1994 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 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 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
Engine and engine cooling	11	14%
Seat belts	11	14%
Power train	10	13%
Air bags	8	10%
Service brakes	7	9%
Suspension	6	8%
Seats	3	4%
Unknown or other	3	4%
Fuel system	3	4%
Visibility	3	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

SCREECHING BELT PULLEY I KNOW IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL BUT I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS IN ORDER TO GET IT REPLACED. PLEASE HELP ME WITH INFO ON THIS THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

I PURCHASE MY 1994 ACCLAIM IN 1994. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRAILING ARM IN THE REAR OF MY CAR. I AM A GOOD DRIVER. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CRASHING TO THIS CAR IN 9 YEARS. I HAVE ABOUT 189,000 M
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER RECALLED SOME OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND ON MONIES PAID FOR SERVICES RENDERED. *J
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WHENEVER BUMPING INTO SEAT BELT WHETHER IT IS HARD OR A SOFT BUMP SEAT BELT WILL COME LOOSE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

SEATBELT BUCKLES COME LOOSE WHEN BUMPING AGAINST SOMETHING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY. THEY WILL COME UNLOCKED TOO EASILY. THEY MUST BE RECALLED!!!*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

2ND FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WAS 2YRS LATER AT 65+ ON ODOMETER. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WOULD CRACK WHEN WEATHER WAS EITHER HOT OR COLD. AS SOON AS WEATHER CHANGED, HEAD GASKETS WOULD EXPAND OR CONTRACT, AND THEN CRACK. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIME
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1994 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.

Seat belts:front:anchorage 94V023000

THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORS (BUCKLE LOCK BARS) DO NOT MEET THE STATIC LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL, EXPOSING THE RESTRAINED OCCUPANTS TO A GREATER RISK OF INJURY.

Fix: THE TRAVELING SAFETY BELT LOCK BAR ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED ON THESE VEHICLES.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	88	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	40	below average

How it compares in its class

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

Reliability: better than 58% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 70% 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 86: 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 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 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 1994 Plymouth Acclaim?

Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 11 of them (14%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1994 Plymouth Acclaim reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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 1994 Plymouth Acclaim last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 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.