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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Dodge Spirit1989–1995

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

7
Years Analyzed
7
Total Recalls
362
Total Complaints
26
Reported Injuries
3
Reported Deaths

Dodge Spirit — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
19950221—
78
38
64
Good
1994171102
44
38
42
Avoid
19930762—
69
38
58
Avoid
19921551—
65
38
56
Caution
199138661
44
38
42
Avoid
19901406—
62
38
54
Caution
1989112——
83
38
67
Good

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Dodge Spirit Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
35
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
29
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
20
SUSPENSION:REAR
19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
12
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Spirit compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Spirit models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1989 · 671995 · 641993 · 581992 · 561990 · 541991 · 421994 · 42

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Spirit to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Spirit model year.

Which Spirit years have the most problems?+

See the year-by-year problem table for a complete breakdown.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Spirit problems?+

The most frequently reported Dodge Spirit issues involve: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SUSPENSION:REAR. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Dodge Spirit.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sedan vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Spirit year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →