1992 Plymouth Acclaim

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

73/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Plymouth Acclaim, 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	11	15%
Air bags	9	12%
Suspension	8	11%
Electrical system	5	7%
Vehicle speed control	5	7%
Fuel system	4	5%
Structure	4	5%
Steering	3	4%
Visibility	3	4%
Service brakes	3	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

PAINT DELAMINATION ON HORIZONTAL SURFACES. STARTED WITH JUST A FEW FLAKES. BY WINTER OF 2002, AREAS WERE INCREASING IN SIZE DRAMATICALY. PAINT ON HOOD IS NOW 90% GONE. TOP HAS LOST 60% OF PAINT AND IS BEGINING TO RUST! D
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

THERE WAS AN ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. MR SCC *JB
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE APPEARED IN VEHICLE DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS. ALSO REPLACED GASKET/THERMOSTAT/RADIATOR CAP. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM *JG
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THE VEHICLES UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING AND LOSS STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL92V015. MR *JG
NHTSA complaint: Steering

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL, AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT/TURNED CAR OFF, AND 5 OR 10 MINUTES LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND ENGINE ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED. *YH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 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.

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	84	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	88	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	41	below average

How it compares in its class

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

Reliability: better than 52% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 63% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 93% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 57% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: 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 79: 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 88: 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 Plymouth Acclaim?

Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 11 of them (15%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Plymouth Acclaim reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 Plymouth Acclaim last?

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 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 Plymouth Acclaim?

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.