PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM · model year

1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM

120 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991PLYMOUTHACCLAIM carries 120 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 5 fires, 20 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 1991 ACCLAIM is air bags:frontal with 12 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (10) and suspension:rear (9). 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 5 investigation files overlapping the 1991 ACCLAIM. 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.

120
Complaints
17
Crashes
5
Fires
20
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

120 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
SUSPENSION:REAR9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SEATS2
SEAT BELTS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2

Recent Complaints

20110629FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON IR 76 IN THE RIGHT LANE, WHEN THE DRIVER PULLED OVER ONTO THE RIGHT BERM BECAUSE OF ENGINE TROUBLE, WHICH THE VEHICLE THEN IGNITED INTO FLAMES AND WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE FIRE MAY HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AREA OF THE MUFFLER. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0381-91)*JB

20061209CrashSEATS

CAR WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO BREAK AND FALLING BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CONTINUING ANOTHER 200 FEET BEFORE BEING ABLE TO RECOVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. *JB

Mileage: 171,000

20050404STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM 1991, SPRINGS IN FRONT DOORS TOO STRONG. *BF *JB

20040211STRUCTURE:BODY

BAD PAINT WHICH IS NOW PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND ROOF, THOUGH THE REST OF THE CAR IS JUST FINE.*AK

Mileage: 72,000

20030428POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO SATISFY HIM AS A LONG TIME CUSTOMER. MR SCC *JB

20030414AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER DROVE OVER AN EXPOSED PORTION OF A RAILROAD TRACK AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER SUSTAINING BURNS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT CHEMICALS. *JB

20030405STRUCTURE

THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE IS JUST FALLING OFF IN SPLOTCHES. A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE SAID THAT WAS TYPICAL OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. HE CLAIMS THE MANUFACTURER USED THE INCORRECT PRIMER AND FINAL PAINT. *JB

20020607POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT 28-32 MPH VEHICLE JERKS/SHIFTS TO SECOND GEAR, AND RPMS GO TO 3000-4000. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT THIS POINT. TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN SECOND GEAR,.CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE TO GET OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE AT 55 MPH, ALL OTHER TIMES AT 28-32MPH.*AK

20020528POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT, OR NOT GET ENOUGH GAS, DRIVING IT WILL GO INTO LOWER GEAR, ENGINE WILL REV, ODOMETER GOES OVER 5, IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM SHUTTING OFF, I DRIVE IT IN LOWER GEAR. FIRST STARTED AFTER DRIVING APP. 50 MILES, NOW IT WON'T STAY RUNNING. HAVE REPLACED THE COIL, DID NOT HELP*AK

20020528SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

VEHICLE SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT, OR NOT GET ENOUGH GAS, DRIVING IT WILL GO INTO LOWER GEAR, ENGINE WILL REV, ODOMETER GOES OVER 5, IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM SHUTTING OFF, I DRIVE IT IN LOWER GEAR. FIRST STARTED AFTER DRIVING APP. 50 MILES, NOW IT WON'T STAY RUNNING. HAVE REPLACED THE COIL, DID NOT HELP*AK

20020201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. ALSO EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS BLOWING OUT BLUE SMOKE FROM PIPE AREA. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20010716CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS STOLEN, TRAVELING WET ROAD, APPROX. 40MPH, LOST CONTROL, HIT AND BROKE TELEPHONE POLE, FRONTAL DAMAGE,BENT FRAME, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAR PURCHASED 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO INCIDENT, THIEF FLED SCENE. *AK

20010504SUSPENSION:REAR

THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON TWO SIMILAR VEHICLES, ALSO ON EVERY SPIRIT, ACCLAIM, SUNDANCE, SHADOW I'VE SEEN ON THE ROAD OR IN THE JUNKYARD. THIS PIECE OF CONDUIT RUNNING BETWEEN THE SPINDLE PLATES HAS CRACKED ON EVERY ONE I'VE COME ACROSS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR, THINKING IT WAS OK BUT THE DEALER OR PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SHOVED RUBBER HOSING UP INTO THE VOICE BETWEEN AXLE AND TUBE TO KEEP IT QUIET. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP WANTS OVER $1200 TO FIX BY COMPLETE REPLACEMENT, SAYS IT HAS TO BE DONE BUT WON'T EXPLAIN WHAT THIS TUBE IS SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH OR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF NOT REPLACED. COULD THIS BE A SAFETY ISSUE? I COULD AFFORD TO FIX IF I KNEW IT WASN'T JUST GOING TO BUST AGAIN, BUT HOW ABOUT ALL THE POORER FOLK OUT THERE WHO WILL JIMMY IT UP AND PASS IT ALONG? THIS IS A CASE OF REALLY POOR DESIGN. I'VE HEARD OF THESE FAILING AT 40,000 MILES OR LESS. THE WELD CRACKS OR THE TUBE CRACKS AT EITHER SPINDLE PLATE. IF IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY HAVE THE THING ON THER

20010503SUSPENSION:REAR

THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON TWO SIMILAR VEHICLES, ALSO ON EVERY SPIRIT, ACCLAIM, SUNDANCE, SHADOW I'VE SEEN ON THE ROAD OR IN THE JUNKYARD. THIS PIECE OF CONDUIT RUNNING BETWEEN THE SPINDLE PLATES HAS CRACKED ON EVERY ONE I'VE COME ACROSS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR, THINKING IT WAS OK BUT THE DEALER OR PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SHOVED RUBBER HOSING UP INTO THE VOICE BETWEEN AXLE AND TUBE TO KEEP IT QUIET. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP WANTS OVER $1200 TO FIX BY COMPLETE REPLACEMENT, SAYS IT HAS TO BE DONE BUT WON'T EXPLAIN WHAT THIS TUBE IS SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH OR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF NOT REPLACED. COULD THIS BE A SAFETY ISSUE? I COULD AFFORD TO FIX IF I KNEW IT WASN'T JUST GOING TO BUST AGAIN, BUT HOW ABOUT ALL THE POORER FOLK OUT THERE WHO WILL JIMMY IT UP AND PASS IT ALONG? THIS IS A CASE OF REALLY POOR DESIGN. I'VE HEARD OF THESE FAILING AT 40,000 MILES OR LESS. THE WELD CRACKS OR THE TUBE CRACKS AT EITHER SPINDLE PLATE. IF IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY HAVE THE THING ON THER

20010420SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

THE ENGINE REVS WHILE STOPPED, CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS HARD ON BRAKES IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD, THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE WHEN THE VEHICLES AIR CONDITIONING/DEFROST SYSTEM IS ON, WHEN MECHANIC REPAIRS THE VACUUM LEAKS, IT HELPS FOR A WHILE, BUT THEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACES. NLM

20010420VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

CONSUMER WILL PUT HEATING UNIT ON HEAT SETTING OR VENT SETTING AND WHEN ACCELERATING, IT KICKS INTO DEFROST MOVING THE AIR CIRCULATION FROM PROPER VENTILATION TO DASH VENTILATION, ALSO CAUSING ENGINE TO REV UP.

20000823FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE DASH VENTS. *AK

20000208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SPORADIC BEHAVIOR, VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST 30 MPH. *AK

20000113FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FEL PUMP FAILURE.

19991115POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WON'T GO FORWARD AND THE ENGINE RACED. TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

Compare 1991PLYMOUTHACCLAIM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM have?
The 1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM has 120 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 5 fires, 20 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM?
The most-complained component for the 1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SUSPENSION:REAR.
Is the 1991 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM 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.