1991 Chrysler Imperial Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1991 Chrysler Imperial report anti-lock brake problems far more than anything else, usually a pedal that feels hard or sinks, a warning light, and stopping distances that grow until the car has to be pumped to stop. Many of these complaints reference the ABS recall campaigns and describe repeated failures after recall service, often with parts unavailable at dealers. A smaller group describes the air-ride suspension dropping the front of the car or riding unevenly, and a few mention fuel leaks at the fuel rail or unexpected airbag deployment.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS light on and brake pedal hard or sinking

   • 50 complaints (60%)
   • median 99,018 mi at 17.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Complaints describe the ABS warning lamp coming on, sometimes intermittently, along with a pedal that is hard to push or travels to the floor. Owners say the car needs pumping to stop, stopping distance grows, and several describe near-misses or contact with another vehicle. Many had the ABS serviced under recall campaigns and report the same symptoms returning afterward; dealers replaced the pump motor, accumulator or pressure switch, and in later complaints owners were told parts were no longer produced or no longer available. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 50,000 to nearly 200,000 miles, and in some cases within months or a few years of recall service.

   Recall 96V099000Recall 91V191000

   What to check: Ask for records showing whether the ABS recall work was done and what parts were replaced, then test the brake pedal and watch for an ABS lamp on a test drive. Have a shop read ABS codes and check the hydraulic unit and pump motor before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have read about the recall on the ABS system for the Chrysler Imperial. I purchased a 1991 Imperial in february of 2000. In may of 2000 I had to have some repair work done on the brake system. Such as replacement of the pump motor and the accumulator for the amount of $623.61 labor and parts. Once again in november of 2002 I had to have the accumulator pressure switch replaced, listed as dual function pressure switch holding pressure at 2000 PSI. This repair job cost me $466.82 out of pocket including labor and parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10038790, filed 2003-09, 100,036 miles

   “My car's ABS system has failed. You have to step really hard on the brake pad to get the car to stop. The dealer has tested the vehicle and determined that the ABS pump is failed and covered by a federal recall 96v099000. The car was repaired in the 90's during the recall, but it's failed again. Chrysler has guaranteed that the recall will be honored regardless of when (forever basically) or who owns the car. The dealer has had my car now 3 months still waiting on parts. Please help step in and make Chrysler honor the recall and fix my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10790014, filed 2015-11, 69,070 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Air-ride suspension drops or rides unevenly

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 6.1 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe the computer-controlled air leveling suspension raising the car too high or letting the front drop so it cannot be driven. Some report repeated replacement of shocks, solenoids, lines, the compressor pump and motor units, and dealers sometimes could not duplicate or locate the fault. One owner was told the car needed a heavier-duty set of shock absorbers after a broken and a leaking front unit. No consistent mileage pattern in the sample; complaints span the 1990s and early 2000s at various odometer readings.

   What to check: Start the car and watch whether it levels promptly and stays at normal ride height, and listen for the compressor running repeatedly. Ask whether the air springs, compressor or leveling sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer stated that he is experiencing problems on air leveling suspension system, superfluous shocks, solenoids,lines,compressor pump,motor units, have all been replaced to correct problem, consumer also states there was an accident but does not explain in detail.”

   NHTSA complaint #564432, filed 2002-02

   “Air suspension system sometimes raises high like alot of weight on the car. Sometimes down low and vehicle is undrivable. Dealer contacted, repaired front shocks and driver belt. Problem still exists, and cannot be duplicated.”

   NHTSA complaint #829681, filed 1998-10

Buying note. Given how often the anti-lock brakes come up in complaints, insist on paperwork for the ABS campaigns and a brake inspection before purchase, and confirm parts availability, since owners describe long waits. Also check that the air-ride suspension holds its height and that there is no fuel smell under the hood.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 41 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.