1989 Plymouth Acclaim Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Plymouth Acclaim, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1435.0%
- Suspension615.0%
- Electrical37.5%
- Powertrain (other)37.5%
- Transmission37.5%
- Exterior lighting37.5%
- Interior & seats25.0%
- Visibility12.5%
- Heating & air conditioning12.5%
- Driver assistance12.5%
- Seat belts12.5%
- Steering12.5%
- Airbags12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE HEAD GASKET TRAILING ARM RUSTED OUT. AND ALSO THERE IS A TICKING NOISE.*AK
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
NOISE HEARD FROM REAR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TRAILING CONTROL ARM/CROSSMEMBER AND BUSHINGS.
TRAILING ARM REPLACED TWICE OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD DUE TO A GRINDING NOISE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKS, WATER PUMP FAILURE ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE, FRONT AXLE BROKE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKS, WATER PUMP FAILURE ALSO.
PURCHASE CAR NEW HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SIX TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF AND IS ON THE SEVENTH . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND LEAKAGE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE HEATING UNIT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
PURCHASE USED CONSUMER DRIVING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE TRACK BROKE . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT BEGAN PEELING LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. WAS DISMISSED AS "IMPROPER CARE AND INDUSTRIAL FALLOUT AND MALATION". WINDSHIELD IS ATTACHED TO THIS PAINT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKS, WATER PUMP FAILURE ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND LEAKAGE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT STAY HOOKED IN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKS, WATER PUMP FAILURE ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .