1993 DODGE STEALTH Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 1993 Dodge Stealth. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V143000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

BOUGHT FROM A SMALL CAR LOT, HAD CAR FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO BAD ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE CAR NEEDED ABOUT $1610.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS. IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. HAD RADIATOR LEAK/SPARK PLUG WIRE SHORTED OUT /FUEL INJECTION CLEANING/ COOLANT SERVICE/ANTIFREEZE/NEW THERMOSTAT, AND GASKET FOR THERMOSTAT. DODGE TOLD HER THE SAME THING, AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD THE WRONG MISFIRE CODES. STARTED WHEN CAR STALLED AND OVERHEATED ,AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.*AK

Mileage: 81,100

WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH PRESSURE PLATE BROKE THROUGH THE BELL HOUSING AND THROUGH THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK

Mileage: 47,000

18 SPLINE TRANSFER CASE SEIZED AND OUTPUT SHAFT SNAPPED CAUSING CAR TO GO INTO A SKID AROUND A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH OFF AN EMBANKMENT ROLLING 2.5 TIMES. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED.*AK

FAILURE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR FAILURE TO TRANSFER CASE ON 1993 DODGE STEALTH. *MR A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED. AFTER THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS DENIED. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSFER CASE HAD CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. HARD TO IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST OR REVERSE. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 TIMES, ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, AND AGAIN ON MY OWN COSTING WELL OVER $5,000.00. 2 YEARS AFTER LAST REPAIR, PROBLEM PERSISTS. GETRAG TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE!*AK

DRIVING ALONG AT 35 MILES AND HR WHEN THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE CAR FISH TAILED TO A REST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.THE DEALER THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO CHECK IT. SAID THAT THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP AND DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION.

MY CAR HAS SUFFERED MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. ONE IN 07/1994 WITH ONLY 1,774 MILES, 3RD GEAR ISSUES AT 65,461 MILES 10/1996, A FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT 68,057 MILES IN 01/1997, MORE 3RD GEAR ISSUES IN 02/1997 WITH 68,069 MILES, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN IN 01/1998 WITH 77,560 MILES BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. WE HAVE RECORDS OF ALL OF THESE THOUGH THEY CAME BEFORE WE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE CONDFIDENCE THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK

SPLINES ON SHAFT NOT HEAVY ENOUNGH/ POOR DESIGN NO SHIELDING, SEALS OR LUBRICATION TO PREVENT CORROSION OF THE ALREADY WEAK SPLINES, I KNOW OF MANY CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND OTHERS OCCURING ON THIS TRANSAXLE/TRANSFER CASE SETUP. HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVETRAIN IN CARS WITH 60K OR LESS MILES AND WITH STICKER PRICE OF < $33K (IN THE EARLY 90S) IS UNEXCEPTABLE. IT SEEMS THAT 60K IS WHEN A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS BEGIN TO OCCUR. WHAT MAKE MATTERS WORSE IS THE FACT THE UNITS CAN NOT BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALERS, THEY MUST SWAPED FOR RECONDITIONED UNITS AT <$3500 FOR UNIT AND LABOR. THE RECONDITIONED UNIT ARE REBUILD WITH IMPROVED PARTS, BUT THERE IS STILL NOT WAY TO KEEP THE SPLINES FROM RUSTING BESIDES TAKING THE DRIVELINE APART TO APPLY GREASE TO THE SPLINES EVER SO MANY MILES. THIS IS A NOT A EASY TASK FOR MOST OWNERS AND IS NOT LIST IN REQUIRED MAINTANCE IN ANY OF THE MANUELS. SO IT IS SELDOM DONE. MIT/DODGE/GETRIG WHERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IMPROVED THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSFER CASE IN THE 2ND GENERATION CARS (1994 ON). THAT ONE REASON MANY OF US (INCLUDING MYSELF) HAVE SWITCH OUR 1ST GEN. CARS TO 2ND GEN. DRIVETRAINS. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS WITH THESE PROBLEMS WILL BE GREATLY APPERCIATED. WE OWNERS HAVE BEEN TRY TO GET MITS/DODGE/GETRIG TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM FOR 10 YRS NOW.*AK

THE GETRAG TRANSMISSION/TRANFER CASE IS NOTED TO HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD VARIOUS LEAKS, AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TRANSFER IS ALMOST SHOT. LUCKILY, THE SYNCRONIZERS HAVE BEEN OK SO FAR. THEY ARE ANOTHER KNOWN PART THAT FAILS TOO MUCH. MITSUBISHI DOES NOT OFFFER REBUILD KITS, OR INDIVIDUAL PARTS. IF THE ASSEMBLY NEED FIXED THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BUY A COMPLETE NEW ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS AROUND $5000.00. PLEASE HELP ALL STEALTH/3000GT OWNER AND GET A RECALL ON THESE PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURES LIKE THIS ARE COMMON IN DODGE STEALTHS AND 3000GT AWD MODELS (ESSENTIALLY THE SAME CAR) WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE WAS OPENED, IT HAD BEEN RUSTING INSIDE. THIS IS BOTH COSTLY AND DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER.

