The 1991 Dodge Stealth has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Seat belt retractor not removing slack.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1991 Dodge Stealth.
SEAT BELTS
11 NHTSA complaints · 2006-04 → 2007-06
“I HAVE A 1991 DODGE STEALTH AND THE RETRACTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN YOU PUT ON THE SEAT BELT IN MOST CASES THE SLACK IS NOT TAKEN UP”
“MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN I PULL IT OUT TO BUCKLE UP THE EXTRA SLACK DOES NOT GET TAKEN CARE OF”
“SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING SLACK WHILE DRIVING IN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BELTS”
POWER TRAIN
11 NHTSA complaints · 1996-11 → 2012-03
“THE OIL LEAKS FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO BE LOCK AND DAMAGE THE DRIVE TRAIN”
“A WEEK AFTER, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE”
“TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. (93V-033)”
POWER TRAIN
5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-11 → 2005-03
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY BLOCK, STOPPED FULLY AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATED GENTLY AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT IN MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH TWIN TURBO SNAPPED, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOR A BIT UNTILT HE VCU BURNT”
“THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON MY 1991 DODGE STEALTH RT TURBO”
“TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT (TRANSFER CASE INPUT SHAFT) SPLINE FAILURE”
POWER TRAIN
7 NHTSA complaints · 2001-01 → 2002-01
“TRANSMISSION SYNCROS FROM 1-2 AND 3-4 AND REVERSE STARTED GRINDING ON SHIFT, GOT WORSE, TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING”
“1ST TIME IT WAS REPLACED WAS BECAUSE OF 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO GOING OUT, (26,000) ENTIRE TRANS HAD TO BE REPLACED!”
“I HAVE HAD 3 FAILURES, ALL UNDER 60K MILES ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND ONE OF WHICH HAD BEEN _PROFESSIONALLY_ REBUILT”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2 NHTSA complaints · 1997-10 → 2003-06
“CONSUMER STATES THAT TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHILED DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL”
“A TENSIONER PULLEY IN THE VALVE TRAIN MECHANISM FAILED, WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE DUE TO THE ENGINE NOT BEING DESIGNED WITH SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FOR THE VALVES IN SUCH AN EVENT”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$150–$195
Shop
~$105–$135
DIY
~$20–$50
Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.
Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1991 Dodge Stealth reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.