1994 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 1994 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
- Seat belts1114.9%
- Engine1013.5%
- Airbags810.8%
- Transmission79.5%
- Suspension68.1%
- Brakes68.1%
- Powertrain (other)56.8%
- Interior & seats56.8%
- Visibility34.1%
- Fuel system34.1%
- Exterior lighting22.7%
- Electrical22.7%
- Driver assistance22.7%
- Body & structure22.7%
- Other / unspecified11.4%
- Steering11.4%
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
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHENEVER BUMPING INTO SEAT BELT WHETHER IT IS HARD OR A SOFT BUMP SEAT BELT WILL COME LOOSE.*AK
SEATBELT BUCKLES COME LOOSE WHEN BUMPING AGAINST SOMETHING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK *SLC
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
SCREECHING BELT PULLEY I KNOW IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL BUT I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS IN ORDER TO GET IT REPLACED. PLEASE HELP ME WITH INFO ON THIS THANK YOU *TR
CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER RECALLED SOME OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND ON MONIES PAID FOR SERVICES RENDERED. *JG
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN PREPARING TO PULL PUT WHEN SUDDENLY WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. ALSO CAUSED THE DUST PARTICLES LOCATED WITHIN THE AIRBAG TO GET INTO EYES OF CONSUMER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISION. CONSUMER IS NOW SEEING A SPECIALIST . SEATBELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME. *AK
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, BRUISES ON CONSUMERS ARMS AND SMOKE WITHIN THE VEHICLE.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
2ND FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WAS 2YRS LATER AT 65+ ON ODOMETER. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 3 TIMES AT MILEAGES 32659(WARRANTY), 53746 (COST $2194.00), 96303 (COST $1722.00). DEALER QUOTED SIX WEEK DELAY AT SECOND FAILURE REQUIRING INDEPENDENT REPAIR. SECOND AND THIRD REPAIRS SAME INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASE MY 1994 ACCLAIM IN 1994. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRAILING ARM IN THE REAR OF MY CAR. I AM A GOOD DRIVER. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CRASHING TO THIS CAR IN 9 YEARS. I HAVE ABOUT 189,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. E-MAIL [email protected]. *NLM
THE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SCRAPING SOUND WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY TORQUE BAR BREAKING A TTHE POINT WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE REAR AXEL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
RETAINER CLIP FOR THE DISC BRAKE PAD IS RUBBING AGAINST THE ROTOR, AND THE CORNER OF THE CLIP IS WEARING OUT IN ONE SPOT ON THE DISC BRAKE PAD RETAINER CLIP. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
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
WAS PULLING INTO GARAGE & HEARD A NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED IT WAS REAR AXLE. HAD IT REPLACED. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. WAS THE SAME PROBLEM (REAR AXLE). AS THE FIRST TIME. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO A LOWER GEAR WITH NO WARNING.DEADELR REPLACED THE TRANS AXLE 3 TIMES. AND NOW A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
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
THE BOLT HOLDING THE SEAT UPWARD SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FLING BACK, HER BACK WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS. *SLC
DRIVER SEAT IN RECLINE POSITION. VEHICLE'S BODY PAINT IS PEELING.
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
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE HEATER DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER TO FAIL. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED.
FUEL PUMP REPLACED.
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE RIGHT HEADLAMP HAS A BURNED REFLECTOR. MOISTURE GETS INSIDE THE LAMP WHEN THERE IS A LEAK AROUND THE LENS.
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 IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING THE IGNITION WILL OVERHEAT, WHERE THE KEY GOES INTO THE CASING GETS VERY HOT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION. *AK
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
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE WHEN IT LURCHED BACKWARDS NEARLY HITTING A PARKED CAR, ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE AGAIN LURCHED BACKWARDS WHILE IDLING, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO STEPS WHERE IT FINALLY STOPPED. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 50 MPH, VEHICLE WENT OPEN THROTTLE POSITION UP TO 90MPH. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
BAR UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF VEHICLE IS KNOCKING AGAINST IT. DEALER IS RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM. *AK
DRIVER SEAT IN RECLINE POSITION. VEHICLE'S BODY PAINT IS PEELING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASE MY 1994 ACCLAIM IN 1994. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRAILING ARM IN THE REAR OF MY CAR. I AM A GOOD DRIVER. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CRASHING TO THIS CAR IN 9 YEARS. I HAVE ABOUT 189,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. E-MAIL [email protected]. *NLM
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
ODOMETER KEPT ON STICKING AND WOULD NOT TRACK SPEED; ALSO, STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED. *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 .