Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Plymouth Acclaim, and it carries no 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 15% |
| Power train | 14 | 15% |
| Suspension | 14 | 15% |
| Air bags | 11 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 11% |
| Steering | 5 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY 93 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM 4 DOOR SEDAN WITH A 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE TRANSMISSION AT STOPS STARTED TO SLIP CAR WOULDN'T EVEN MOVE FORWARD AT ALL THEN WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO BRING UP THE ENGINE R
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
MY 1993 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM'S FRONT HEADLIGHTS COLLECT WATER AND EVENTUALLY BURN OUT THE HEADLAMPS. ALSO CAUSES POOR VISABILITY FOR NIGHT DRIVING. I WOULD LIKE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS SINCE I FEEL I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT INFLATE, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO CONSUMER. *JB THE AIR BAG WAS PARTIALLY OUT WITHOUT INFLATING AND CAUSED STEERING WHEEL INJURIES. ALSO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON THE HIGHWAY (OHIO TURNPIKE), WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SCC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING 40MPH FRONT OF CAR COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WHILE DRIVING A DARK COLORED SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST, THERE WAS A NOISE IN ENGINE, RESULTING IN A FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED. COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE, IT OPERATES ROUGH, THEN VERY DARK SMOKE COMES
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS BENT IN DUE TO BRAKE CABLE SHEARING OFF ALL BOLTS. WHEN TOWED WHEEL FELL OFF. WILL CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
POSSIBLE PCM FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Power train
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 14 of them (15%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 1993 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.