Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 9 | 28% |
| Power train | 8 | 25% |
| Visibility | 4 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 9% |
| Air bags | 2 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS TWIST AND FOLD GETTING STUCK WITHIN THE GUIDE RINGS CAUSING THEM NOT TO FULLY RETRACT OR PULL FORWARD SO THAT YOU ARE EITHER UNABLE OR MUST FORCIBLY CLICK THEM INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE STEALTH. SHE STATED THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT SOMEBODY MUST HAVE THRO
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT ON THEIR OWN. THEY HAVE TO BE HAND FED BACK OR ELSE THEY JUST REMAIN FULLY EXTENDED AFTER BEING UNBUCKLED. THIS PROBLEM WILL SOMETIME EVER CREATE EXTRA SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT WHILE DRIVIN
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I GET IN MY CAR. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
WHENEVER SEAT BELT PULLS OUT, IT FAILS TO RETRACT ON IT'S OWN, UNLESS HAND-FED INTO THE REEL. MANY TIMES THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PROPERLY RETRACT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
AFTER FASTENING THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS, THEY DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT TO BE TIGHT ON THE BODY. THE EXCESS SLACK CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN. *
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS USUALLY EXTRA SLACK WHEN IT IS BUCKLED. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT STICKS WHEN PULLED OUT, ALLOWING EXCESS SLACK IN BELT. NO INCIDENT OF INJURY, BUT EXCESS SLACK COULD PREVENT OPERATOR FROM BEING RESTRAINED PROPERLY. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1994 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.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 9 of them (28%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 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 71/100. 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.