1987 Plymouth Sundance Problems and Recalls (12 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1987 Plymouth Sundance is Electrical (25% of 12 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Electrical — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 12 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 1987 Plymouth Sundance?

3 of 12 filings named Electrical (25% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (2 reports).

This snapshot lists no safety recalls for this year. That is not a clean bill of health. Still check the VIN at nhtsa.gov.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 1987 Plymouth Sundance

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Electrical. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Electrical 3 complaints · 25.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 3
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) appears in 3 of 12 owner complaints (25.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 3 complaints, 25.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 3 · 25.0% Engine (ENGINE): 2 complaints, 16.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 2 · 16.7% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 2 complaints, 16.7% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 2 · 16.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 2 complaints, 16.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 · 16.7% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 8.3% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 8.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 8.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 8.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 8.3% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 8.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 9 complaints, 75.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 2 fire reports 9 · 75.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 25.0% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 2 16.7% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 16.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 16.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 9 75.0% 1 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 1988. 1995-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1995-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 1988 Apr 2008 Recall campaign 88V105000 ◆ Recall campaign 88V105000 Recall campaign 08E033000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E033000 Investigation DP88017 ● Investigation DP88017 Investigation EA89001 ● Investigation EA89001 Investigation PE91065 ● Investigation PE91065
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 1
1995-Q2 Owner reports 3
1995-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q2 Owner reports 1
1998-Q4 Owner reports 1
1999-Q1 Owner reports 1
1999-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 88V105000
Recall campaign 1 08E033000
Defect investigation 1 DP88017
Defect investigation 1 EA89001
Defect investigation 1 PE91065
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

  1. Recall campaign 08E033000

    Safety recall 08E033000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 88V105000

    Safety recall 88V105000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    RELOCATE PRESSURE REGULATOR; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY WITH FORMED HOSE WITH REVISED ROUTING CONFIGURATION TO ENSURE SEALING INTEGRITY.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 12 complaints · page 1 of 1
2003-06-26Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10022014
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK THE HOOD BLEW OPEN BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A REBUILT MOTOR THAT KEPT RUNNING HOT AND STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER 15 TIMES AND THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STILL WASN'T FIXED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE USED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR OR A NEW VEHICLE. *SCC *JB
2002-08-12Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 567088
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING, THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND LIFT THE ACCELERATOR WITH HIS TOE IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. *SLC
2000-02-06Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 718389
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVING WHEN IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS NO POWER, WENT FROM 35 TO 20 MPH THEN STARTED SMOKING AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. WENT TO GET HELP BUT NO ONE WAS AT WORK, MEN NEXT DOOR NOTICED SMOKE AND RAN OVER WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE HOOD LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. POLICE DEPT RESPONDED AND TIRED TO EXTINGUISHED BUT COULD NOT GET INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE SHORTED ALL WIRING. CAR WIRING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND CAR WAS TOTALED. SECOND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. LAST FAILURE WAS ON APRIL 1991. *AK
1999-06-16Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 840022
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE HAS A FUEL LEAK, PLACE OF LEAK UNKNOWN, BUT THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1999-01-25Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 702547
CrashFireInjuryDeath
LIGHT BULB UNDER AUTOMATIC GEAR SELECTOR CONSOLE ASSEMBLY WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. AFTER PURCHASING REPLACEMENT LIGHT BULB AS PER NUMBER SPECIFIED IN OWNERS MANUAL, REMOVED GEAR SELECTOR CONSOLE TO DISCOVER THAT BULB HAD NEARLY COMPLETED MELTED LENS AROUND IT. BULB WAS ENCASED IN MELTED PLASTIC AND SMELLED BURNED. BULBS MELTING PLASTIC IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. SEE ALSO MY RECENT REPORT ODI 701361 AND ALSO ODI 371625 (ANOTHER PERSON). BURNING PLASTIC MAY CAUSE FIRE IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS AND RELATED PROBLEMS OR PAY FOR PARTS/LABOR.
1998-12-15Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 701361
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT STARTED SMOKING DUE TO OVERHEATING. SOCKETS AND BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING MELTED CAUSING SMOKE IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE.
1997-04-04Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 516206
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TRUNK DOOR WON'T STAY UP WHEN OPENED.
1995-09-17Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 972157
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE COMPUTER MODULE WAS REPLACED . TT
1995-06-19Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 967197
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE CAR HIT A TREE HEAD ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN OCCUPANT. TT
1995-05-22Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 965635
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RELEASE MECHANISM BUTTON ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. TT

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1987 Plymouth Sundance?

Owners named Electrical most often — 3 of 12 reports (25%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1987 Plymouth Sundance?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. This snapshot lists none, which is not a clean bill of health. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1987 Plymouth Sundance?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources