1993 Dodge Stealth Problems: Transmission / driveline (39 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1993 Dodge Stealth is Transmission / driveline (46% of 39 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 39 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 1993 Dodge Stealth?

18 of 39 filings named Transmission / driveline (46% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Wheels (6 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Transmission / driveline and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1992 has 91 reports on file; this year has 39. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1993 Dodge Stealth

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Wheels. Look for bent rims, missing lug nuts and vibration at speed.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 18 complaints · 46.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 3
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 2
  • Deaths 0
All Dodge Stealth years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 18 of 39 owner complaints (46.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 18 complaints, 46.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 18 · 46.1% Wheels (WHEELS): 6 complaints, 15.4% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 crash reports 6 · 15.4% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 4 complaints, 10.3% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 4 · 10.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 2 · 5.1% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 · 5.1% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 · 5.1% Tires (TIRES): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 crash reports 2 · 5.1% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 · 5.1% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 2.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 · 2.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 33 complaints, 84.6% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 33 · 84.6% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 18 46.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 6 15.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 4 10.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 5.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 2 5.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 2.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 33 84.6% 1 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 1996. 1995-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1995-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1995-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1995 Jul 2023 Recall campaign 96V143003 ◆ Recall campaign 96V143003 Recall campaign 02V143002 ◆ Recall campaign 02V143002 Investigation PE96004 ● Investigation PE96004 Investigation PE02013 ● Investigation PE02013 Investigation DP03002 ● Investigation DP03002
  • Campaign 96V143003 was reported 600 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 02V143002 was reported 2,659 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 3
1995-Q2 Owner reports 2
1995-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q4 Owner reports 1
1998-Q2 Owner reports 2
1998-Q4 Owner reports 1
1999-Q2 Owner reports 2
1999-Q3 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 2
2000-Q3 Owner reports 2
2000-Q4 Owner reports 1
2001-Q1 Owner reports 2
2001-Q3 Owner reports 2
2002-Q1 Owner reports 3
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q4 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 2
2005-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 96V143003
Recall campaign 1 02V143002
Defect investigation 1 PE96004
Defect investigation 1 PE02013
Defect investigation 1 DP03002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Transmission / driveline and Brakes.

  1. Recall campaign 02V143002

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    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 TRANSFER CASE RESEALED OR REPLACED IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 2, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 96V143003

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 39 complaints · page 1 of 2
2023-09-05Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11542744
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2007-07-18Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10196726
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. *AK
2006-04-25Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10156026
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SEAT BELT, ONCE PULLED OUT, DOESNT PROPERLY PULL BACK IN. TOO MUCH SLACK, IF AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED SOME SERIOUS INJURIES COULD OCCUR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3000GT / STEALTH. *NM
2006-03-09Tires (TIRES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10152317
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR TIRES LOOKED AS IF THEY HAD A SPLIT DOWN THE SIDEWALL. THE FAILURES WERE NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS 35 IN THE FRONT TIRES AND 28 IN THE REAR. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTING. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.
2005-05-09Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10120271
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE HAS HAD FOR SOME TIME, THE PROBLEM STATED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 96V143003, WHICH STATES: 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. CONSEQUENCE: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM.
2005-05-04Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10119805
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2005-03-21Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10114421
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FILLED TANK FULL OF FUEL NIGHT BEFORE.. GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING PULLED CAR IN TO GARAGE.. CLEANED CAR OUT AND WENT TO PULL CAR BACK OUT AND WILL NOT START... REPLACED EVERYTHING COULD THINK OF.. STILL WILL NOT START. *AK
2005-03-01Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10113189
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2004-02-13Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Wheels (WHEELS)
NHTSA ODI 10058123
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2003-09-24Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Wheels (WHEELS)
NHTSA ODI 10042143
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1993 Dodge Stealth?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 18 of 39 reports (46%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Dodge Stealth?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Transmission / driveline and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1993 Dodge Stealth?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources