Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 23% |
| Air bags | 12 | 17% |
| Suspension | 8 | 11% |
| Power train | 8 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 8% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 6% |
| Seats | 4 | 6% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
both the drivers and the passengers front seat belts did not work correctly, If i repeadely inserted the clasp in and out, eventually they would click, but then later they would release, when i was in a very bad car acci
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
JULY 2017 I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY OWN VEHICLE AND ME AND MY DRIVER WERE BOTH WEARING THE SEATBELTS, THAT AT IMPACT RELEASED AND HE WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE DOOR THAT HAD OPENED ON IMPACT AND IN THE SPIN IN THE AIR WAS EJEC
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MOTOR HAD FAILED. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
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: Air bags
VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.*MR 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.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER STATES, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT CAUSING PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH WINDSHIELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 Plymouth Acclaim. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS
Risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Fix: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 16 of them (23%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.