Total Complaints
31 filings
CHRYSLER LEBARON · model year
1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON
31 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHRYSLERLEBARON carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 3 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 1986 LEBARON is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (3) and power train:automatic transmission (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 1986 LEBARON, 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.
31
Complaints
5
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Injuries
3
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070615TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWENTY INCHES OF TREAD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FIRESTONE RESPONSE SE (P18575R14) TIRE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON JUNE 15, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. UPDATED 07/24/07. *JB
Mileage: 70,715
20050322FatalPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE DRIVER WAS SECURING A GATE WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IN HIS 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS STRIKING THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER DIED FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THIS ACCIDENT. *NM COMPLAINANT IS A CONSULTANT ENGINEER WHO EVALUATES AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSIONS. *JB THE POSITION INDICATOR WAS VAGUE AND HARD TO READ. *SC
20050322FatalSTRUCTURE
THE DRIVER WAS SECURING A GATE WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IN HIS 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS STRIKING THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER DIED FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THIS ACCIDENT. *NM COMPLAINANT IS A CONSULTANT ENGINEER WHO EVALUATES AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSIONS. *JB THE POSITION INDICATOR WAS VAGUE AND HARD TO READ. *SC
20031106CrashFatalPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH ENGINE RUNNING, DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE TO OPEN GATE. TRANSMISSION SELF SHIFTED FROM APPARENT PARK INTO REVERSE AND VEHICLE BACKED OVER DRIVER AND KILLED HIM.*AK
Mileage: 57,000
20021008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES RESISTOR IN THE ELECTRONIC PANEL CLUSTER CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT OVER LOAD DUE TO FAILURE OF SWITCHING TRANSISTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
20020322ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20010320ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A STALLING PROBLEM , WHEN THIS HAPPENS POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE DEFECT WHICH HAS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, AND IT WAS GRADUALLY BECOMING WORSE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN ADVISED TO GET RID OF VEHICLE. *AK
20010320STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A STALLING PROBLEM , WHEN THIS HAPPENS POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE DEFECT WHICH HAS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, AND IT WAS GRADUALLY BECOMING WORSE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN ADVISED TO GET RID OF VEHICLE. *AK
20000905FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN DURING THE DAY, THEN PARKED IN RESIDENCE GARAGE. APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS LATER, A FIRE BEGAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE MARSHALL INVESTIGATED AND SAID IT WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT STARTED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
19990916STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED POOR STEERING AND VIBRATION. ALSO, THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19990818CrashSTEERING
VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF TRACTOR TRAILER,CAUSING THE TRACTOR TRAILER TO BROADSIDE VEHICLE.ALSO, COSCO CSS TO DISCONNECTED FROM BASE, AND EJECTED THE CHILD FROM VEHICLE. DETECTIVE PASSING THIS REPORT ON TO NHTSA.
19990818CrashCHILD SEAT:BASE
VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF TRACTOR TRAILER,CAUSING THE TRACTOR TRAILER TO BROADSIDE VEHICLE.ALSO, COSCO CSS TO DISCONNECTED FROM BASE, AND EJECTED THE CHILD FROM VEHICLE. DETECTIVE PASSING THIS REPORT ON TO NHTSA.
19990426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS.
19990426ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.
19981014FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE (OHIO STATE POLICE)
19980323VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW TRACKS BREAK.
19980105PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES.
19971216CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER TURNED OFF ENGINE, SHIFTED GEAR IN PARK POSITION, REMOVED KEY. MINUTES LATER VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS ,DOWN A HILL, RAN INTO A PARKED TRUCK. CONSUMER HAD NOTICED THAT VEHICLE HAD JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, WENT FROM PARK POSITION TO A REVERSE POSTION.THIS DEFECT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED PERSONAL INJURIES. *AK
19961227STRUCTURE
OWNER STATES THAT WATER COMES IN VEHICLE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WHEN RAINING, OWNER FEELS THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO A FIRE; OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT FLOOR BOARDS OF VEHICLE HAVE RUSTED OUT, BECAUSE OF THIS, HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK
19961227STRUCTURE:BODY
OWNER STATES THAT WATER COMES IN VEHICLE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WHEN RAINING, OWNER FEELS THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO A FIRE; OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT FLOOR BOARDS OF VEHICLE HAVE RUSTED OUT, BECAUSE OF THIS, HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK
Compare 1986CHRYSLERLEBARON to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 7 Open
RQ25005Recall QueryOpen
Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures
PE25009Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
RQ25002Recall QueryClosed
Recall 19V-293 Post Remedy Failures
PE24018Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
RQ24004Recall QueryOpen
Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON have?▼
The 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON has 31 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1986 CHRYSLER LEBARON 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.