RoadVitals

1989 Plymouth Acclaim

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest Oct 20, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 14, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Plymouth Acclaim, most frequently naming the engine, suspension and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 25 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1435.0%
  • Suspension615.0%
  • Electrical37.5%
  • Powertrain (other)37.5%
  • Transmission37.5%
  • Exterior lighting37.5%
  • Interior & seats25.0%
  • Visibility12.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E033000

SUSPENSION

Apr 14, 2008
6,903 units potentially affected
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov
89V237000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Dec 27, 1989
634,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
The risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
The remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE89036ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING

Opened Jan 9, 1989
Closed Jan 31, 1989

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POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 33
Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED A WIRE MELTED INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP. *AK *TS ON AND OFF THE ROAD, THE WIRE WAS BOILING THE GAS AROUND THE WIRE, BUT IT DID NOT BLOW A FUSE OR MELT OTHER WIRES ON THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10040333
Incident
Sep 7, 2003
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 8, 2002

RECALL 89 V 237 000/ENGINE VALVE COVER: PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009466
Incident
May 3, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed May 29, 2001

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN HEADLIGHT COVER BECAME DIM. WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE DISTANCES CLEARLY DURING NIGHT. HEADLIGHT LENS COVER WAS VERY YELLOWISH LOOKING AND LIGHT WAS NOT ABLE TO SHINE THROUGH CLEARLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
889333
Seat belts
Filed Sep 23, 2000

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT STAY HOOKED IN. *AK

NHTSA ID
732303
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2000

ENGINE HEAD GASKET TRAILING ARM RUSTED OUT. AND ALSO THERE IS A TICKING NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ID
863450
Incident
Jun 12, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2000

I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ANOTHER 15,000 MILES SINCE THE FIRST INDICATION OF FAILURE. I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR END IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND I COULD NOT ALWAYS DETERMINE THE LOCATION. THE DEALER CALMLY SAID I HAD A BROKEN AXLE - SOMEONE ELSE SAID - "GET IT WELDED" - ANOTHER SAYS NO WAY - GET A USED ONE FROM THE JUNK YARD. EVERYONE I TALK TO TELLS ME OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACEMENT IS THE SAME - NO UPGRADED QUALITY - FOR $650 (NOT FROM THE DEALER) I CAN BREATHE EASIER. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WHY I HAVEN'T BEEN CATAPULTED INTO THE NEXT DIMENSION YET I DON'T KNOW! *AK

NHTSA ID
720675
Incident
May 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 21, 1999

WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED IT SLOWLY LEAKS OIL ,THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE NINETY-ONE, AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
848155
Incident
Jun 21, 1991
Engine
Filed Sep 2, 1999

HAIR LINE CRACK IN ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD IS CAUSING OIL TO SEEP THROUGH CRACK . *AK

NHTSA ID
846437

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

2100601

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

2300800B

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

080600

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT

233599REVA

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Plymouth Acclaim by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996101—
1995300245.1
1994691252.8
1993720248.0
1992631255.8
1991973364.0
1990602059.5
1989Viewing332148.3
1988100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.