Selling a junk or non-running Dodge Spirit

The Spirit in a few lines

Chrysler built the Spirit in Newark, Delaware, from October 1988 to December 9, 1994, according to Wikipedia. It rode on the AA-body platform, shared with the Chrysler LeBaron, with the engine mounted sideways and the front wheels driven. It replaced the Dodge 600, and the Stratus sedan took its place. The EPA lists it as a midsize car for the 1989 through 1995 model years.

On October 10, 2026, NHTSA listed 443 Spirit complaints. Every one came from an owner writing in. It is not a count of cars that failed. The components named most often:

• Power train: 68
• Engine and engine cooling: 64
• Electrical system: 48
• Air bags: 42
• Suspension: 33
• Hydraulic service brakes: 16

Those complaints include 38 that mention a crash, 28 that mention a fire, 38 that mention an injury and 3 that mention a death.

Known problems, by stretch of years

The Spirit had one generation. Wikipedia lists four engines for it: the 2.2-liter Turbo III four, the 2.5-liter K four, a turbocharged 2.5 K, and Mitsubishi's 3.0-liter 6G72 V6. Knowing which one is under your hood helps whoever buys the car.

1989-1990: oil at the valve cover

Recall 89V237000 covers 1989 and 1990 cars. Per NHTSA, the gasket under the valve cover could shift and let oil seep out. The repair used a redesigned cover sealed with RTV sealant instead of a gasket. The campaign lists 634,000 vehicles, and that count covers other Chrysler models too, not only the Spirit.

Of the 1989 Spirit's 21 complaints, 5 name the engine and its cooling. On the 1990 it's a tie between power train and air bags, at 14 each, out of 63. The 1990 also has 7 crash reports and 6 fire reports.

1991-1992: brakes, belts and a steering bolt

The 1991 is the busiest year in the file. Engine and engine cooling leads with 21 complaints, then power train with 13 and air bags with 11. Its three recalls:

• 90V162000: the bolts on the front disc brake caliper guide pins may have been under-torqued and could work loose. Campaign: 18,000 vehicles.
• 90V194000: both front air bag impact sensors may not have been fastened to their brackets. Campaign: 398 vehicles.
• 91V122000: a webbing stiffener could get into the front outboard belt buckle and make it hard to latch or unlatch. Campaign: 130,000 vehicles.

On the 1992, power train leads with 13 of 58 complaints. Recall 92V015000 says a zinc plating step made the upper steering column shaft coupling bolt brittle enough to break. Dealers swapped in a phosphate-plated bolt. That campaign lists 20,000 vehicles and may include other models.

1993-1995: suspension, then seat belts

The 1993 has 81 complaints and no recall. Engine and engine cooling (13), suspension (12) and electrical (10) lead. The 1994 has 87, and seat belts top the list at 14. It also carries 13 injury reports and 2 deaths. Recall 94V023000 says the belt anchors on some 1994 cars did not meet the federal load standard for anchorages; the campaign lists 200 vehicles. The 1995 is the last year, with 38 complaints, led by power train at 7.

Complaints and recalls by model year

These Spirit figures come from NHTSA records dated October 10, 2026. Newer Spirits had fewer years of driving to pile up reports than older ones, so the yearly figures are not an even race. Recall 89V237000 covers both 1989 and 1990, so the yearly recall numbers add to 7 while the Spirit has 6 campaigns.

Fix it or sell it?

Look up the VIN first on NHTSA's recall page to see if any of the six campaigns is still open on your car.

Next, put a number on the fix. Have the shop put its repair price on paper. Then check what sellers ask for running Spirits in about the same shape. When the repair price nears that figure or tops it, selling as it sits usually wins. Our page on when a repair outruns the car's value walks through the math.

• Engine trouble. Engine and cooling complaints run through every year. If it knocks, overheats or won't turn over, read blown engine before you spend on a diagnosis.
• Transmission trouble. Power train is the top complaint area overall. See bad transmission for the signs.
• It just sat too long. A Spirit parked for years often needs more than a battery. Sitting for years covers what to check.

Selling your Spirit whole

1. Jot down the details: the VIN, the odometer reading, the engine if you know it, and the symptoms.
2. Ask for an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Let us know where the Spirit is parked. We can work with a garage, a driveway, a shop's yard or a back lot. Note flat tires or locked wheels so the driver brings the right gear. It's free pickup anywhere in the US.
4. Leave the parts on. Sell the whole car as it sits. If someone has taken a part off already, mention it first, since the offer depends on it.
5. Get the Spirit's paperwork together: the title and a photo ID. Missing the title? Start with selling with no title. The plate rules after the sale depend on your state; see after you sell.

Looking at other Dodges from the same era? See the Dynasty, the 600 or the Stratus, or every Dodge we cover.