VIRTUALLY ALL COMPONENT FAILED. RECALLS AND REPAIRS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS.
1989 Plymouth Sundance
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Plymouth Sundance do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sundance 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
What owners actually said
33 reportsENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
SEAT BACK COLLASPED DUE TO BOLT FAILURE.
RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON THE MOTORBELT HOWEVER DRIVER'S SIDE BELT CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION.
ENGINE FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING CAUSED THE DASH TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
WHEN LIFTING THE TRUNK, THE TRUNK SUPPORT FAILED, CAUSING THE TRUNK TO COME DOWN. *AK
DRIVER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT LOCKS UP.
THE ENGINE MOUNTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE IN PLACE, ARE STARTING TO FRACTURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
RPM GUAGE JUMPS AROUND WHILE IGNITION IS ON.
Official recalls
292V053000 · Seat Belts
Apr 13, 1992
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CAN MALFUNCTION AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT OCCUPANTS WITHOUT SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ARE SUBJECT TOINCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SYSTEM DRIVE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED COMPONENTS.
89V237000 · 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
3EA91043 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Apr 20, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91082 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure
Opened Jun 5, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91065 · Steering Gear Bolts Loosen
Opened Apr 16, 1991 · Closed Aug 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
Illustration