Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Eagle Premier, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 15 | 19% |
| Visibility | 12 | 15% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 15% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 9% |
| Power train | 5 | 6% |
| Steering | 5 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 5% |
| Structure | 3 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
SPONTANEOUS FAILURE--RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STUCK IN EXTENDED POSITION--WILL NOT RETRACT--1991 EAGLE PREMIER. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
RECALL 94V00600 CONCERNING HEATER CORE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR. RECALL. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS OTHER RECALLS THAT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
BRAKE FAILURE, CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE BARELY STOPPED CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A DEER. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
BRAKE FAILURE, CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE BARELY STOPPED CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A DEER. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, WITH HEATER ON, SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NO FIRE. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, OWNER DISCONNECTED THE HEATER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD T
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE COURSE OF THE DAY. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED. ON MOST OTHER OCCASIONS, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE APPEARED TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED, BUT FOR THE INC
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WHILE IN DRIVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE METAL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE FUEL TANK RUSTED, FALLING AND DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO DROP. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED BY THE DEALERS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1991 Eagle Premier. 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 | 90 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| 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 81 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 15 of them (19%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 90/100 (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 82/100, 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 73/100. 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.