AI Damage1988 Chrysler NEW Yorker: common problems
Owners of the 1988 Chrysler NEW Yorker filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 29
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 79% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 3% of all complaints
- 7 Parking brake 3% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 3% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 23 complaints (79% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (17% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (10% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (7% of all).
- Equipment: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 29 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 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
Abs and parking brake lights come on dashboard. Power steering noisy, faulty power steering pump, noise still continues, dealer tightened steering rack. Flat goodyear tire, steel belt was showing, goodyear stated front tires were wearing due to front end out of alignment, hole drilled in left front strut.
Vehicle kept stalling, and catalytic converter was smoking real badly.
Vehicle was making a clunking noise. Dealer said that it was engine mount bolts. Consumer got a 2nd opinion & found out that the abs system was going out & noise was coming from when applying brakes to stop. Dealer was not trying to fix vehicle because he already fixed 2 things on vehicle & it was over 30 days.
While pulling out of parking space, abs light came on & stayed. Had applied brakes (hard) which failed to stop vehicle right away. Vehicle at dealership & no parts available for brakes.
Vehicle burst into flames, driver broke an axle while driving.
Passenger side seat belt fell apart when fastened, buckle broke. Tt
The transmission hesitates and it bucks and jumps in and out of the gears while driving. Please describe. Tt
[phone]w)leakage due to defective head engine gasket. Please describe details. Tt
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 6,958 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the NEW Yorker has 34 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 29, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Chrysler NEW Yorker?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 29. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (21%), brake failure (17%), hesitation when accelerating (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1988 Chrysler NEW Yorker?
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 1988 Chrysler NEW Yorker 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 1988 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.