IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HAD NO ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. MANAGE TO PULL OVER AND TURN VEHICLE OFF. HAD SOMEONE DRIVE HOME, ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED NO RECALLS ON ABS FOR THAT VEHICLE. TS
1990 Chrysler Imperial
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Imperial years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
125–50K
550–75K
1175–100K
8100–150K
3150K+
28 reports with mileage · 80 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
88 reportsCONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS IS ON AND ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR THIS REASON, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED.DEALER WAS ALREADY CONTACTED. MR
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DON'T HOLD, ONCE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
RECALL WAS ON BENDICKS BRAKES, HAVE BOSCH BRAKES CAN'T REPAIR AT ANY OTHER PLACE THAN A DEALERSHIP, YET THEY TELL US THAT THE BOSCH BRAKES WERE NOT THE RECALLED BRAKES, IF NOT WHY CAN'T WE GET THEM REPAIRED AT ANOTHER BRAKE PLACE?
BRAKES WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME ON WITHOUT CONSUMER APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. VEHICLE NOT OPERABLE ANY MORE. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 96V09900 FOR THIS CONDITION. *TT
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE GOES INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FORCE TO BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS NO BOOSTER POWER TOWARD THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE POWER BOOSTER WORKS ONCE IN A WHILE IF THE VEHICLE SITS OVER NIGHT DURING COLD TEMPERATURES.*JB
WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF BRAKING, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THIS VEHICLE SUFFERED A SUDDEN ABS BRAKE FAILURE WITH MY WIFE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. SHE HAD TO CROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND EXIT DOWN AN OFF-RAMP WITHOUT APPRECIABLE BRAKES, AND WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ABS PUMP-MOTOR. NHTSA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS C…
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THIS VEHICLE SUFFERED A SUDDEN ABS BRAKE FAILURE WITH MY WIFE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. SHE HAD TO CROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND EXIT DOWN AN OFF-RAMP WITHOUT APPRECIABLE BRAKES, AND WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ABS PUMP-MOTOR. NHTSA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR, ONLY TO ONES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND OF BRAKE SYSTEM. THAT IS ABSURD! THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT. IT IS THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. IT IS THE IDENTICAL FAILURE TO WHICH THE RECALL APPLIES. BUT CHRYSLER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE LIFETIME RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE THE RECALL DID NOT SPECIFICALLY COVER THIS BRAND OF ABS SYSTEM. WHAT DOES IT MATTER? THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. IT IS A LIFE-THREATENING FACTORY DEFECT. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP. *AK THIS EXACT FAILURE WAS ON RECALL, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER THIS BRAND OF BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS WAS LIFE-THREATENING FACTORY DEFECT. *YH
Official recalls
296V099000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jun 13, 1996
THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR CAUSING PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION COULD BE LOST AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. ALSO THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL ALSO BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.
91V191000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 1, 1991
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE MAY LEAK OR DETACH AT ITS CRIMPED END FITTING RESULTING IN THE DISCHARGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FLUID DISCHARGE EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE LOSS OF BOTH THEANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND HYDRAULIC ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, RESULTING ININCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF BRAKE LOCKUP AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WITH A HOSE OF DIFFERENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA95016 · Abs Braking Malfunction
Opened May 26, 1995 · Closed Jun 24, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91094 · Braking Performance Loss
Opened Jul 5, 1991 · Closed Nov 26, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM LEAKS ARE ALLEGED BY CONSUMERS WHICH RESULT IN COMPLETE BRAKEFAILURE. SEVERRE LEAKING OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURSRESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. LEAKS ARE APPEARING IN BOTH THE HIGHAND LOW PRESSURE LINES POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL OR COUPLING. ONECOMPLAINT ALLEGES FLUID BEING FORCED OUT OF BRAKE RESERVOIR WHEN ENGINE ISSTARTED, POSSIBLE POINTING TO A FAULTY CHECK VALVE IN THE ACCUMULATOR.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM LEAKS ARE ALLEGED BY CONSUMERS WHICH RESULT IN COMPLETE BRAKEFAILURE. SEVERRE LEAKING OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURSRESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. LEAKS ARE APPEARING IN BOTH THE HIGHAND LOW PRESSURE LINES POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL OR COUPLING. ONECOMPLAINT ALLEGES FLUID BEING FORCED OUT OF BRAKE RESERVOIR WHEN ENGINE ISSTARTED, POSSIBLE POINTING TO A FAULTY CHECK VALVE IN THE ACCUMULATOR.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM LEAKS ARE ALLEGED BY CONSUMERS WHICH RESULT IN COMPLETE BRAKEFAILURE. SEVERRE LEAKING OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURSRESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. LEAKS ARE APPEARING IN BOTH THE HIGHAND LOW PRESSURE LINES POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL OR COUPLING. ONECOMPLAINT ALLEGES FLUID BEING FORCED OUT OF BRAKE RESERVOIR WHEN ENGINE ISSTARTED, POSSIBLE POINTING TO A FAULTY CHECK VALVE IN THE ACCUMULATOR.