1992 Dodge Stealth

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

70/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Dodge Stealth, and it carries 2 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	45	45%
Seat belts	22	22%
Air bags	7	7%
Engine and engine cooling	6	6%
Fuel system	5	5%
Service brakes	2	2%
Vehicle speed control	2	2%
Power train	1	1%
Power train	1	1%
Electrical system	1	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN OIL LEAK ON THE GROUND, WHICH LED TO OIL LEAKING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER (GEORGIA CHRYSLER DODGE JE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKED OIL AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TAKATA INFLATORS,TRANSMISSION,MAX SPEED APROX TO DRIVE 5MPH, WILL NOT GO FASTER
NHTSA complaint: Power train

CHRYSLER TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO STEVE LANDERS CHRYSLER IN LITTLE ROCK, AR AND AFTER MULTIPLE FRUSTRATING CALLS WITH THEM AND CHRYSLER THEY A MONTH LATER TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T FIXING MY CAR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE STEALTH. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. UPON ACCELERATION; THE CONTACT STOPPED AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE STEALTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAPACITOR WAS LEAKING ACID ONTO THE MAIN COMPUTER BOARD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD 1 DAY AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT IN MY CAR. STAY LOOSE ALL THE TIME. HAVE TO PUSH THEM BACK IN TO RETRACT. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 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.

Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive) 02V143002

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

Service brakes 96V143003

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 seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	78	good
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 43% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 53% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact 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 78: 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 Stealth?

Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 45 of them (45%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Dodge Stealth 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 Stealth 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 Stealth?

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.