Model year record

1991 Plymouth Acclaim recalls & problems

The 1991 Plymouth Acclaim has 3 safety recalls and 97 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (15 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints97filed by owners

Crashes · fires15 · 5reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths15 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsJul 11, 1991

Front › Anchorage

Recall 91V122000130,000 vehicles

Problem: FRONT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND OR UNLATCH DUE TO A WEBBING STIFFENER ENTERING THE BUCKLE HOUSING AND DISLODGING THE BUCKLE LATCH GUIDE.
Risk: LATCH MAY OPEN DURING ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, EXPOSINGSEAT OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: REPLACE BUCKLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT.

Air bagsNov 19, 1990

Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 90V194000398 vehicles

Problem: THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Risk: AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.
Fix: REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.

Service brakes, hydraulicSep 4, 1990

Foundation components › Disc › Caliper

Recall 90V16200018,000 vehicles

Problem: FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1991 Plymouth Acclaim 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Acclaim

25mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Acclaim

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Acclaim

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module	15	12	0	15	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch	14	1	0	1	—
SuspensionRear; Rear › Springs › Coil springs	14	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	13	0	1	0	—
Vehicle speed controlCables; Linkages	12	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Module	11	0	3	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Retractor	7	1	0	1	—
StructureFrame and members; Body	7	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	6	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	5	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	4	0	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	3	2	0	3	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertorFire
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
May 31, 2011
SeatsCrash2 injuries
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
Oct 13, 2006 · 171,000 miles
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM 1991, SPRINGS IN FRONT DOORS TOO STRONG. *BF *JB
Nov 1, 2004
Structure › Body
BAD PAINT WHICH IS NOW PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND ROOF, THOUGH THE REST OF THE CAR IS JUST FINE.*AK
May 1, 2003 · 72,000 miles
Power train
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO SATISFY HIM AS A LONG TIME CUSTOMER. MR SCC *JB
Apr 28, 2003
Air bags › Frontal1 injury
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
Mar 12, 2003
Structure
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
Mar 1, 2003
Power 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
May 20, 2002

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE POSITIONClosed
UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED CONDITION RESULTS FRO THROTTLE SHAFT BINDING
PE96036 · opened May 14, 1996 · closed Oct 31, 1996
SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATIONClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE96008 · opened Jan 25, 1996 · closed Jun 28, 1996
ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATIONClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE91080 · opened May 30, 1991 · closed Sep 30, 1991