DodgeSpirit19922.2L/dodge/spirit/1992/2-2l/
AA platform

1992 Dodge Spirit — 2.2L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Spirit 2.2L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.2LTransmission Manual 5-spd

As an AA-platform passenger car, the 1992 Dodge Spirit paired its 2.2L engine with a 5-speed manual transmission to deliver EPA estimates of 17/24/19 mpg, requiring 5.1 qt of oil w/ filter for routine maintenance. While power train issues top the list of 79 total owner complaints alongside a single recall, this model year represents a distinct drop from the 1991 peak of 122 complaints across the 1990-2002 model span. For researchers, this positions the 1992 Spirit as a transitional benchmark in the model's reliability history, indicating that while early production flaws were subsiding, the platform had not yet reached the low of just 1 complaint seen in 1998.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.1 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04268981 alt 04213583AB
Fuel filter04495781
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued · alt 68304174AA
Front wiper blades4334667 alt 04389350
Serpentine beltB0015396 alt B0015481AB
Thermostat04494470 discontinued · alt MD997310

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length181.1 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight2798 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume97 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.1 qt w/ filter of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.1 qt w/ filter

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 15,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Power Steering Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAir Bag System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 82,500 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Dodge Spirit sits at a relative low point in the generation’s complaint and recall trajectory, with 79 complaints and just one recall—down sharply from the 1991 peak of 122 complaints and three recalls, and below the 1993–1994 rebound of 104–111 complaints. Its single recall is moderate compared to the two in 1990 and three in 1991, while its two investigations match the level of most later years. The top complaint areas for 1992 are powertrain (14), engine cooling (12), and service brakes (11), with four crash-related and five fire-related complaints reported. Although 1995 shows even fewer complaints (51) and no recalls, the 1992 model year appears to be a relatively stable point in the arc, avoiding the extremes seen in 1991 and 1993–1994. Based solely on the federal record, the 1992 Dodge Spirit is a reasonable buy within its generation, but you should still budget for potential powertrain and brake issues.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
44
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
79
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 79 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train14
Engine & Engine Cooling12
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11
Air Bags5
Electrical System5
Suspension4
Steering4
Seats4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V015000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 14/02/1992

THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT. Remedy: REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Spirit. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Spirit 2.2L take?

5.1 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F 30W SJ, SL, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40 SJ, SL, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 32 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30 SJ, SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Spirit have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.2L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.