RoadVitals

1990 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.
36
Latest Jan 7, 2002
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.
1
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.
12
11 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 36 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Plymouth Sundance, most frequently naming the airbags, transmission and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 20 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Airbags1224.5%
  • Transmission714.3%
  • Engine612.2%
  • Seat belts48.2%
  • Brakes36.1%
  • Steering36.1%
  • Suspension36.1%
  • Body & structure36.1%

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
89V237000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Dec 27, 1989
634,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
The risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
The remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA93009ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION

Opened Apr 21, 1993
Closed Jul 22, 1994

There is no summary currently available

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 36
Transmission
Filed Jan 7, 2002

VEHICLE WAS LEFT PARKED OUT OF GEAR AND REMOVED KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONDITION CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY WALL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AKTHE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK YET THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD INTO A NEIGHBORS WALL CAUSING PROPERY DAMAGE. NLM

NHTSA ID
8001665
Incident
Dec 24, 2001
Engine
Filed Feb 28, 2001

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET BLOWS OFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME FAILURE DESCRIBED IN RECALL 89V-237 BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. NLM

NHTSA ID
559926
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+5 more
Filed Feb 27, 2001

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE VALVE COVER ALLOWS OIL TO SPILL ON ENGINE, DEALER REPAIRED, HOWEVER ENGINE STILL LEAKS OIL, DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 89V237 DUE TO VEHICLE WAS MADE MARCH OF 1990, OIL SENDING UNITS NEED REPLACED, ENGINE SHAKES AND BUCKS WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE, AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
559923
Filed Aug 21, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
728627
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLT BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER'S SEAT TO FALL BACK A LITTLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
842011
Incident
May 12, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1999
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. CONSUMER WENT TO RESTARED THE VECHICLE AND IT BURST INTO FLAMES WHICH CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
836904
Incident
Apr 16, 1999
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 22, 1999
Crash reported

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, EXITING A RAMP AND BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. ALSO, STEERING LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
835112
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 19, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE STOPPED IN A LEFT TURN LANE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE IMPACT CAUSED BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBACKS TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD, CAUSING NECK STRAIN TO THE PASSENGER AND NECK & LOWER BACK STRAIN TO THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ID
701292
Incident
Dec 10, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0801001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

2100601

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

2300800B

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

082700

AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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
1990Viewing362163.4
1989333358.3
1988273463.6
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.