1989 Plymouth Sundance 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 Sundance, 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
- Engine1023.3%
- Seat belts818.6%
- Body & structure49.3%
- Interior & seats49.3%
- Electrical37.0%
- Heating & air conditioning37.0%
- Driver assistance24.7%
- Powertrain (other)24.7%
- Suspension24.7%
- Tires & wheels12.3%
- Brakes12.3%
- Fuel system12.3%
- Visibility12.3%
- Exterior lighting12.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. AND AFTER HAVING REPAIRED LEAK A FEW TIMES WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT PART. ALSO, HAS A PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. AND AFTER HAVING REPAIRED LEAK A FEW TIMES WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT PART. ALSO, HAS A PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS. *AK
WE WERE NOTIFIED OF A RECALL INVOLVING THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WERE GIVEN A SMALL TUBE OF LUBRICANT TO USE ON THE TRACKS. LATER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO MANUALLY MOVE IT TO THE POINT AT WHICH IT WOULD NORMALLY BE WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AND THE SHOULDER BELT WAS IN USE. WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING THIS BELT IN THIS MANUAL MANNER FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE PARTS INVOLVED IF THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED ITS "ECONOMIC LIFE". WHEN ASKED WHAT THAT "LIFE" EXPECTANCY WAS, I WAS TOLD "ANYTHING OVER 100,000 MILES". THE PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED. I WAS ADVISED THAT I COULD PURCHASE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR A COST IN EXCESS OF $200 PER ASSEMBLY. I DID NOT REPLACE THE PARTS, NOR DID THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN USE AND THE BELTS ARE LAWFULLY SUPPOSED TO BE FUNCTIONING AS "AUTOMATIC" BUT THEY DO NOT. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RECEIVES LESS USE, BUT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. HOW DO WE GET THE DEALER TO COMPLY AND REPAIR THIS VEHICLE? NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 92V053000L COMPONENT: INTEIOR SYSTEMS PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELTS; MANUFACTURER: CHRYSLER CORPORATION; POTENTIONAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 115000. OUR VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THOSE AFFECTED. NOW WHAT?
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT PEELING. *AK
REAR PLASTIC PORTION OF THE BUMBER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *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
SEAT BACK COLLASPED DUE TO BOLT FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING CAUSED THE DASH TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
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
PROBLEM: CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD;ACTS LIKE THE IGNITION IS SUDDENLY INTERRUPTED. WILL START BACK UP IN A MINUTE OR LESS. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW CAUSE OR WHAT TO LOOK FOR. HELP! *AK
FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. *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
RPM GUAGE JUMPS AROUND WHILE IGNITION IS ON.
THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR GOES OUT AND CAUSES THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
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
RPM GUAGE JUMPS AROUND WHILE IGNITION IS ON.
WATER PUMP AND HOSES LEAKING.
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
WATER PUMP AND HOSES LEAKING.
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM . PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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
WATER PUMP AND HOSES LEAKING.
CRACKED REAR SPINDLE KNUCKLE BOLT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BACK WHEELS WERE MAKING NOISY. TOOK CAR TO GARAGE AND WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT THE PASSENGER'S REAR HUB FELL OFF. THE ONLY THING KEEPING IT ON WAS THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR. THE LOOSE HUB HAD WORN A GROOVE INTO THE AXLE. *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
WATER PUMP AND HOSES LEAKING.
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
LEAK IN FUEL PUMP CAUSED CORROSION TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORK PROPERLY AND POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. 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
WATER PUMP AND HOSES LEAKING.
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
FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. *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 .