1990 Plymouth Acclaim Problems
- Complaints
- 60filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 150,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 21 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year center on the airbag system and on engine overheating/fire-related symptoms, with smaller groups covering seat belts, transmission power loss and seat hardware. Most reports are from older, high-mileage cars, and many describe failures that happened without warning during ordinary driving rather than in a crash.
- Air bags
Airbag deploys without a crash, or fails to deploy
- 11 complaints (18%)
- typically at 8.8 yrs old
- 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2023
Owners describe the airbag light staying on, the horn and cruise control stopping, and the airbag firing while the car is driven normally, including on a dirt road. Some reports say the bag deployed but did not inflate, and one describes an underbody scrape setting off the driver bag. Complaints after a frontal impact say no bag deployed at all. Several owners point to the rotary switch assembly (clockspring) under the steering wheel as the failed part. Reported across a wide range of ages and mileages, usually during routine driving rather than in a collision.
What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning lamp is working and goes out after start-up, and have the clockspring and wiring under the steering wheel inspected; check that the horn and cruise control still function.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11552816, filed 2023-10“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, filed 2004-05 - Engine cooling
Engine and underhood fires, overheating and smoke
- 10 complaints (17%)
- typically at 8.8 yrs old
- 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Complaints describe smoke from the engine bay or dashboard, sparks from underneath, and the car burning after being parked with the engine off. Others report persistent smoking while driving that continued after a radiator replacement, and strong fumes at idle with the blower on that the dealer could not trace. One owner links an oil leak at the valve cover gasket to a fire that totaled the car. Reported on older cars with unknown or high mileage, sometimes shortly after parking rather than while driving.
What to check: Inspect the valve cover gasket and the engine bay for oil residue and old wiring, and ask whether recall 89V237000 was completed; watch coolant and oil levels between services.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle engine caught fire. 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10047822, filed 2003-11“Consumer experienced problem with engine valve cover gasket similar to the one described in recall 89v237000, where vehicle got on fire and was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #857826, filed 2000-03
Buying note. These complaints point to checks that are easy to do on a used example: airbag and horn function, seat belt buckles, seat back latches and the condition of underhood wiring and gaskets. Records showing whether recall 89V237000 was performed, plus any transmission history, are worth asking for.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 31 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.
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim. 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 150,000 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 8 a fire, 12 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling16 27%
- Air bags13 22%
- Electrical system6 10%
- Suspension6 10%
- Seat belts5 8.3%
- Seats3 5.0%
- Steering2 3.3%
- Exterior lighting1 1.7%
Also reported: Fuel system (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Other or unknown (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “We have just recently discovered that their was a recall on our 1990 Plymouth Acclaim dated december 05,1990,the recall owner notification date was febuary 21,1990.we were never notified by anyone of this recall.campaign number 89v237000.component description engine;gasket;valve cover.since we have owned this car since 1989 we have had chrsysler repair this problem 3 times at a cost of hundreds of dollars with no success.the problem still exist.leaks oil constantly through valve cover.today august 17,1999 I called chrsyler about this recall and they told me it never existed????how could this…”
NHTSA complaint #710121, filed 1999-08Air 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, filed 2000-10Transmission and drivetrain: “While driving at hwy. Speeds, experience suddenly deceleration and loss of power, without prior warning, dealer suspects trans. Malfunction, fixed 11 times. Tt”
NHTSA complaint #972783, filed 1995-10Electrical system: “Consumer was unable to roll electric windows up or down and air conditioning went out. After taking it to dealer the vehicle was turned off. Then when it was turned back on, and vehicle was filled up with smoke. The battery was jerked out and the fire went out, preventing vehicle from burning up.”
NHTSA complaint #825968, filed 1998-07Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 150,000 and 150,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1990 Plymouth Acclaim version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acclaim FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Acclaim FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Acclaim FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,900 |
| Acclaim FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 89V237000Dec 27, 1989Engine and engine cooling › EngineCovers: Plymouth Acclaim 1989–1990, Voyager 1989–1990, Dodge Shadow 1989–1990 +12 more
The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
Recall details for the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim.
Other model years of the Plymouth Acclaim
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 30 | 74,000 | 0 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 69 | — | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 72 | 90,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 63 | 37,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 97 | 121,500 | 3 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 60 | 150,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1989 | 33 | 200,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Plymouth Acclaim model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim?
Complaints on this model year center on the airbag system and on engine overheating/fire-related symptoms, with smaller groups covering seat belts, transmission power loss and seat hardware. The issues reported most often: Airbag deploys without a crash, or fails to deploy; Engine and underhood fires, overheating and smoke.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim have?
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 16 complaints (27% of the total), followed by air bags with 13.
Has the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim get?
The EPA rates the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim (Acclaim, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 150,000 miles and the middle half falls between 150,000 and 150,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.