1990 Chrysler Lebaron Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe automatic transmission trouble: slipping, harsh or delayed shifts, a transmission that locks into one gear, and repeated rebuilds or replacements. A second cluster of complaints covers air bag warning lights and air bags that did not deploy, along with intermittent electrical faults that can shut the car down while driving. Engine complaints center on oil leaking at the valve cover gasket, sometimes followed by overheating or an engine-bay fire.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping and early failure

   • 13 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 6.1 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission slipping, jerking, or losing drive, with some owners reporting the unit was rebuilt or replaced more than once. Fluid loss and internal seal problems are mentioned in several reports, and one owner notes the car stalled or lurched during stops. According to the complaints, dealers and independent shops typically rebuilt or replaced the transmission rather than repairing it in place, and owners say they were told no recall or extended coverage applied. Sample complaints rarely list mileage; the ones that mention it describe failures after roughly 70,000 miles and repeat failures over the following years.

   What to check: Have a transmission shop check for slipping, delayed engagement, and fluid condition or leaks before purchase. Ask for service records showing whether the transmission has already been rebuilt or replaced, and how long ago.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My transmission failed after my warranty of 70,000/7year. I had to replace the whole transmission. Both power window motors need to be replaced and the exterior paint is eroding at an alarming rate. Is the Chrysler manufacturer responsible for any of these damages to my vehicle? Am I entitled to any compensation for these faulty mechanisms that happened to my car? I will never purchase a Chrysler product again, because it seems that these misforturnes happened after the warranty of 70,000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #713782, filed 1999-10

   “Automatic transmission malfunctioned due to the low reverse gear seal that broke and the overdrive seal deteriorated, causing the vehicle to stall. Cause unknown. Consumer states the vehicle did not stall, it lurched as vehicle was begining to stop or it lurches when starting vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #828435, filed 1998-10
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and non-deployment

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 6.4 yrs old
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on and staying on, sometimes together with other electrical faults such as inoperative turn signals or power windows. Several complaints describe collisions in which the air bags did not deploy, and one describes a driver-side air bag deploying while the car was being parked in a lot. Complaints say dealers could not trace the warning-light fault or declined assistance. These reports span many years of ownership; the one complaint that lists mileage puts it at about 98,000 miles.

   Recall 90V080000

   What to check: Turn the key to check that the air bag light comes on and then goes out, and ask whether the air bag inflator recall work was ever completed. A scan for stored air bag fault codes is worth doing before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle is experiencing the same problems as listed in manufacturer's recall 5730. Valve cover has allow an engine oil leak at the gasket. Frontal air bag failed to deploy during accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #865535, filed 2000-07

   “Cosumer was renting the car and circling in a parking lot to find parking space, the driver's side air bag deployed and injured driver's shoulder . Please describe .”

   NHTSA complaint #806234, filed 1996-12
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Sudden electrical shutdown, dead accessories

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 7.2 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Complaints describe the car losing all electrical power and shutting down while driving, sometimes restarting after a few minutes and sometimes not, with garages unable to find the cause. Others report warning lights followed by power windows and turn signals going dead, and one describes smoke and a fire traced to an electrical fault. A burned wire at the air conditioning switch is also mentioned. Reports are spread across many years and are not tied to a specific mileage; several occurred at ordinary road speeds and in varied weather.

   What to check: Check that all warning lights, windows, signals, and accessories work, and look for scorched wiring or a melted connector near the A/C switch. Ask whether the car has ever cut out while driving and what was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car totally shuts down when driving. Has happened numerous times (more than 20+) over last 8 months. Sometimes it will restart in approximately 5 minutes, other times it won't. Speed does not seem to be a factor as it has happened at 30 MPH as well as 65. Weather doesn't seem to be a factor. This problem is sporadic - sometimes it will happen 3 times in one day over a distance of 5 miles, other times it will run fine for a couple weeks and then suddenly shut down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #761756, filed 2002-05

   “While driving at 55 MPH, smoke was seen at the back of the vehicle, pulled over, then more smoke at the engine part of the vehicle, fire started fire dept. Caused was a electrical problem. Consumer stated while on an inclinen vehicle started loosing acceleration, when consumer pulled over emergency brake did not hold and transmission park did n ot hold on slight incline, consumer jumped out of vehicle while moving backward, vehicle rolled into ditch and went up in flames.”

   NHTSA complaint #813200, filed 1997-06
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Valve cover gasket oil leak and overheating

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 15.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Complaints describe engine oil leaking at the valve cover gasket, in some cases after the gasket had already been replaced. Owners link the leak to overheating and, in one report, to a fire that started low in the engine bay while the car was turning into a driveway. One complaint also mentions lifter ticking and spark knock. Most sample complaints do not state mileage; the report describing an engine fire lists about 98,000 miles.

   Recall 89V237000

   What to check: Look for fresh oil around the valve cover and down the back of the engine, and check the coolant level and temperature gauge behavior. Ask whether the valve cover gasket recall was performed and when the gasket was last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the caller said his friend was turning into driveway and the engine caught on fire. She was going about 15 MPH. Fire department came to put out the fire. A report was filed. No other property was damaged. They do not know what started the fire, but the caller said it started towards the bottom of the engine. Dealer said they will have to check out the vehicle before they could say anything about the vehicle. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet. Caller said there were recalls on the airbags and on a oil leak.”

   NHTSA complaint #10134279, filed 2005-08, 98,000 miles

   “The vehicle was on recall for the gas cover gasket and was replaced with silicone! Silicone can cause engine failure and possible accidents! The lifter has a bad ticking to it! And an occassional spark knock! The struts do not wear well and tend to give out after 5,000 miles!”

   NHTSA complaint #727431, filed 2000-08
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Stuck in second gear / limp mode, harsh shifts

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 7.2 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe the transmission refusing to upshift from second when accelerating from a stop, staying in that gear every time, and jerking or failing to meet the expected gear ratio. One report describes a seal inside the transmission affecting downshifting, and another mentions that a solenoid cover was missing when the unit was inspected. Complaints say diagnosis often required a shop with transmission scanning equipment. Mileage is not stated in most of these reports; owners describe the behavior starting after the car was several years old and continuing every time they drove.

   What to check: Drive the car from a cold start and confirm it upshifts through all gears without hanging in second. Ask whether any transmission fault codes have been stored or cleared recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Experienced repeated problems with jerking in the vehicle and gear shift failed to opereated properly (not meeting the gear ratio). Upon mechanics check and commputer analysis, it was determined that a vehicle recall of the cars computer had never been addressed. The mechanic has corrected the problem and I request financial reimbursement. My total cost to correct the problems was $1,084.38.”

   NHTSA complaint #714476, filed 1999-11

   “Automatic transmission locks into second gear when accelerating from stop and will not upshift. This happens every time. (limp mode). There are at least 32 TSB's covering various problems on the a604/41te transmissions. I called Chrysler about this and they tell me there is no recall or extended warranty. Estimated repairs to date are $1950 - $2100. The car is like new otherwise, but useless as is.”

   NHTSA complaint #761937, filed 2002-05

Buying note. The bulk of owner reports for this model year concern the automatic transmission, so budget for a professional inspection and for possible rebuild costs rather than assuming the car is sorted. Also ask about the air bag and valve cover gasket recalls, and check the wiring for signs of heat or damage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 24 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.