1992 Dodge Spirit

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Dodge Spirit, and it carries 1 recall. 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	14	18%
Engine and engine cooling	12	15%
Service brakes	11	14%
Air bags	5	6%
Electrical system	5	6%
Suspension	4	5%
Steering	4	5%
Seats	4	5%
Visibility	3	4%
Unknown or other	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I AM RETRACTING WHAT I REPORTED ON MY AIRBAG LIGHT...IT DOES COME ON AND THEN GO OUT BUT STILL...I DONT KNOW IF ITS SAFE... UPDATED
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

POWER STEERING ON 1992 DODGE 230 XPLORER M.H. VAN. HAD VAN TAKEN TO HEMET CHRYSLER IN HEMET CALIF. AND "THEY" DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SERVICE WRITER ADAMANTLY
NHTSA complaint: Steering

CONCERNS REGARDING RECALLS ON 1992 DODGE SPIRIT.*MR CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION ON 1992 DODGE SPIRIT RECALLS. *NM *JB
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

LEFT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM OR PIVOT SUDDENLY CAME LOOSE IN HEAVY SNOW. THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER CONTINUED TO WORK BUT THE LEFT SIDE ONLY MOVED INCHES IF AT ALL. WHILE TRYING TO PULL OFF I-79 I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR DUE
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

ALL 4 TIRES EXPERIENCED CRACKS AND BULGES AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE SIDEWALL. (VEHICLE MODEL 2500) *JB THE TREAD WAS WORN TO WEAR INDICATORS AFTER 14K MILES. THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS WERE GIVEN IN REFERENCE TO THE
NHTSA complaint: Tires

FUEL ODORS ARE GETTING INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS USED ON ALL SPIRITS, ACCLAIMS, LEBARON SEDANS, CIRRUS, STRATUS, ALL MINIVANS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. THERE IS A BUILT IN DEFECT. I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS SOONER, BUT I WAS A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE. T
NHTSA complaint: Power train

HEAD GASKET CRACKED ON ORIGINAL AND ON THE SAMEPLACE ON THE REPLACEMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Dodge Spirit. 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.

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar 92V015000

THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.

Risk: FRACTURES OF THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLINGBOLT RESULT IN A LACK OF COUPLING LOAD ON THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL.

Fix: REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	88	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 52% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 56% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 93% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 57% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 88: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1992 Dodge Spirit?

Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 14 of them (18%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Dodge Spirit reliable?

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.

How long will a 1992 Dodge Spirit last?

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 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Dodge Spirit?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. 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.