1991 Chrysler NEW Yorker Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1991 Chrysler New Yorker most often write about fuel leaks around the injection rail and about ABS problems, and many of the fuel reports involve a gasoline smell that returns over months before a visible leak is found. A second cluster of complaints concerns brakes that feel soft, pull or lose assist, plus transmission shifting that jerks or hangs in gear. Most sampled complaints carry no mileage figure, and the reports that do are spread from about 50,000 to 190,000 miles.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel leak at the injection rail or fuel line fitting

   • 18 complaints (21%)
   • median 139,500 mi at 12.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe a gasoline smell around the engine, later traced to a leak where the line meets the fuel rail or to a crack in the rail itself, with fuel dripping onto the engine or exhaust. Several owners say the dealer replaced injectors, O-rings or the rail, and some reports note repeated attempts before the leak stopped. A number describe parts being on back order, leaving the car unusable for weeks. Reports span a wide mileage range, from around 50,000 to over 190,000 miles, and several owners mention the smell being present for months or years before a leak was located.

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel rail, line fitting and injector O-rings have been replaced, and check for a gasoline smell under the hood after a drive. Owners report that leaks were sometimes confirmed only after the smell had been present for a long time.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel leak where fuel line attaches to the injector rail.for more than 4 years ago I occasionally noticed the smell of gas fumes. Neither the dealership nor I could find any indication of a leak. In the last 2 months the odor has been stronger & happened more often, which started me looking again. Found gas dripping onto the valve cover gasket,from there to the exaust manafold. Leak is from a factory connection where the steel gas line enters the fuel injection system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #717796, filed 2000-01

   “Fuel rail is leaking bad and is very dangerous. There has been recalls on the same thing in other years but none on mine. Somthing this dangerous should be at least discounted on repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10069859, filed 2004-01, 89,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS light on, soft or intermittent brake pedal

   • 20 complaints (24%)
   • median 68,060 mi at 9.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe the ABS warning light coming on, a pedal that goes to the floor or needs unusual effort, and stopping distances that lengthen without warning. In many reports the ABS hydraulic pump, the master cylinder or the pressure switch was replaced, and some say the problem came back. Several complaints mention recall work on the ABS unit that did not resolve the symptoms, or dealers declining to complete the repair because additional parts were not covered. Reported across a broad mileage range, with sampled complaints from around 68,000 up to about 100,000 miles; several owners note the warning light appearing intermittently over repeated repair visits.

   Recall 96V099000Recall 91V191000

   What to check: Confirm whether the ABS recall work was completed and keep the paperwork; on a test drive, watch for the ABS lamp staying lit and for a pedal that sinks or feels soft.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problems with brakes on vehicle. Abs light would come on and go off. The consumer had the problem worked on twice. The ABS, the pump and the filter was replaced. Interemittently there were no brakes and the ABS runs alot. The consumer finally received a recall letter regarding a defect with the ABS.”

   NHTSA complaint #10040651, filed 2003-09, 68,060 miles

   “Problems getting ABS repairs performed on 1991 Chrysler New Yorker. (recall# 96v099000) the ABS had been worked on twice. Chrysler would not fix the brake system. The consumer was told that the filter and the relay were not covered under the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047800, filed 2003-11, 68,060 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, hangs in gear or downshifts on its own

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 190,000 mi at 13.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission hanging in second gear, downshifting by itself at highway speeds, or jerking hard enough that the driver felt the car was hard to control on slick roads. In some reports the dealer recommended a transmission replacement or rebuild. Sampled complaints give no mileage figures; the related engine and transmission replacement report is at 190,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive at steady highway speed and at part throttle to feel for unexpected downshifts or a harsh engagement, and ask about transmission service history or a rebuild.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving fumes are getting into the vehicle. Vehicle has been repaired three to four times for the fuel injection failure, and they can't determine the problem. Also, the tranmission/water pump have been replaced, and the problem is back.”

   NHTSA complaint #830971, filed 1998-11

   “The vehicles transmission keeps buckling at highway speed. The driver feels this is very dangerous. The vehicle jerks really hard. The dealer stated that the transmission needs to be replaced. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10065576, filed 2004-04
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls and shuts down while driving

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 147,000 mi at 13.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2010

   Owners report the engine shutting off without warning, sometimes repeatedly within a few miles, with the dealer unable to find the cause at first. In one report the problem was traced to the cam and crank sensors. Owners also note that losing the engine takes away power assist. The sampled report is at about 147,000 miles, with stalling occurring during short, low-speed trips.

   What to check: Ask whether the cam and crank sensors or ignition-related parts have been replaced, and take a longer test drive that includes idling and low-speed running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine and transmission were replaced at 190,000 miles due to fuel injection line busting. Gas leaked onto exhaust. Consumer believed it was a fire hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #10059622, filed 2004-02, 190,000 miles

   “Undercarriage vehicle fire caused by fuel lines leaking fuel. Tt leaking fuel pump and leaking gas line underneath vehicle, fuel pump was replaced, vehicle kept stalling, consumer began to smell fuel and vehicle caught fire while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #975485, filed 1995-11

Buying note. On this model year, inspect for fuel smells and leaks around the injection rail, verify whether the ABS recall work was done, and check how the transmission shifts on a highway test drive. Service records matter more than mileage here, since many sampled complaints were filed without a mileage figure.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 45 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.