RoadVitals

1987 Plymouth Sundance

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.
12
Latest Jun 26, 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.
3
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.
4
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Plymouth Sundance, most frequently naming the electrical, body & structure and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 NHTSA investigations name it.

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

  • Electrical325.0%
  • Body & structure216.7%
  • Engine216.7%
  • Seat belts216.7%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Driver assistance18.3%
  • Fuel system18.3%

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
88V105000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Jul 1, 1988
580,000 units potentially affected
The defect: FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OPERATION AT CONNECTIONS OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY HOSE TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND TO THE FUEL RAIL.
The risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: RELOCATE PRESSURE REGULATOR; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY WITH FORMED HOSE WITH REVISED ROUTING CONFIGURATION TO ENSURE SEALING INTEGRITY.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE91065ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING GEAR BOLTS LOOSEN

Opened Apr 16, 1991
Closed Aug 30, 1991

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
EA89001ClosedEngineering Analysis

LOGIC MODULE

Opened Oct 5, 1988
Closed Nov 17, 1989

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP88017ClosedDefect Petition

THROTTLE STICKING

Opened Jul 13, 1988
Closed Oct 11, 1988

THROTTLE STICKING

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2003
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK THE HOOD BLEW OPEN BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A REBUILT MOTOR THAT KEPT RUNNING HOT AND STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER 15 TIMES AND THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STILL WASN'T FIXED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE USED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR OR A NEW VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10022014
Incident
Mar 18, 2003
Mileage
148,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 12, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND LIFT THE ACCELERATOR WITH HIS TOE IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
567088
Electrical
Filed Feb 6, 2000
Fire reported

DRIVING WHEN IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS NO POWER, WENT FROM 35 TO 20 MPH THEN STARTED SMOKING AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. WENT TO GET HELP BUT NO ONE WAS AT WORK, MEN NEXT DOOR NOTICED SMOKE AND RAN OVER WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE HOOD LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. POLICE DEPT RESPONDED AND TIRED TO EXTINGUISHED BUT COULD NOT GET INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE SHORTED ALL WIRING. CAR WIRING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND CAR WAS TOTALED. SECOND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. LAST FAILURE WAS ON APRIL 1991. *AK

NHTSA ID
718389
Incident
Jan 26, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jun 16, 1999

VEHICLE HAS A FUEL LEAK, PLACE OF LEAK UNKNOWN, BUT THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
840022
Body & structure
Filed Jan 25, 1999

LIGHT BULB UNDER AUTOMATIC GEAR SELECTOR CONSOLE ASSEMBLY WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. AFTER PURCHASING REPLACEMENT LIGHT BULB AS PER NUMBER SPECIFIED IN OWNERS MANUAL, REMOVED GEAR SELECTOR CONSOLE TO DISCOVER THAT BULB HAD NEARLY COMPLETED MELTED LENS AROUND IT. BULB WAS ENCASED IN MELTED PLASTIC AND SMELLED BURNED. BULBS MELTING PLASTIC IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. SEE ALSO MY RECENT REPORT ODI 701361 AND ALSO ODI 371625 (ANOTHER PERSON). BURNING PLASTIC MAY CAUSE FIRE IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS AND RELATED PROBLEMS OR PAY FOR PARTS/LABOR.

NHTSA ID
702547
Incident
Jan 23, 1999
Brakes
Filed Dec 15, 1998

HIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT STARTED SMOKING DUE TO OVERHEATING. SOCKETS AND BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING MELTED CAUSING SMOKE IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
701361
Incident
Dec 14, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Apr 4, 1997

TRUNK DOOR WON'T STAY UP WHEN OPENED.

NHTSA ID
516206
Electrical
Filed Sep 17, 1995

THE COMPUTER MODULE WAS REPLACED . TT

NHTSA ID
972157

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Plymouth Sundance by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998100—
1996001—
1995202—
1994591357.9
1993601358.5
1992494565.0
1991304563.0
1990362163.4
1989333358.3
1988273463.6
1987Viewing122365.3
1986010—
1985010—

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.