CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE · model year

1990 CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE

51 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990CHRYSLERFIFTH AVENUE carries 51 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 FIFTH AVENUE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 8 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring (3) and structure:body:door (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 88 investigation files overlapping the 1990 FIFTH AVENUE, and 7 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

51
Complaints
3
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

51 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH3
AIR BAGS3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1

Recent Complaints

20050808FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

FUEL RAIL LEAKS GASOLINE ONTO TOP OF ENGINE - MANY OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES HAVE RECALL FOR THIS - SEARCHING THE INTERNET SHOWS MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER CARS - WHY EXCLUDE THE 90 FIFTH AVENUE FROM THE FUEL RAIL RECALL? *NM

20050119CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ALWAYS COME ON, CHRYSLER SAID NO PROBLEM. ABS BRAKE FAILED, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND HIT A CAR. PAID CHRYSLER $780.75 TO REPLACE ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROLLER. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND CHRYSLER WANTS TO REPAIR THE CAR FOR $2400 TO CHANGE ABS SYSTEM. INFORMED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE RECALL REGARDING ABS SYSTEM UNIT DEFECT, BUT DENIED REQUEST BECAUSE THEY SAID PART NUMBER IS DIFFERENT. CAR IS INOPERATIVE SINCE DECEMBER 17, 2004. *NM

Mileage: 48,246

20031108FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

BAD GAS MILEAGE, HARD TO START, SMELLED GAS. DEALER FOUND LEAK COMING FROM FUEL RACK. COULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE WHILE MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK. $245 FOR THE RACK PLUS $$$ FOR O-RINGS, GASKET & HOSES, NOT TO MENTION LABOR. HEARD & READ OF MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME!! *AK

20030930ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

FUEL LEAKAGE FROM FUEL RAIL

Mileage: 150,000

20021206FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL RAIL. ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING GAS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL. TS

20010703SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION APPLIED BRAKES AND ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD. ALSO, CALIPERS/ ROTORS, AND PADS WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20010703SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION APPLIED BRAKES AND ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD. ALSO, CALIPERS/ ROTORS, AND PADS WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20010118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

THE FUEL INJECTION MANIFOLD FAILED AT TWO SWAGGED FITTINGS CAUSING A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LEAK. UPON SMELLING FUEL WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE TWO SWAGGED FITTINGS ON THE MANIFOLD POURING GAS IN THE ENGINE. I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HUNTINGTON BEACH CHRYSLER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE MANIFOLD FOR $700.00 WHICH I THINK IS OUTRAGES BECAUSE I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE JUST PRIOR TO THE FUEL SMELL THE CAR BACKFIRED TWICE. I WONDER HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERS HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. BY THE DESIGN I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THERE MUST BE MANY, MANY, MANY MORE OUT THERE.

20010117FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

CRACKED FUEL RAIL DISCOVERED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE/ REPLACEMENT PART NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. FACTORY IS SHIPPING OVER 700 TO DEALERS? WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 01/??/2001. HIGH FIRE HAZARD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP MORE THAN A WEEK, VIN # NOT AVAILABLE TO ME AT THIS TIME. *AK

20001027ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.*AK THE FOURTH SWITCH WAS INSTALLED AND THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEFECT, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER. *YH

20000905POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS HAD FAILURES OF THE TRANSAXLE SHIFTED DOWN INTO LIMP MODE OR SECOND GEAR AND STAYING THERE. I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SHIFTING OF THIS TRANSAXLE AND SHOULD BE RE-CALLED. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSAXLE COMPLETELY REBUILT, THE COMPUTER AND SENSORS REPLACED AND TWO DIFFERENT TIMES THE DEALER REPORTED HE FIXED A CONNECTOR PROBLEM. AS AN ENGINEER FOR A SEMICONDUCTOR CONMPANY, I FEEL THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ARE GOING INTO A THERMAL SHUTDOWN. ALL THE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE HOT TEXAS HEAT. THE LAST DEALERSHIP I HAD REPAIR THE TRANSAXLE ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANS AXLES. HE LIED.

20000731POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT 107,235 MILES VEHICLE HAS HAD SIX TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. THREE REBUILTS/THREE OVERHAULS. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE BY DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20000204FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

NOTICED PURCHASED MORE GAS THAN NORMAL. WHEN STARTED UP VEHICLE DRIVER SMELLED ALOT OF GASOLINE. DROVE VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT GAS DRIPPING ON A HOT MUFFLER COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. HAD THE FUEL RAIL REPLACED. *AK *ML

19991130AIR BAGS

A SPRING THAT HOLDS AIRBAG IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP , COULD NOT TURN WHEEL AND HORN KEPT BLOWING. *AK

19991130STEERING

A SPRING THAT HOLDS AIRBAG IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP , COULD NOT TURN WHEEL AND HORN KEPT BLOWING. *AK

19991110CrashAIR BAGS

THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED. THE DRIVER DEVELOPED (WITHIN 3 DAYS) DEVELOPED DOUBLE CHEMICAL PNEUMONIA (HOSPITALIZED FOR 15 DAYS) - ATTRIBUTED TO INHALATION OF THE TALCUM POWDER USED TO LUBRICATE THE AIRBAG. THE DRIVER REMAINED IN THE CAR FOR APPROX. 30 MIN. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. I AM LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION WHICH MAY EXIST ON OTHER INJURIES/ACCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE.

19991029AIR BAGS

A SPRING THAT HOLDS AIRBAG IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSED STEERING TO LOCKUP, AND COULD NOT TUR NWHEEL AND HORN KEPT BLOWING. *AK

19990908SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE.

19990908SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

ABS RECALL--OWNER NOT NOTIFIED.

19990226POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Compare 1990CHRYSLERFIFTH AVENUE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 7 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE have?
The 1990 CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE has 51 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE?
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1990 CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.