RoadVitals

1988 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.
27
Latest Oct 29, 2001
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.
3
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.
4
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
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Sundance, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and fuel system categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

  • Seat belts1026.3%
  • Engine615.8%
  • Fuel system410.5%
  • Visibility37.9%
  • Interior & seats37.9%
  • Steering37.9%
  • Brakes25.3%
  • Transmission25.3%

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

3 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
92V053000

SEAT BELTS

Apr 13, 1992
115,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CAN MALFUNCTION AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.
The risk: SEAT OCCUPANTS WITHOUT SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ARE SUBJECT TOINCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: REPLACE THE SYSTEM DRIVE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED COMPONENTS.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
88V129000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

Aug 1, 1988
6,500 units potentially affected
The defect: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP BELT RETRACTOR, WHICH INCORPORATES A CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKING FEATURE, MAY MALFUNCTION.
The risk: SEAT BELT LOCK WOULD EXTRACT AND CHILD SEAT MAY MOVE OUTOF ITS RESTRAINED POSITION.
The remedy: REPLACE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP RETRACTOR WITH A REDESIGNED RETRACTOR.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA91043ClosedEngineering Analysis

AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Oct 30, 1991
Closed Apr 20, 1992

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 92V053000
PE91082ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Jun 5, 1991
Closed Oct 30, 1991

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS
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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 27
Seat belts
Filed Oct 29, 2001

MOTOR BELT DOES NOT FUNCTION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
898359
Incident
Oct 12, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2001

THIS CAR HAS A POTENTIAL FOR "OIL" FIRE AND NO DEALER SO FAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO OFFER A SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
744424
Incident
Apr 12, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Nov 27, 2000
Fire reported

I CAME HOME FROM WORK ON THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER AND WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVE WAY MY CAR WEN'T UP IN FLAMES FROM WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID WAS A AS LEAK THAT WAS LEAKING FROM MY FUEL INJECTER ONTO MY MANIFOLD. MY CAR WAS TOTALED FROM THIS FIRE. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID
736883
Incident
Nov 20, 2000
Filed Aug 21, 2000

PLEASE CALL BEGONIA FERREIRO AT 1973-344-4469

NHTSA ID
728617
Incident
Sep 16, 1999
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+3 more
Filed Jan 10, 2000

VEHICLE HAS ODOMETER TAMPERING/FRAUD. YH

NHTSA ID
550323
Incident
Nov 11, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Aug 17, 1999

REAR SEAT BELT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY, AND WHEN TRYING TO PULL THE SEAT BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT WILL FREEZE. CONSUMER CAN'T PULL THE SEAT BELT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
845194
Incident
Jan 1, 1988
Visibility
Filed Jul 1, 1998
Fire reported

REAR DEFROST WIRING SHORT.

NHTSA ID
537655
Incident
May 29, 1998
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BLEW OUT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THEN DIED OUT.

NHTSA ID
534613
Incident
Apr 10, 1998

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
1988Viewing273463.6
1987122365.3
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.