1990 Chrysler NEW Yorker Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1990 Chrysler New Yorker most often describe brakes that stop working properly, with the anti-lock light coming on and the pedal going hard or sinking to the floor; many report repeated repairs that did not last. Reports come in across a wide mileage range, from around 70,000 miles up to 200,000, and older complaints were often tied to whether the car's VIN was covered by a past brake recall. A smaller but consistent group of complaints describes gasoline leaking from the fuel injector rail onto the engine.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS light on, hard or sinking pedal, long stopping distance

   • 26 complaints (28%)
   • median 83,230 mi at 13.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2009

   Complaints describe the anti-lock and brake warning lights coming on, often followed by a pedal that feels hard or drops to the floor and a stopping distance the owner considers far longer than normal. Some report the condition is intermittent, that the pedal comes back at their foot, or that a noise is heard under the dash before the brakes engage. Several owners say an ABS pump motor or accumulator was replaced, sometimes more than once, and that the warning light later returned. Others report the dealer said their vehicle identification number was not included in a past brake system recall, so no repair was offered under it. Reported from roughly 70,000 to 91,000 miles in the complaints that list mileage, with several failures described during ordinary city-speed stops.

   Recall 96V099000Recall 91V191000

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS pump motor and accumulator have been replaced and whether any brake recall work was done under this vehicle identification number. Have the anti-lock warning light checked and confirm the pedal holds firm under steady pressure before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brakes went to the floor and would not stop the car without much difficulty. Garage said it was a defect in the ABS system specific to that year (1990) and Chrysler New Yorker. They said it would cost between $2000 - $3000 to repair. The car is not driveable in the current condition. Chrysler will not sell the parts to the garage where I have the car and wants to diagnose it (at my expense I presume) before they willl even sell the part and at this point, the car is not worth much more than the cost it would cost to repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #707102, filed 1999-06

   “While driving after same component was repaired by the dealer for a recalled item, same exact ABS failure occured! Service advisor asked me was it fixed when you left? While driving car in 45 MPH zone of city 4 lane, attempted to stop for light and brake light and ABS light illuminated and brake pedal became hard as a rock! With both feet on pedal, was able to slow car enough and pull into gas station. Had car towed to dealer. After first repair I could not see any replaced parts and service ticket read complied with recall notice . …”

   NHTSA complaint #725579, filed 2000-07
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the injector rail

   • 17 complaints (18%)
   • median 135,500 mi at 19.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2013

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell after starting or while parked, and on inspection finding fuel leaking from the injector rail, including at the connection between the crossover pipe and the front rail. Several complaints mention fuel spraying or pooling on top of the engine, and some say a mechanic found the leak during unrelated work. Owners report the rail being replaced at their own expense, and some say the dealer told them the vehicle was not covered by a manufacturer recall. Reported from about 71,000 miles up to 200,000 miles, with a few descriptions of leaks appearing or worsening in cold weather.

   What to check: After a cold start, smell around the open hood and look for wet or stained areas along the injector rail and its connections. Ask whether the rail, seals, or O-rings have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Started car this morning and noticed a strong odor of gas. Opened the hood and noticed fuel leaking out of fuel rail at connection between the u-bend cross-over pipe and the front fuel rail. Part has not been replaced/repaired yet. However, noticed on internet chat rooms that this seems to be a common problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10104157, filed 2004-12, 71,000 miles

   “Engine compartment was soaked with gasoline sprayed from fuel rail. Fuel rail leaks on 3.3 engine part of 1995-present recall campaign. Chrysler would not comment if 1990 3.3l is affected by same design issue or if replacement part had same defect. Dt”

   NHTSA complaint #768588, filed 2002-10
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Blower and climate fan cutting out; water in the cowl area

   Mentioned in 4 of 48 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the heat and air conditioning working only intermittently or blowing very weakly when they do run. One owner reports water leaking under the windshield cowl and causing corrosion at the blower motor resistor terminals, which matches the description in a past defroster and blower motor recall. Others mention water entering the roof area and staining or loosening the headliner. Appears in complaints from the late 1990s through the 2000s; mileage is not consistently given in these reports.

   Recall 91V004000

   What to check: Run the blower on every speed setting and check for water stains or dampness near the cowl, blower resistor, and headliner. Ask whether the cowl-area water leak recall work was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air conditioning/heat periodical stops working.when it begins working again it output is very poor. Water leaks from the roof has caused the headliner to fall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10068829, filed 2004-01, 97,000 miles

   “Nhtsa campaign 96v099000; chevrolet issued a hydraulic anti-lock brake system recall. This vehicle is not included in the recall, but the consumer experienced brake failure. The VIN is outside the remedy scope. Recall campaign: the consumer stated that water was leaking under windshield above the heater block causing the resistor terminals to corrode. The ignition switch was replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10105422, filed 2005-01

Buying note. On a car this age, the brake system is the main thing to verify: confirm the pedal feels firm and that the anti-lock warning light stays off, and ask for records of any ABS pump or accumulator work. Also check for fuel smells around the injector rail after a cold start, since that repair is straightforward but easy to overlook.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 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.