1991 Plymouth Sundance Problems and Recalls (30 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1991 Plymouth Sundance is Engine (17% of 30 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 30 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 1991 Plymouth Sundance?

5 of 30 filings named Engine (17% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (5 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes and Steering. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1990 has 36 reports on file; this year has 30. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1991 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 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. 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: Engine 5 complaints · 16.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 3
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 14
  • 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 Engine (ENGINE) appears in 5 of 30 owner complaints (16.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 5 complaints, 16.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 5 · 16.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 5 complaints, 16.7% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 5 · 16.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 5 complaints, 16.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 5 · 16.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 2 complaints, 6.7% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 · 6.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 1 · 3.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 3.3% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 1 · 3.3% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 · 3.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 28 complaints, 93.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 crash reports 28 · 93.3% 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)
Engine (ENGINE) 5 16.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 5 16.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 5 16.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 3.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 3.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 28 93.3% 3 crashes · 0 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 Sep 1990. 1995-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1995-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 1996-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Sep 1990 Apr 2001 Recall campaign 90V162000 ◆ Recall campaign 90V162000 Recall campaign 96V229000 ◆ Recall campaign 96V229000 Recall campaign 97V078000 ◆ Recall campaign 97V078000 Recall campaign 99V212000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V212000 Investigation PE95002 ● Investigation PE95002 Investigation EA95017 ● Investigation EA95017 Investigation EA95029 ● Investigation EA95029 Investigation PE96008 ● Investigation PE96008 Investigation PE96036 ● Investigation PE96036
  • Campaign 97V078000 was reported 831 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 99V212000 was reported 1,649 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
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 4
1996-Q1 Owner reports 2
1996-Q4 Owner reports 3
1997-Q1 Owner reports 2
1997-Q2 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q4 Owner reports 2
1998-Q1 Owner reports 2
1998-Q3 Owner reports 1
1999-Q2 Owner reports 2
1999-Q3 Owner reports 2
1999-Q4 Owner reports 1
2000-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 90V162000
Recall campaign 1 96V229000
Recall campaign 1 97V078000
Recall campaign 1 99V212000
Defect investigation 1 PE95002
Defect investigation 1 EA95017
Defect investigation 1 EA95029
Defect investigation 1 PE96008
Defect investigation 1 PE96036
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

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

In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes and Steering.

  1. Recall campaign 90V162000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 96V229000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    Consequence:
    IF THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 97V078000

    Safety recall 97V078000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE BOLT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH A HIGHER STRENGTH BOLT THAT INCLUDES A SELF LOCKING NYLON PATCH.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 99V212000

    Safety recall 99V212000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE BOLT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT BACK ATTACHING BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH A HIGHER STRENGTH BOLT THAT INCLUDES A SELF LOCKING NYLON PATCH.
    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 30 complaints · page 1 of 2
2001-06-20Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 890782
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SERPENTINE BELT ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERNATOR SLIPS FROM PULLEY ASSEMBLY WHEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER IS MADE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED BELT. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT WHEN BELT SLIPS FROM ASSEMBLY, LOSS OF POWER WOULD OCCUR, AND VEHICLE COULD BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
2000-08-24Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 728860
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SPEEDOMETER ON OTHER PEOPLE'S SAME MODEL CAR HAD SAME PROBLEM
2000-06-27Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 864324
CrashFireInjuryDeath
PEELING PAINT IS CAUSING ADHESIVE AROUND THE WINDSHIELD TO COME LOOSE. OWNER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE WINDSHIELD TO COLLAPSE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NFORMATION. *AK
1999-11-06Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 714408
CrashFireInjuryDeath
IF YOU CAN'T HELP ME WITH THE PAINT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO CAN. WAS THERE ANY RECALL ON PAINTING FOR PLYMOUTHS? I SEE MANY SUNDANCES ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM PEELING AS MINE. ALSO, SOME SPOTS WHERE PEELING OCCURRED, IS NOW RUSTING. AS FOR THE HOOD, REPLACEMENT SHOCKS I PURCHASED HELPED HOLD TRUNK UP AGAIN.
1999-09-06Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 710984
CrashFireInjuryDeath
STALLS DAILY - HAVE REPLACED HOSES, BATTERY, FILTERS, ETC.
1999-08-30Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 548244
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HATCHBACK STRUTS FAIL TO KEEP LID UP, FALLS EVERYTIME ITS OPENED CAUSING SERVERE BACK INJURY TO OWNER. *YC
1999-06-17Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 840393
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACELERATION WHILE BACK BACKING OUT OF A PARKING (VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL) CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT BETWEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. DEALER/MFR. WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.
1999-06-08Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 546038
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HATCHBACK STRUT RODS FAILED CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER'S SPINAL COLUMN. MJS
1998-08-19Suspension (SUSPENSION)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 542345
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TORSION BAR WELDING BROKE IN REAR AXLE CAUSING NOISE AND BAD PERFORMANCE. QCAW
1998-03-16Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 821967
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RATE OF SPEED (35-40MPH), CAN HEAR CLANGING NOISE NEAR AXLE AREA. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED PLATE BEHIND AXLE WAS CRACKED & DRIVER WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1991 Plymouth Sundance?

Owners named Engine most often — 5 of 30 reports (17%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1991 Plymouth Sundance?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes and Steering. 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 1991 Plymouth Sundance?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. 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