VEHICLE SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT, OR NOT GET ENOUGH GAS, DRIVING IT WILL GO INTO LOWER GEAR, ENGINE WILL REV, ODOMETER GOES OVER 5, IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM SHUTTING OFF, I DRIVE IT IN LOWER GEAR. FIRST STARTED AFTER DRIVING APP. 50 MILES, NOW IT WON'T STAY RUNNING. HAVE REPLACED THE COIL, DID NOT HELP*AK
1991 Plymouth Acclaim
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Plymouth Acclaim do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 60.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →Model-year median: 60
3Recall campaignsView recall details →
3InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1991 Plymouth Acclaim
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 97 owner complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Air Bags: 14 reports
- Power Train: 13 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 12 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports
- Electrical System: 10 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
- 91V122000 — Seat Belts:front:anchorage
- 90V194000 — Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
- 90V162000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Acclaim years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 2 of 97 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
10 reportsTHIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON TWO SIMILAR VEHICLES, ALSO ON EVERY SPIRIT, ACCLAIM, SUNDANCE, SHADOW I'VE SEEN ON THE ROAD OR IN THE JUNKYARD. THIS PIECE OF CONDUIT RUNNING BETWEEN THE SPINDLE PLATES HAS CRACKED ON EVERY ONE I'VE COME ACROSS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR, THINKING IT WAS OK BUT THE DEALER OR PREVIOUS OWNER HAD …
Read full complaint
THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON TWO SIMILAR VEHICLES, ALSO ON EVERY SPIRIT, ACCLAIM, SUNDANCE, SHADOW I'VE SEEN ON THE ROAD OR IN THE JUNKYARD. THIS PIECE OF CONDUIT RUNNING BETWEEN THE SPINDLE PLATES HAS CRACKED ON EVERY ONE I'VE COME ACROSS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR, THINKING IT WAS OK BUT THE DEALER OR PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SHOVED RUBBER HOSING UP INTO THE VOICE BETWEEN AXLE AND TUBE TO KEEP IT QUIET. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP WANTS OVER $1200 TO FIX BY COMPLETE REPLACEMENT, SAYS IT HAS TO BE DONE BUT WON'T EXPLAIN WHAT THIS TUBE IS SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH OR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF NOT REPLACED. COULD THIS BE A SAFETY ISSUE? I COULD AFFORD TO FIX IF I KNEW IT WASN'T JUST GOING TO BUST AGAIN, BUT HOW ABOUT ALL THE POORER FOLK OUT THERE WHO WILL JIMMY IT UP AND PASS IT ALONG? THIS IS A CASE OF REALLY POOR DESIGN. I'VE HEARD OF THESE FAILING AT 40,000 MILES OR LESS. THE WELD CRACKS OR THE TUBE CRACKS AT EITHER SPINDLE PLATE. IF IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY HAVE THE THING ON THERE AT ALL? THANKS FOR LISTENING.
SHOCKS AND STRUTS FAILED.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN SEVERE SHAKING OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, ALSO WELD BROKE ON REAR TRAILING ARM. *AK
REAR TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY BROKE.
CRACK IN REAR END SUSPENSION.
VEHICLE DEVELOPED WEIRD SOUND FROM REAR, IDENTIFYING A CRACK IN THE REAR CROSS MEMBER/REAR TRAILING ARM.
REAR TRAILING ARM CRACKED. *SD
REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE, WELD ON TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY IS FRACTURED. TT
REPLACED NOISY REAR AXLE CONTROL ARM. *AK
Recall campaigns
391V122000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jul 11, 1991
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LATCH MAY OPEN DURING ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP, EXPOSINGSEAT OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: REPLACE BUCKLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT.
90V194000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Nov 19, 1990
THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IF THEFRONT IMPACT SENSORS ARE NOT ATTACHED.
Remedy: REPAIR TO ASSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF FRONT IMPACT SENSORS TO BRACKETS.
90V162000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Sep 4, 1990
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: PROPERLY TORQUE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS TO 250 POUNDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
3PE96036 · Throttle Will Not Return To The Position
Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
UNCONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED CONDITION RESULTS FRO THROTTLE SHAFT BINDING
PE96008 · Safety Blt Latch Operation
Opened Jan 25, 1996 · Closed Jun 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91080 · Engine Speed Fluctuation
Opened May 30, 1991 · Closed Sep 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
Illustration