Total Complaints
96 filings
CHRYSLER LEBARON · model year
1990 CHRYSLER LEBARON
96 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHRYSLERLEBARON carries 96 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 3 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 LEBARON is power train:automatic transmission with 19 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (6) and electrical system:ignition (6). 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 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.
96
Complaints
10
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
10 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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 19 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 6 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 4 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20050826FireAIR BAGS
DT: THE CALLER SAID HIS FRIEND WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED. NO OTHER PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THE CALLER SAID IT STARTED TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. DEALER SAID THEY WILL HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY COULD SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER SAID THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAGS AND ON A OIL LEAK.*AK
Mileage: 98,000
20050826FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CALLER SAID HIS FRIEND WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED. NO OTHER PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THE CALLER SAID IT STARTED TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. DEALER SAID THEY WILL HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY COULD SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER SAID THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAGS AND ON A OIL LEAK.*AK
Mileage: 98,000
20040422POWER TRAIN
PAINT CONTINUES TO PEEL FROM TOP SURFACES
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT CONTINUES TO PEEL FROM TOP SURFACES
20031017UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR IS A LEMON!!!!!!!! *LA
Mileage: 35,000
20030131SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE. THE LOOSE SHOE WAS STILL IN PLACE CAPTURED BY THE CALIPER. CONSUMER'S 1990 VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL 92V017000. DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE BRAKE LININGS SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TT
Mileage: 137,205
20020520POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKS INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AND WILL NOT UPSHIFT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. (LIMP MODE). THERE ARE AT LEAST 32 TSB'S COVERING VARIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE A604/41TE TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. ESTIMATED REPAIRS TO DATE ARE $1950 - $2100. THE CAR IS LIKE NEW OTHERWISE, BUT USELESS AS IS.*AK
20020514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR TOTALLY SHUTS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES (MORE THAN 20+) OVER LAST 8 MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART IN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, OTHER TIMES IT WON'T. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR AS IT HAS HAPPENED AT 30 MPH AS WELL AS 65. WEATHER DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. THIS PROBLEM IS SPORADIC - SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY OVER A DISTANCE OF 5 MILES, OTHER TIMES IT WILL RUN FINE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. I HAVE HAD IT IN TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT PROBLEM IS DUE TO IT NOT ACTING UP WHEN THEY HAVE IT. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER GARAGE IN PLYMOUTH, IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY SEE THE PROBLEM HAPPEN. I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AND HAVE NO WARNING AHEAD OF TIME. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SCARY WHEN DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH SEMIS.*AK
20011129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
A REAR BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE. I FOUND THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE GREASING THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THE LOOSE SHOE WAS STILL IN PLACE CAPTURED BY THE CALIPER. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL: CAMPAIGN NUMBER 92V017000, BUT MY 1990 VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL SINCE IT EFFECTED 1989 MODELS. HOWEVER, I CONVINCED THE DEALER I DID HAVE THE PROBLEM SINCE I HAD A LINING THAT SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE. THE DEALER REPLACED MY REAR BRAKES AT THAT TIME. I HAVE NO RECORD OF THE SERVICE DATE, AND THE DEALER CLAIMS HE HAS NO RECORD, ALTHOUGH HE ALSO HAS NO RECORD OF THE RECALL SERVICE THAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH WATER COLLECTING IN A REAR WHEEL WELL EITHER. TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS AGAIN GREASING THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I DISCOVERED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! ONE OF THE BRAKE LININGS WAS SEPARATED FROM THE SHOE AGAIN! I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, THE ORIGINAL RECALL DID NOT CORRECT AL
20010516POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SEAL WITHIN TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND IS CAUSING PROBLEM WITH DOWNSHIFTING. MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED SEAL.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN. *SLC
20010516VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
SEAL WITHIN TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND IS CAUSING PROBLEM WITH DOWNSHIFTING. MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED SEAL.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN. *SLC
20010301EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ON TWO OCCASIONS AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BURNED WIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON BOTH OCCASIONS, AND MADE REPAIRS. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ALSO. *YH
20010301POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON TWO OCCASIONS AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BURNED WIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON BOTH OCCASIONS, AND MADE REPAIRS. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ALSO. *YH
20000824ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THE GAS COVER GASKET AND WAS REPLACED WITH SILICONE! SILICONE CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS! THE LIFTER HAS A BAD TICKING TO IT! AND AN OCCASSIONAL SPARK KNOCK! THE STRUTS DO NOT WEAR WELL AND TEND TO GIVE OUT AFTER 5,000 MILES!
20000822POWER TRAIN
THE ODOMETER NEEDLE HAS BROKEN INSIDE AND I CANNOT REPAIR IT.*AK
20000717CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS LISTED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 5730. VALVE COVER HAS ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET. *AK FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *YH
20000717CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS LISTED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 5730. VALVE COVER HAS ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET. *AK FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *YH
20000519TIRES
THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS BALD WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HOME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
20000519POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS BALD WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HOME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
20000519EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS BALD WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HOME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Compare 1990CHRYSLERLEBARON 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 1990 CHRYSLER LEBARON have?▼
The 1990 CHRYSLER LEBARON has 96 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHRYSLER LEBARON?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHRYSLER LEBARON is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 19 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1990 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.