Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Dodge Stealth, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 32 | 49% |
| Seat belts | 13 | 20% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 6% |
| Air bags | 4 | 6% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Suspension | 2 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS TO UNLOCK THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE STEALTH. RECALL# 02V143002, POWER TRAIN, TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED. THE OIL LEAKS FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE WHI
NHTSA complaint: Power train
SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED SINCE I OWNED THE CAR. ON (MAY, 200) THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. UPON TALKING TO OTHER CAR OWNERS THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH AND THE RETRACTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN YOU PUT ON THE SEAT BELT IN MOST CASES THE SLACK IS NOT TAKEN UP. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HOPE I'M NOT. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN I PULL IT OUT TO BUCKLE UP THE EXTRA SLACK DOES NOT GET TAKEN CARE OF. IT JUST REMAINS LOOSE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL IT WOULD HOLD UP IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
1. SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, AND REMOVE SLACK ONCE THE SEAT BELT IS LATCHED.--- 2. AFTER BUCKLING MY SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. IT WILL LEAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLACK BETWEEN MY BODY AND THE SEAT. IN A
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT ON BOTH PASSENGER/DRIVER SIDES FAIL TO RETRACT. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING SLACK WHILE DRIVING IN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BELTS. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1991 Dodge Stealth. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT BY MITSUBISHI MOTOR CORPORATION FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE.
Risk: LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE NO OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE OIL CHANGED. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFE
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Risk: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A
A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE. LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE CAN CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND FAILURE.
Risk: BEARING FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTS INPOWER TRAIN LOCKUP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.THIS COULD CAUSE IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL A C-RING TO TRANSFER CASE TO PREVENT OIL LEAKAGE, OR REPLACE TRANSFER CASE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 32 of them (49%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.