Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Dodge Monaco, and it carries 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 13 | 28% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 20% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 13% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 9% |
| Power train | 4 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE MONACO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSIVE SAFTEY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS T
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
METAL STRAP SECURING FUEL TANK TO VEHICLE RUSTED AND BROKE; DEFECT DISCOVERED BEFORE ANY CRASH/PERSONAL INJURY; CONTACTED MANUFACTURER'S DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT PART AND WAS ADVISED NONE AVAILABLE NOW NOR LIKELY TO BE AV
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE SEAT BELT TRACK AND ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL 95V213 BUT NOT RETURNED TO WORKING ORDER, BOTH FRONT SEAT RESTRAINTS CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION AND ARE INOPERABLE, ADDITIONALLY THE WORK PERFORMED HAS CAUSED MU
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE RADIATOR FANS ARE INOPERATIVE CAUSING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
RECALL 95V213000/ACTIVE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT: DEALER REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL. *AK *ML
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON MIST COMES FROM THE VENTS WITHOUT TURNING ON THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP AND CREATES POOR VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER. DEALER SAYS HEATER CORE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
WHEN APPROACHING A STOP AT 2 MPH THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT APPLICATION AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING FUMES ENTERING INSIDE OF VEHICLE UPON STARTING ,AND STEAM BUILDUP ON FRONT WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER NOTICED A NHTSA RECALL #94V-006.00/ WATER:DEFROSTER, DEFOGGER: HEATERCORE, WATER. BELIEVED VEHICLE HA
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1991 Dodge Monaco. 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.
ROUTING OF BATTERY MAIN FEED WIRING MAY ALLOW IT TO CONTACT THE AIR CLEANER BRACKET AND CONTNUED CONTACT MAY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THE ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED BY CONTINUOUS CONTACT COULDRESULT IN THE IGNITION OF THE WIRING INSULATION, AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: THE MAIN FEED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE REROUTED AND SECURED WITH TIE STRAPS AWAY FROM THE AIR CLEANER BRACKET.
REAR BRAKE TUBE ROUTING IS CONTACTED BY FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD WHEN SUSPENSION IS IN FULL JOUNCE POSITION. THIS DAMAGES THE BRAKE FLUID TUBE, CAUSING A LEAK.
Risk: LOSS OF FLUID FROM HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKEHYDRAULIC SYSTEM AFFECTS BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: MODIFY HEAT SHIELD TO ELIMINATE POTENTIAL FOR SHIELD CONTACTING BRAKE TUBE.
THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Risk: THE COOLANT ESCAPING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COULD CONTACT THE DRIVER'S FEET AND INJURE THE DRIVER. ALSO, STEAM FROM THE HEATER LIQUID WILL CLOUD ON THE WINDOW SURFACES AND IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S
Fix: A COOLANT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED HEATER CORE FLUID BYPASS VALVE WILL BE INSTALLED.
THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR CAUSING PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Risk: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION COULD BE LOST AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. ALSO THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 13 of them (28%). There are 7 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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 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 71/100. 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.