DODGE MARKETED A VERSION OF THE MITSHUBISHI 3000GT VR-4 IN THE EARLY-MID 90'S. BOTH OF THESE CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT CAN LOCK UP WHEN BEING DRIVEN!!! I PERSONALLY KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OCCURRENCES OF THIS, EVEN THOUGH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CARS WAS LIMITED TO A FEW THOUSAND TURBO MODELS (NOTE: THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE TURBO MODELS). MY FAILURES HAVE INCLUDED A 2ND GEAR SYNCRO FAILURE, AND A LEAKAGE PROBLEM, BOTH WARRANTED A FULL TRANSAXLE REPLACEMENT. OTHER PEOPLE (SEE WWW.3SI.ORG) ARE REPORTING COMPLETE TRANSAXLE LOCK UPS, INPUT SHAFT LOCK UPS, SYNCHRONIZER FAILURES, AND GENERAL LEAKAGE PROBLEMS. MOST LEAKS, IF UNDETECTED, PARTICULARLY IN THE TRANSFER CASE LEAD TO LOCK UP AT, OFTEN AT HIGH SPEED!!! THIS TRANSMISSION MAKES THE CHEVY VEGA OF THE EARLY 70'S LOOK LIKE A HIGH QUALITY CAR!! *AK

DODGE MARKETED A VERSION OF THE MITSHUBISHI 3000GT VR-4 IN THE EARLY-MID 90'S. BOTH OF THESE CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT CAN LOCK UP WHEN BEING DRIVEN!!! I PERSONALLY KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OCCURRENCES OF THIS, EVEN THOUGH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CARS WAS LIMITED TO A FEW THOUSAND TURBO MODELS (NOTE: THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE TURBO MODELS). MY FAILURES HAVE INCLUDED A 2ND GEAR SYNCRO FAILURE, AND A LEAKAGE PROBLEM, BOTH WARRANTED A FULL TRANSAXLE REPLACEMENT. OTHER PEOPLE (SEE WWW.3SI.ORG) ARE REPORTING COMPLETE TRANSAXLE LOCK UPS, INPUT SHAFT LOCK UPS, SYNCHRONIZER FAILURES, AND GENERAL LEAKAGE PROBLEMS. MOST LEAKS, IF UNDETECTED, PARTICULARLY IN THE TRANSFER CASE LEAD TO LOCK UP AT, OFTEN AT HIGH SPEED!!! THIS TRANSMISSION MAKES THE CHEVY VEGA OF THE EARLY 70'S LOOK LIKE A HIGH QUALITY CAR!! *AK

THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SINCE THE 3000GT AND STEALTH TWIN TURBO HAS BEEN OUT. WE'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE ON THERE 4TH AND 5TH TRANSMISSION ALREADY AND HAVE GONE OUT AS EARLY AS 20,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS IN MY CASE IT WOULD HAVE COSTED ME $5800 JUST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION QALONE SINCE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAIL. AND IF THE TRANNY WOULD HAVE GOING, IN MY INSTANCE, ALL 4 TIRES WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME SINCE ITS AN AWD SYSTEM. THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY LIFE THREATING PROBLEM.

THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SINCE THE 3000GT AND STEALTH TWIN TURBO HAS BEEN OUT. WE'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE ON THERE 4TH AND 5TH TRANSMISSION ALREADY AND HAVE GONE OUT AS EARLY AS 20,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS IN MY CASE IT WOULD HAVE COSTED ME $5800 JUST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION QALONE SINCE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAIL. AND IF THE TRANNY WOULD HAVE GOING, IN MY INSTANCE, ALL 4 TIRES WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME SINCE ITS AN AWD SYSTEM. THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY LIFE THREATING PROBLEM.

OUTPUT SPLINES ON TRANSAXLE/INPUT SPLINES ON TRANSFER CASE RUSTED AND STRIPED OUT

OUTPUT SPLINES ON TRANSAXLE/INPUT SPLINES ON TRANSFER CASE RUSTED AND STRIPED OUT

THE OUTPUT SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TRANSFER CASE BECAME STRIPPED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT SUPPLY PARTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, STATING THAT FOR ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR TRANSFER CASE THE PARTS MUST BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS (EXPENSIVELY) TO REPLACE THE PARTS THAT BROKE, BUT IT BECAME OVER $5000 JUST IN PARTS!!!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *AK

TRANSAXLE FAILED.

THE CLUTCH BROKE THREE TIME IN A TOTAL OF 14,000 MILES. TT

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 TO 55 MPH AND STEPPING FULL ON ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND SLOWING DOWN, GEARS WILL DOWN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. TT