1990 Plymouth Acclaim

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 60 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 2 times.

Avoid One of the Plymouth Acclaim years to avoid: an unusual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age. Which Plymouth Acclaim years to avoid →

Most common 1990 Plymouth Acclaim problems

15 of the 60 complaints (25%) are about the engine.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags8
402
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine6
020
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine5
020
Air Bags · airbags5
113
Suspension › Rear4
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner3
101
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission3
101
Seat Belts2
204
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System · engine2
000
Electrical System › Ignition2
000

2 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.

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.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags2 injured
Filed Oct 31, 2023WA

July 2017 I was hit by a drunk driver of which I was a passenger in my vehicle upon impact my seatbelts automatically released and my airbags did not deploy causing my driver to be ejected from the vehicle and for me to hit my head on my dash and then be smashed into my windshield then finally when the car stopped rolling I was in the back seat no longer in the front passenger seat to end up in the backseat when I was sitting originally in the front passenger. I was injured severely due to the lack of my seatbelts working correctly and it caused me to have a broken back and eight places a broken pelvis that pierced my liver and gallbladder and broke my collarbone legs and arms I had to be given full blood transfusion and I maxed out the other cars insurance and my uninsured motorist ins while my injuries pain and medical was over $150000 I only received a few thousand and now have chronic pain and related health issues due to the damage to my liver

Seat BeltsCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 7, 2021WA

Both the drivers and the passengers front seat belts did not work correctly, If i repeadely inserted the clasp in and out, eventually they would click, but then later they would release, when i was in a very bad car accident july 13 2017, both the driver of my vehicle and i both had our seatbelts on and clasped, and upon impact the belts released and the driver was ejected from the vehicle and i hit my head and was banged and tossed around the vehicle as it spun and rolled, and when it was over i was no longer in teh front of the car, i was in the back seat, and i had injuries to my organs, i almost died, and i broke my back, my collar bone, legs and arms, because my seat belt released upon impact immediatly.

Seat BeltsCrash2 injured
Filed Mar 12, 2021150,000 milesWA

JULY 2017 I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY OWN VEHICLE AND ME AND MY DRIVER WERE BOTH WEARING THE SEATBELTS, THAT AT IMPACT RELEASED AND HE WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE DOOR THAT HAD OPENED ON IMPACT AND IN THE SPIN IN THE AIR WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DASH, BOTH SEATBELTS WERE FAULTY, IT WAS DIFFICULT WHEN PUTTING THEM ON TO GET THEM TO GRASP, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPEATEDLY AND WITH ALOT OF FORCE OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT WOULD GRAB, WE BOTH HAD GOTTEN THE SEAT BELTS TO ENGAGE BUT ON IMPACT THEY INSTANTLY RELEASED

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jun 1, 2006OH

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MOTOR HAD FAILED. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 18, 2004OH

ON MARCH 16, 2004, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON ICY PAVEMENT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A TREE INSTEAD. UPON IMPACT, NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Nov 5, 2003OH

VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN A BIG BANG WAS HEARD. SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH THE DASH BOARD. SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, THE VEHICLE BURNED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END BURNED THROUGH, THE ONLY THING LEFT WAS THE REAR TIRES AND TAIL LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE NEVER HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *PH *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2003VA

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash
Filed Jan 17, 2003AR

CONSUMER STATES, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT CAUSING PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH WINDSHIELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Suspension › Front › Stabilizer Bar
Filed Nov 15, 2002NY

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STABILIZER BAR SNAP CAUSING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

Tires
Filed Sep 11, 2002CT

WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-95. WE HEARD AN UNIDENTIFYABLE NOISE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS. WE CONTINUED TRAVELING AT THE RATE OF APPROX. 55MPH WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER SOME DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY GAINING CONTROL OF THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE IN THE SLOW LANE WITH NO OTHER CARS NEAR US (OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED DURING THE TIME THE CAR WAS SWERVING AND OUT OF CONTROL). UPON INSPECTION, THE TREAD WAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. WE HAVE SAVED THE TIRE AND THE TREAD.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Nov 16, 2000CA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 2, 2000IN

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING A FRONTAL COLLISON CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUFFER FRACTURED FEMUR, FRACTURED RIGHT ORBIT, FRACTURED CHEEK BONE AND NOSE, THE FACIAL FRACTURES WERE FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *ET

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle BarFire
Filed Jun 12, 2000NJ

THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. YH

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Mar 18, 2000AK

CAR WILL NOT START WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT IT WILL START WHEN USING THE REMOTE STARTER. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Mar 2, 2000NJ

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET SIMILAR TO THE ONE DESCRIBED IN RECALL 89V237000, WHERE VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED.*AK *ML

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Feb 7, 2000NJ

VEHICLE WAS JUST PARKED. CONSUMER HAPPENED TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN HUGE FLAMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 17, 1999NY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 1999FL

DAILY FAILURES. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE

Air BagsFire
Filed Sep 22, 1999TX

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH CAUSED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. ALSO, AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON AND CASUED WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Sep 10, 1999KY

WHILETRAVELING DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE INTO THE RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 17, 1999NY

WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON OUR 1990 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM DATED DECEMBER 05,1990,THE RECALL OWNER NOTIFICATION DATE WAS FEBUARY 21,1990.WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED BY ANYONE OF THIS RECALL.CAMPAIGN NUMBER 89V237000.COMPONENT DESCRIPTION ENGINE;GASKET;VALVE COVER.SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 1989 WE HAVE HAD CHRSYSLER REPAIR THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES AT A COST OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WITH NO SUCCESS.THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.LEAKS OIL CONSTANTLY THROUGH VALVE COVER.TODAY AUGUST 17,1999 I CALLED CHRSYLER ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEVER EXISTED????HOW COULD THIS BE POSSIBLE???WHAT ANGERS US IS THAT OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR WE HAVE PAID CHRYSLER MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED TO REOCCUR??CONSTANTLY LEAKS OIL THROUGH VALVE COVERS.THIS HAS ALSO RUINED OUR DRIVEWAY...NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO ADD OIL ALL THE TIME.WHY WERE WE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL.THANK YOU VIVIAN ARENA.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jul 13, 1999TX

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Mar 27, 1999CA

OVERPOWERING FUMES WHEN CAR IDLING & FAN BLOWER ON. NO REPLY TO LTR TO CHRYSLER 11/23/98. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOURCE. TOXIC CHOKING SMELL. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 22, 1999WI

WHENEVER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A SHORT OR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE. DEALER HAD TO REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Unknown or Other1 killed
Filed Nov 9, 1998NY

WHILE ENTERING A LEFT BEND IN A ROAD THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I HAD TO APPLY A HARD LEFT JERK AND WAS ABLE TO RECOVER PROPER STEERING IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AT THE SAME TIME OF RECOVERY THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON. SOON AFTER, I FOUND THAT THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL DID NOT OPERATE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE C/SPRING, MFG. PART NUMBER 5252468, COSTING 167.00 PLUS 13.78 TAX, FAILED INTERNALLY. IT IS THE ROTARY RELAY SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR THE AIR BAG, SPEED CONTROL SWITCHES AND HORN, LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT IN OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES IS OF CONCERN.

Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 15, 1998KS

SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY BROKEN ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE.

Suspension › Rear
Filed Aug 26, 1998KS

SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY BROKE.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jul 28, 1998CA

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ROLL ELECTRIC WINDOWS UP OR DOWN AND AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT. AFTER TAKING IT TO DEALER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THEN WHEN IT WAS TURNED BACK ON, AND VEHICLE WAS FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. THE BATTERY WAS JERKED OUT AND THE FIRE WENT OUT, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM BURNING UP. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jul 16, 1998NY

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HIT A DECORATIVE ROCK WHICH SCRAPPED THE UNDERNEATH PORTION OF VEHICLE, AND CAUSED THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, FRONT BUMPER WAS NOT AFFECTED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 21, 1998RI

VALVE GUIDES WERE PUT UP THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAD INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE TOP. MANUFACTURES DEFECT SOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH MANUFACTURE.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 30, 1998MN

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALER. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 10, 1998TX

VALVE COVER GASKET DRIPS OIL NOW LOSING 1 QUART OF OIL A MONTH

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jan 9, 1998MI

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD. DIDN'T HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING, IT JUST WENT OFF, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Nov 20, 1997OH

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TURNPIKE COMMISSION/OHIO STATE POLICE)

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Aug 13, 1997UT

DRIVER SEAT BACK BROKE LOOSE DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION ONTO FREEWAY CAUSING DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS AND LOSE HOLD OF THE STEERING WHEEL MOMENTARILY.

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Jul 16, 1997GA

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER DASHBOARD, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. THE CAUSE MAY HAVE BEEN A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Jun 27, 1997PA

VEHICLE WAS IDLING WHEN CONSUMER SAW LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING AREA. CONSUMER THEN TURNED OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECTED BATERY CABLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Sep 30, 1996CA

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT TO COME ON.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Sep 12, 1996CA

WHILE DRIVING IN ORDINARY TRAFFIC, AIRBAG EXPLODED, NO KNOWN REASON, STUNNED DRIVER, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HIT CURBS, SPEED 30 MPH.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion Bar
Filed Sep 9, 1996CT

REAR TORSION BAR CRACKED CAUSING VEHICLE NOISE.

Suspension › Rear
Filed Aug 16, 1996MA

REAR TRAILING ARM CRACKED. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601572)

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Apr 12, 1996DC

2025432611(H): WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING MORE FREQUENTLY DURING WET WEATHER; VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING HIGHWAY; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 9, 1996NC

WATER GET INTO THE HEADLIGHT, IT REDUCED THE VISIBILITY. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Apr 3, 1996TX

OTHER: AIR BAG PROBLEMS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601422, 601423, 601428) *DH

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 24, 1996MN

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND PASSENGER SIDE BOLT BROKE. TT

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft
Filed Dec 11, 1995CA

THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED/SPLIT/BROKEN. TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 29, 1995NY

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 16, 1995PA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES AT 66K MILES. TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 1995CA

WHILE DRIVING AT HWY. SPEEDS, EXPERIENCE SUDDENLY DECELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, DEALER SUSPECTS TRANS. MALFUNCTION, FIXED 11 TIMES. TT

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 9, 1995NY

CONSUMER STS HER AUTO LOCKS IN GEAR. TT

Complaints 1-50 of 60, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19961000Routine
199530020Routine
199469100Routine
199372030Routine
199263142Fatalities reported
199197350Routine
1990 — this page60281Fatalities reported

Compare every Acclaim year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.