1990 Chrysler Lebaron

Routine

Owners filed 68 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission15
100
Air Bags › Frontal5
404
Unknown or Other4
000
Suspension › Rear4
000
Electrical System › Ignition4
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls3
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2
000
Seats2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)2
000
Power Train2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension08E033000
Filed Apr 14, 20086,903 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Chassis Products

Defect. FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

Risk. THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-inactive90V080000
Filed Apr 25, 1990257 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES MAY NOT CONTAIN DIFFUSER HOLES BETWEEN THE IGNITOR AND PROPELLANT CHAMBERS.

Risk. AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT SITUATION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO DRIVER INJURY.

Remedy. REPLACE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WITH PROPERLY MACHINED MODULES.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine89V237000
Filed Dec 27, 1989634,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Risk. THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy. REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsFire
Filed Aug 26, 200598,000 milesVA

DT: THE CALLER SAID HIS FRIEND WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED. NO OTHER PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THE CALLER SAID IT STARTED TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. DEALER SAID THEY WILL HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY COULD SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER SAID THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAGS AND ON A OIL LEAK.*AK

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004NJ

PAINT CONTINUES TO PEEL FROM TOP SURFACES

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 17, 200335,000 milesNY

CAR IS A LEMON!!!!!!!! *LA

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 31, 2003137,205 milesWI

REAR BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE. THE LOOSE SHOE WAS STILL IN PLACE CAPTURED BY THE CALIPER. CONSUMER'S 1990 VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL 92V017000. DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE BRAKE LININGS SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 15, 2002WI

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKS INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AND WILL NOT UPSHIFT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. (LIMP MODE). THERE ARE AT LEAST 32 TSB'S COVERING VARIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE A604/41TE TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. ESTIMATED REPAIRS TO DATE ARE $1950 - $2100. THE CAR IS LIKE NEW OTHERWISE, BUT USELESS AS IS.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed May 10, 2002IN

CAR TOTALLY SHUTS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES (MORE THAN 20+) OVER LAST 8 MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART IN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, OTHER TIMES IT WON'T. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR AS IT HAS HAPPENED AT 30 MPH AS WELL AS 65. WEATHER DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. THIS PROBLEM IS SPORADIC - SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY OVER A DISTANCE OF 5 MILES, OTHER TIMES IT WILL RUN FINE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. I HAVE HAD IT IN TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT PROBLEM IS DUE TO IT NOT ACTING UP WHEN THEY HAVE IT. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER GARAGE IN PLYMOUTH, IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY SEE THE PROBLEM HAPPEN. I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AND HAVE NO WARNING AHEAD OF TIME. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SCARY WHEN DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH SEMIS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Shoes/Linings
Filed Nov 26, 2001WI

A REAR BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE. I FOUND THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE GREASING THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THE LOOSE SHOE WAS STILL IN PLACE CAPTURED BY THE CALIPER. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL: CAMPAIGN NUMBER 92V017000, BUT MY 1990 VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL SINCE IT EFFECTED 1989 MODELS. HOWEVER, I CONVINCED THE DEALER I DID HAVE THE PROBLEM SINCE I HAD A LINING THAT SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE. THE DEALER REPLACED MY REAR BRAKES AT THAT TIME. I HAVE NO RECORD OF THE SERVICE DATE, AND THE DEALER CLAIMS HE HAS NO RECORD, ALTHOUGH HE ALSO HAS NO RECORD OF THE RECALL SERVICE THAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH WATER COLLECTING IN A REAR WHEEL WELL EITHER. TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS AGAIN GREASING THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I DISCOVERED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! ONE OF THE BRAKE LININGS WAS SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE AGAIN! I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, THE ORIGINAL RECALL DID NOT CORRECT ALL THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES. MY 1990 CHRYSLER LEBARON OBVIOUSLY HAD THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH CHRYSLER INSISTED IT EFFECTED ONLY 1989 MODELS AND MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. SECOND, PARTS USED AFTER THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED, STILL EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 16, 2001RI

SEAL WITHIN TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND IS CAUSING PROBLEM WITH DOWNSHIFTING. MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED SEAL.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN. *SLC

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Mar 1, 2001AL

ON TWO OCCASIONS AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BURNED WIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON BOTH OCCASIONS, AND MADE REPAIRS. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ALSO. *YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 9, 2000ME

THE VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THE GAS COVER GASKET AND WAS REPLACED WITH SILICONE! SILICONE CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS! THE LIFTER HAS A BAD TICKING TO IT! AND AN OCCASSIONAL SPARK KNOCK! THE STRUTS DO NOT WEAR WELL AND TEND TO GIVE OUT AFTER 5,000 MILES!

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineCrash
Filed Jul 17, 2000CA

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS LISTED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 5730. VALVE COVER HAS ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET. *AK FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *YH

Power Train
Filed Jul 17, 2000ME

THE ODOMETER NEEDLE HAS BROKEN INSIDE AND I CANNOT REPAIR IT.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 12, 2000OH

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEARS. ALSO LOSS OF FLUID OCCURS AND ENGINE OVERHEATS. OWNER HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT SHE BELIEVES IT WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN SHE BOUGHT IT. TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP BEING REPLACED. *AK *ML

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 7, 2000OH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Tires
Filed May 5, 2000OH

THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS BALD WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HOME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 17, 2000WA

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHEN TRAVELING ON THE ROAD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 8, 1999PA

EXPERIENCED REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH "JERKING" IN THE VEHICLE AND GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO OPEREATED PROPERLY (NOT MEETING THE GEAR RATIO). UPON MECHANICS CHECK AND COMMPUTER ANALYSIS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A VEHICLE RECALL OF THE CARS COMPUTER HAD NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED. THE MECHANIC HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND I REQUEST FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT. MY TOTAL COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS WAS $1,084.38.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 24, 1999TX

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER MY WARRANTY OF 70,000/7YEAR. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. BOTH POWER WINDOW MOTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE EXTERIOR PAINT IS ERODING AT AN ALARMING RATE. IS THE CHRYSLER MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THESE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE? AM I ENTITLED TO ANY COMPENSATION FOR THESE FAULTY MECHANISMS THAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR? I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THESE MISFORTURNES HAPPENED AFTER THE WARRANTY OF 70,000 MILES. THE CAR IS FALLING APART IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR. THE CAR IS MAINTENANCED EVERY 2500 MILES WITH OIL AND LUBE CHANGES.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 29, 1999FL

NO SUMMARY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 21, 1999NC

PAINT ON CAR IS PEELING IN LARGE AREAS. ROOF IS COMPLETELY PEELED IN TWO LARGE PEELS THE LENGTH OF THE ROOFTOP.

20 of 68 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20031000Routine
19972000Routine
19963000Routine
199575030Routine
1994102050Routine
199366010Routine
199278260Routine
199163540Routine
1990 — this page68320Routine

Compare every Lebaron year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 14, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.