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MARSHALL DODGE IN COVINGTON, KY WHERE I NOW GO FOR SERVICE THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT. I WAS ADVISED BY MARSHALL DODGE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE. I DID THIS & IT CAME BACK REFUSED WITH NO REASON GIVEN. I THEN WROTE TO THE COMPANY & AGAIN IT CAME BACK THAT THEY'D HAVE TO UPHOLD THE ORIGINAL DECISION BASED ON THE FACTS. NO ONE EVER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE OR CALLED TO QUESTION ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE ROOF IS STARTING TO RUST IN PLACES & I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR PAINTED. OBVIOUSLY I'D PREFER TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER DO SOMETHING THAN HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. IT IS HIS PROBLEM AFTER ALL. NO ONE WHO HAS LOOKED AT IT OR DONE ANY SPOT PAINT WORK ON IT WILL GUARANTEE THE WORK DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. DT

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE, AND THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *YH

T 30MPH AND WITH NO WARNING REAR AXLE SNAPPED, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARSHLY & GOING OUT OF GEAR WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A $2,000 RE-BUILD AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP OUT. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE CHRYSLER CARS AND MINI VANS HAVE BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR BAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. HOW HAS THIS BEEN PERMITTED TO GO ON FOR SO LONG? ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS EXPERIENCING A MAJOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE IS RIDICULOUS. THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY AN ELDERLY COUPLE WHO MAINTAINED IT TO THE MAX. AND BABIED IT ON THE ROAD. THE CAR LOOKS BRAND NEW AS IT HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A HEATED GARAGE. SUCH A MAROF FAILURE AT SUCH EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE IS UNREASONABLE, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FACT THAT SUDDEN POWER LOSS TO THE DRIVE WHEELS AND HARSH DOWNSHIFTING, SLOWING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY IS DANGEROUS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN GIVEN A "BYE" ON THIS ISSUE IN SPITE OF SO MANY PRODUCT FAILURES. WHY? THE4 TRANSMISSON SHOPS TELL ME THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN USE FACTORY PARTS WHEN THEY RE-BUILD. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY FROM A COMPANY THAT WAS SAVED FROM BANKRUPTCY BY "WE THE PEOPLE".*AK

CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TOOK A LOOK, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND CONTINUED DRIVING. CONSUMER TRAVELED AT 65MPH, THE FASTER SHE DROVE LESS IT SEEMED TO WIGGLE. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT, AND IT WAS LEFT OUTER FRONT HALF SHAFT. PART WAS WIGGLING AND RUBBING METAL ON METAL. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, LIKE BRAKE PAD. *AK

HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 65K AND REPLACED AT 83K--MECHANIC STATES THE ONLY WAY THIS IS POSSIBLE IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, I CONTACTED THE BBB WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $4000 ON TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT AM I TO DO?*AK

I WAS TAKING MY GRANDSON TO AUBURN, NY WHEN HE NOTICE A WHITE WISP COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, SHUT CAR OFF..WALKED TO A HOUSE TO CALL FOR HELP. THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED AT FOX DODGE, AUBURN, N.Y. I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP. AND KAREN AUTHORIZED PAYMENT FOR THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT I HAD TO PAY THE LABOR ON INVOICE #CHCS17948 IN THE AMOUNT OF $169.12. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR TOTAL REPAIRS OF THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING.*AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH SEALS ON ENGINE GASKET. THEY WERE LEAKING, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THEM 3 OTHER TIMES WITH NO EXPLANATION WHY IT KEPT HAPPENING. OTHER PROBLEM IS WITH PASSENGER DOOR RUSTING ON INSIDE AT HINGES. DOOR IS ABOUT TO COME OFF. DEALER EXPECTED CONSUMER TO OIL DOOR PERIODICALLY.*AK

HAD A BROKEN TRAILER ARM & BUSHING. STEERING WOULD NOT BE RIGHT DUE TO PROBLEM. THE REAR END WOULD MAKE NOISE AFTER GOING OVER OR HITTING BUMPS.*AK

FUEL TANK WAS RUSTY AND LEAKING, HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED DURING COLLISION, DRIVER'S HANDS WERE INJURED, DRIVER'S THUMBS WERE ALMOST CUT OFF BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE AIR BAG COVER. *CJ

Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING AT ANY SPEED. DODGE FINALLY SAID CO PILOT SHOULD BE INSTALLED, ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK

AIR BAG DEPLOY DARN NEAR TOOK THUMBS OFF MY HANDS, REQUIRED 15 STITCHES IN ALL. HIT DEER, CAUSING AIR BAG TO DEPLOY.

Crash 1 injured

BOUGHT FROM PEP BOYS, TIRE SIZE P18575R14, M/S, STEEL BELTED. DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE TREAD CAME OFF. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES DUE TO THE BAD CONDITION OF THEM. DOT#HVJ7ND069. *SLC

3 SPOT WELD FOR THE REAR SWAY BAR BROKE OFF, CAUSING A METAL TO METAL NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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

CRANKSHAFT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

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 IMMEDIATELY EVEN MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURED. THE DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS COULD HAPPEN.

Fire

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

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODIES, VALVE BODY SEALS, AND OVERHAUL OF REST OF TRANSMISSION.

VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE ELSE, AND DURING THAT TIME THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS OF 30 MPH, AND HIT DRIVER IN THE FACE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

1 injured

REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL NOT RELEASE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND NEW BUCKLE WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY

IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE OWNERSHIP, LOCKING UP.

COULD NOT REMOVE OR TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION.

POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY BROKE OFF AND THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOST.

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT AND DID NOT HOLD THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET.

Crash 2 injured

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT AND DID NOT HOLD THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET.

Crash 2 injured

REFER TO PAGE 2-50 IN 1994 SPIRIT SERVICE MANUAL I HAVE PHOTO OF THE "CRACKED" "TORQUE TUBE OR ROD" WHICH IS A TUBE THAT IS WELDED WHERE IT PASSES THRU A HOLE IN EACH END PLATE (TO WHICH THE WHEELS ARE ATTACHED) OF THE REAR AXLE. THE CRACK WAS THREE INCHES FROM THE LEFT END PLATE. THE CRACK WAS CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND SHOWED RUST. MY DEALER MAJOR DODGE RAN A REPORT AND WOULD NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE SAYING THAT ALL WARANTEES HAD NO COVERAGE FOR THIS

FAILED DRIVE BELTS AND DIRTY FUEL INJECTION UNIT CAUSED VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER.

TRANAMISSION AND SEALS FAILED CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL.