NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Frontal
923.7%
Engine
718.4%
Gasoline
513.2%
Automatic Transmission
513.2%
Rear
410.5%
Recliner
410.5%
Exhaust System
25.3%
Ignition
25.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 4Oct 2023
Recalls on the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
08E033000
SUSPENSION
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.
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.
89V237000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199100847,845 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING DUE TO CORROSION FAILURE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE. CORRECTION: DRL MODULE WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE HAVING ADDITIONAL POTTING MATERIAL THAT COVERS ALL PREVIOUSLY EXPOSED COMPONENTS.
Recall 198917887,817 units in Canada
Engine
ON VEHICLES WITH 2.2 LITRE OR 2.5 LITRE EFI(NON-TURBO) ENGINE, THE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY LEAK OIL CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: VALVE COVER GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED COVER AND RTV SEALANT APPLIED IN PLACE OF THE GASKET.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Union gap, WA2 injured
SEAT BELTS
July 2017 I was hit by a drunk driver of which I was a passenger in my vehicle upon impact my seatbelts automatically released and my airbags did not deploy causing my driver to be ejected from the vehicle and for me to hit my head on my dash and then be smashed into my windshield then finally when the car stopped rolling I was in the back seat no longer in the front passenger seat to end up in the backseat when I was sitting originally in the front passenger. I was injured severely due to the lack of my seatbelts working correctly and it caused me to have a broken back and eight places a broken pelvis that pierced my liver and gallbladder and broke my collarbone legs and arms I had to be given full blood transfusion and I maxed out the other cars insurance and my uninsured motorist ins while my injuries pain and medical was over $150000 I only received a few thousand and now have chronic pain and related health issues due to the damage to my liver
NHTSA complaint #11552816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union gap, WA2 injured
AIR BAGS
July 2017 I was hit by a drunk driver of which I was a passenger in my vehicle upon impact my seatbelts automatically released and my airbags did not deploy causing my driver to be ejected from the vehicle and for me to hit my head on my dash and then be smashed into my windshield then finally when the car stopped rolling I was in the back seat no longer in the front passenger seat to end up in the backseat when I was sitting originally in the front passenger. I was injured severely due to the lack of my seatbelts working correctly and it caused me to have a broken back and eight places a broken pelvis that pierced my liver and gallbladder and broke my collarbone legs and arms I had to be given full blood transfusion and I maxed out the other cars insurance and my uninsured motorist ins while my injuries pain and medical was over $150000 I only received a few thousand and now have chronic pain and related health issues due to the damage to my liver
NHTSA complaint #11552816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union gap, WACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
both the drivers and the passengers front seat belts did not work correctly, If i repeadely inserted the clasp in and out, eventually they would click, but then later they would release, when i was in a very bad car accident july 13 2017, both the driver of my vehicle and i both had our seatbelts on and clasped, and upon impact the belts released and the driver was ejected from the vehicle and i hit my head and was banged and tossed around the vehicle as it spun and rolled, and when it was over i was no longer in teh front of the car, i was in the back seat, and i had injuries to my organs, i almost died, and i broke my back, my collar bone, legs and arms, because my seat belt released upon impact immediatly.
NHTSA complaint #11432058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesUnion GAP, WACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
JULY 2017 I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY OWN VEHICLE AND ME AND MY DRIVER WERE BOTH WEARING THE SEATBELTS, THAT AT IMPACT RELEASED AND HE WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE DOOR THAT HAD OPENED ON IMPACT AND IN THE SPIN IN THE AIR WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DASH, BOTH SEATBELTS WERE FAULTY, IT WAS DIFFICULT WHEN PUTTING THEM ON TO GET THEM TO GRASP, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPEATEDLY AND WITH ALOT OF FORCE OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT WOULD GRAB, WE BOTH HAD GOTTEN THE SEAT BELTS TO ENGAGE BUT ON IMPACT THEY INSTANTLY RELEASED
NHTSA complaint #11402639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Vernon, OHCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON MARCH 16, 2004, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON ICY PAVEMENT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A TREE INSTEAD. UPON IMPACT, NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10073830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barberton, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN A BIG BANG WAS HEARD. SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH THE DASH BOARD. SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, THE VEHICLE BURNED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END BURNED THROUGH, THE ONLY THING LEFT WAS THE REAR TIRES AND TAIL LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE NEVER HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10047822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Union gap, WA2 injured
SEAT BELTS
July 2017 I was hit by a drunk driver of which I was a passenger in my vehicle upon impact my seatbelts automatically released and my airbags did not deploy causing my driver to be ejected from the vehicle and for me to hit my head on my dash and then be smashed into my windshield then finally when the car stopped rolling I was in the back seat no longer in the front passenger seat to end up in the backseat when I was sitting originally in the front passenger. I was injured severely due to the lack of my seatbelts working correctly and it caused me to have a broken back and eight places a broken pelvis that pierced my liver and gallbladder and broke my collarbone legs and arms I had to be given full blood transfusion and I maxed out the other cars insurance and my uninsured motorist ins while my injuries pain and medical was over $150000 I only received a few thousand and now have chronic pain and related health issues due to the damage to my liver
NHTSA complaint #11552816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union gap, WA2 injured
AIR BAGS
July 2017 I was hit by a drunk driver of which I was a passenger in my vehicle upon impact my seatbelts automatically released and my airbags did not deploy causing my driver to be ejected from the vehicle and for me to hit my head on my dash and then be smashed into my windshield then finally when the car stopped rolling I was in the back seat no longer in the front passenger seat to end up in the backseat when I was sitting originally in the front passenger. I was injured severely due to the lack of my seatbelts working correctly and it caused me to have a broken back and eight places a broken pelvis that pierced my liver and gallbladder and broke my collarbone legs and arms I had to be given full blood transfusion and I maxed out the other cars insurance and my uninsured motorist ins while my injuries pain and medical was over $150000 I only received a few thousand and now have chronic pain and related health issues due to the damage to my liver
NHTSA complaint #11552816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union gap, WACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
both the drivers and the passengers front seat belts did not work correctly, If i repeadely inserted the clasp in and out, eventually they would click, but then later they would release, when i was in a very bad car accident july 13 2017, both the driver of my vehicle and i both had our seatbelts on and clasped, and upon impact the belts released and the driver was ejected from the vehicle and i hit my head and was banged and tossed around the vehicle as it spun and rolled, and when it was over i was no longer in teh front of the car, i was in the back seat, and i had injuries to my organs, i almost died, and i broke my back, my collar bone, legs and arms, because my seat belt released upon impact immediatly.
NHTSA complaint #11432058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesUnion GAP, WACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
JULY 2017 I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY OWN VEHICLE AND ME AND MY DRIVER WERE BOTH WEARING THE SEATBELTS, THAT AT IMPACT RELEASED AND HE WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE DOOR THAT HAD OPENED ON IMPACT AND IN THE SPIN IN THE AIR WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DASH, BOTH SEATBELTS WERE FAULTY, IT WAS DIFFICULT WHEN PUTTING THEM ON TO GET THEM TO GRASP, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPEATEDLY AND WITH ALOT OF FORCE OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT WOULD GRAB, WE BOTH HAD GOTTEN THE SEAT BELTS TO ENGAGE BUT ON IMPACT THEY INSTANTLY RELEASED
NHTSA complaint #11402639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, OH
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MOTOR HAD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10159470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, OH
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MOTOR HAD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10159470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Vernon, OHCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON MARCH 16, 2004, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON ICY PAVEMENT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A TREE INSTEAD. UPON IMPACT, NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10073830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barberton, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN A BIG BANG WAS HEARD. SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH THE DASH BOARD. SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, THE VEHICLE BURNED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END BURNED THROUGH, THE ONLY THING LEFT WAS THE REAR TIRES AND TAIL LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE NEVER HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10047822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlottesville, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10026833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rogers, ARCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER STATES, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT CAUSING PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH WINDSHIELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #10004140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY Shore, NY
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STABILIZER BAR SNAP CAUSING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
NHTSA complaint #8022813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stamford, CT
TIRES
WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-95. WE HEARD AN UNIDENTIFYABLE NOISE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS. WE CONTINUED TRAVELING AT THE RATE OF APPROX. 55MPH WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER SOME DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY GAINING CONTROL OF THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE IN THE SLOW LANE WITH NO OTHER CARS NEAR US (OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED DURING THE TIME THE CAR WAS SWERVING AND OUT OF CONTROL). UPON INSPECTION, THE TREAD WAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. WE HAVE SAVED THE TIRE AND THE TREAD.
NHTSA complaint #767002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morgan Hill, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #736431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morgan Hill, CA
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #736431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morgan Hill, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #736431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Porte, INCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING A FRONTAL COLLISON CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUFFER FRACTURED FEMUR, FRACTURED RIGHT ORBIT, FRACTURED CHEEK BONE AND NOSE, THE FACIAL FRACTURES WERE FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #784911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manahawkin, NJFire
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. YH
NHTSA complaint #552618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manahawkin, NJFire
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. YH
NHTSA complaint #552618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prince George, AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT IT WILL START WHEN USING THE REMOTE STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #720289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Howell, NJFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET SIMILAR TO THE ONE DESCRIBED IN RECALL 89V237000, WHERE VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #857826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Howell, NJFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS JUST PARKED. CONSUMER HAPPENED TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN HUGE FLAMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #856422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mamaroneck, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #716159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DAILY FAILURES. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE
NHTSA complaint #712700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXFire
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH CAUSED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. ALSO, AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON AND CASUED WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #842178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXFire
AIR BAGS
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH CAUSED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. ALSO, AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON AND CASUED WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #842178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.