1991 Dodge Daytona ES 2.4 liter engine, 4-cylinder

Summary:

Perfect first car, developed serious electrical problems

Faults:

The exhaust system needed to be replaced when I first got the car.

The alternator broke and needed to be replaced.

The oxygen sensor blew, which caused the car to spontaneously stall whenever I stopped at a light. This was easily replaced.

The RPM meter on the car would drop to zero whenever I hit 2,000 RPM's.

Serious electrical problems developed after about a year: door locks constantly locked, warning chimes constantly rang, steering column clicked. After several mechanics and electricians couldn't figure out why the door locks kept locking, I asked them to disconnect the door locks. Even after they did this, the warning chimes still rang. The car was eventually destroyed because of an electrical fire.

The belts constantly squealed despite replacement and maintenance. It sounded like there was a bird stuck in the engine.

Head liner needed to be replaced.

General Comments:

At seventeen years old, this was my first car and it nicely handled the abuse that I dealt out.

My grandmother's wheelchair had more pickup than this car did, but it was pretty quick once it got moving.

I really like the hatchback design... it was wonderful for fitting mass amounts of luggage and band equipment.

The back seats were small, and people sitting in the back tended to bump their heads on the ceiling. However, it wasn't insufferably small.

This car got good gas mileage. It was perfect for a teenager's wallet.

I really wish that this car hadn't caught fire at all. I bought it when I was sixteen for $2500 dollars and I feel that it was well worth the money. Although I definitely scraped this car up quite a bit, it suited me perfectly. I really liked it a lot better than the 1997 5-speed Saturn SC2 that I am currently driving. My Daytona was a lot faster and roomier than my Saturn, and I just felt more comfortable with it. If I could find a 5-speed Daytona, I would really like to get it... except for the fact that I was very spooked by the car fire. Another thing that struck me as eerie was the fact that the towing company that towed my car after the fire towed another Dodge Daytona just the day before. I really like this car, but I'm very wary of the electrical problems that seem to follow this car around.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th March, 2003

3rd Mar 2005, 23:13

In any Daytona the automatic door locks lock after the car reaches over 20 miles an hour.

1991 Dodge Daytona ES 3.0 V6

Summary:

An affordable Mustang killer

Faults:

My radiator developed a leak 2 months after purchase.

Exhaust over axle pipe rusted out and had to be replaced 2 months after purchase.

General Comments:

Even though it does not have a strut tower brace as of yet, the car has a nice and firm ride.

The tires are not a common size in this area, but are easy to find at reasonable prices.

Performance parts are not easy to find, but what there are available are well worth the cost to buy them.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th January, 2002

4th Mar 2009, 03:18

They don't even make a light switch for this model any more. I have a 91 Daytona ES V6 five speed and I need the light switch. Anybody wanna sell me one, email me @ jmay101290@aim.com

30th Oct 2009, 06:37

I just bought my ES about 3 months ago. It's amazing. Fun to drive and has great performance.

1991 Dodge Daytona Shelby 2.5 turbo

Summary:

I love it!

Faults:

She has had a few problems, but only one that was a little on the expensive side to fix.

That one problem was electrical, the power locks had a mind of their own when it rained, as did the wiper upon occasion. This was fixed by replacing a very inexpensive relay.

At one time, the gromets which connect the shifter cables to the transaxle, fell out and left me stuck in reverse. I was able to get the car into third and proceeded to drive home in third gear. The real kicker is that Chrysler wouldn't sell me just the gromets. They made me buy both complete cable just for the gromets.

Also, the car likes to eat front tires, but that is not due to bad alignment or anything. I have a tendency to be hard on the throttle.

General Comments:

I really love this car. It performs well, handles excellent, looks better than just about any new car, and suits me perfectly. It has hooked me on turbo charged Chrysler products for good. I just purchased another, a 1986 Laser XE.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd October, 2001