AI Damage1992 Chrysler Imperial: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Chrysler Imperial filed 49 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 49
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 80% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 8% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 4% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 2% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 39 complaints (80% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (8% of all).
- Suspension: 4 complaints (8% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (6% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (4% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 49 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 39 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
After the crash, the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and they stated that the brakes failed due to the retaining clip being improperly installed. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 96v099000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock).
Upon driving the vehicle at various speeds, the contact's friend would had to depress the brake paddle with great effort, as the brake failure light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective abs system.
The contact was driving 35 mph when the brakes failed. The contact tried to depress the brake pedal but the pedal went to the floorboard abnormally and the vehicle would not stop.
While driving at night with headlights on they cut off without prior warning, leaving consumer without visibility of the road. Vehicle was towed to the consumer's house. Dealership was notified. Chrysler dealer replaced lite switch.
When the vehicle hit a bump, it suddenly accelerated. Please fill in additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem.
Consumer fills this is very unsafe could catch fire. Chrysler is aware of the problem. Information. Ts jg
Chrysler says vehicle year from 1993- 1997 has been recalled but not the 1992 year but that car should not be driven because of fire possibility. Have been waiting on parts from chrysler for about 6 weeks. The reason given is that there are so many failures that parts are distributed by waiting list.
Intermittently the alarm activates, causing the vehcile to stall and shut down. Dealer has not been able to correct the problem.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,395 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Imperial has 31 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 49, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Chrysler Imperial?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, powertrain, suspension. Total complaints: 49. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (18%), warning lights, check engine (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 Chrysler Imperial?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1992 Chrysler Imperial from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1992 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.