1992 Eagle Talon

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

74/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Eagle Talon, and it carries 1 recall. 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
Power train	22	37%
Structure	8	14%
Engine and engine cooling	8	14%
Unknown or other	3	5%
Seat belts	3	5%
Visibility	3	5%
Service brakes	2	3%
Latches/locks/linkages	2	3%
Exterior lighting	1	2%
Electrical system	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 EAGLE TALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER, THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V069002 ISSUED IN 1998 CONCERNING THE TRANSFER CASE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT KNEW THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO
NHTSA complaint: Power train

I OWN A 1992 EAGLE TALON TSI AWD. I HAVE LEARNED OF A TRANSFER CASE RECALL ON THIS CAR. MAINLY BECAUSE MINE JUST BLEW UP. THIS CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN IN FOR THE RECALL, BUT CHRYSLER (DEALERSHIP, HUDSON, WI 54016) HAS SAID
NHTSA complaint: Power train

THIS IS A GENERAL COMMENT THAT I HOPE WILL BE GIVEN SOME CONSIDERATION. MY CAR AND MANY OTHERS SUFFER FROM MAJOR HEADLIGHT DIMMING CAUSED BY LEAKAGE AND DISCOLORATION OF THE NEWER PLASTIC COVERED HEADLAMPS. REPLACEMENT
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

AWD TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP WHILE DRIVING 30-45MPH. CALLED LOCAL DEALERS IN MD & PA TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS. FOUND INFO ON SITE INDICATING THAT MFG CAMPAINGN # 780 (NHTSA ID NO. 98V069002) WOULD HAVE APPLIED T
NHTSA complaint: Power train

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFROMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

A RECALL IS IN EFFECT FOR A DRIVESHAFT YOKE/SEAL RELATED TO THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. WHICH RUN ON LOW AMOUNTS OF FLUID DUE TO THIS LEAK, DAMAGE CAN
NHTSA complaint: Power train

VEHICLE HAD A DENT IN THE SIDE PANEL WHERE THE PASSENGER DOOR TOUCHES THE FRONT SIDE PANEL, CONSUMER HAS SEEN THIS DENT IN OTHER TALONS AND FEELS IT IS A DEFECT IN THE BODY CONSTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Structure

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Eagle Talon. 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.

Power train:automatic transmission 98V069002

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, T

The seven scores

Reliability raw	87	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	45	below average
Efficiency	41	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 53% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 69% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: 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 81: 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 90: 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 Eagle Talon?

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 22 of them (37%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Eagle Talon reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (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 Eagle Talon last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, 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 Eagle Talon?

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.