IllustrationRECALL 89 V 237 000/ENGINE VALVE COVER: PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1989 Plymouth Acclaim
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Plymouth Acclaim do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 60.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Acclaim 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
Limited mileage data: 1 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
14 reportsENGINE HEAD GASKET TRAILING ARM RUSTED OUT. AND ALSO THERE IS A TICKING NOISE.*AK
WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED IT SLOWLY LEAKS OIL ,THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE NINETY-ONE, AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
HAIR LINE CRACK IN ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD IS CAUSING OIL TO SEEP THROUGH CRACK . *AK
ENGINE FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND LEAKAGE.
ENGINE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKS, WATER PUMP FAILURE ALSO.
VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT VALVE GUIDE WHICH IS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SMOKING, POSSIBLY POLLUTING THE AIR. *AK
OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKETS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ENGINE FAILED CAUSING OIL TO LEAK.
VEHICLE HAS A COLD WEATHER STARTING PROBLEM. IS THERE A RELATED RECALL?
Official recalls
189V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Dec 27, 1989
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
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
1PE89036 · Transmission Downshifting
Opened Jan 9, 1989 · Closed Jan 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
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