1992 Chrysler New Yorker

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Chrysler New Yorker, 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	10	17%
Steering	10	17%
Power train	8	14%
Engine and engine cooling	7	12%
Fuel system	6	10%
Air bags	3	5%
Seat belts	2	3%
Suspension	2	3%
Service brakes	1	2%
Vehicle speed control	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE BRAKE MOTOR MAKES A NOISE, THE PEDAL IS HARD. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE IS A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON REPLACING THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLYAND THE PUMP MOTOR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THESE PARTS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

1992 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER 3.3 V6 WITH 68713 MILES DEVELOPED FUEL RAIL LEAK AND GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING ON TOP OF ENGINE, TOOK TO CHRYSLER DEALER, OTHER MODELS HAD SAME PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL..CALLED CHRYSLER CU
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THIS CAUSES A GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V099000, REGARDING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE FRAYED IN THE SAME SPOT. IT WAS VERY VISIBLE NEAR THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. ALSO, THE BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AFTER USAGE. *AK THE PLASTIC HOLDERS FOR THE BELTS NEAR THE DOORS HAD BROKEN PIECE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL LAYER. ALSO STATED THAT IS LEAKING AT O-RINGS IN TOP OF THE ENGINE.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT AS FAR AS THEY KNOW THERE WERE NO RECALLS SO THERE WAS N
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

CONSUMER STATES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#96V099000 BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED MR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 Chrysler New Yorker. 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.

Service brakes 96V099000

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

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar 92V015000

THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.

Risk: FRACTURES OF THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLINGBOLT RESULT IN A LACK OF COUPLING LOAD ON THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL.

Fix: REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	77	good
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	56	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 54% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 56% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 57% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 77: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1992 Chrysler New Yorker?

Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 10 of them (17%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Chrysler New Yorker reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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.

How long will a 1992 Chrysler New Yorker last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Chrysler New Yorker?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.