AI Damage1989 Plymouth Sundance: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Plymouth Sundance filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 33
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 30% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 24% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 12% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 9% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 6% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (30% of all).
- Seat belts: 8 complaints (24% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (12% of all).
- Structure: 4 complaints (12% of all).
- Equipment: 3 complaints (9% 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 · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 33 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
Vehicle had an oil leak. And after having repaired leak a few times was told by mechanic that there is a recall on that part. Also, has a problem with seat belts.
Consumer noticed large amount of oil on driverway. Had vehicle serviced, and technician stated head gasket needed to be replaced. Please provide further information.
Ongoing problem with lack of acceleration and hesitation while drving at 35 mph or more. Vehicle been in/out of independent and dealer shops on several occasions, and problem is still occurring.
Problem: car shuts off while driving down the road;acts like the ignition is suddenly interrupted. Will start back up in a minute or less. Would like to know cause or what to look for. Help!
Back wheels were making noisy. Took car to garage and when they put it on the lift the passenger's rear hub fell off. The only thing keeping it on was the weight of the car. The loose hub had worn a groove into the axle.
Electrical portion of the shoulder seat belts on driver and passenger side do not operate. Dealer is not aware of the problem, problem cannot be duplicated.
Rear plastic portion of the bumber fell off while driving the vehicle, the dealer is not aware of the problem and problem still exists.
While driving an electrical short in the wiring caused the dash to catch on fire. Vehicle was totaled.
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 6,523 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sundance has 28 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 33, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Plymouth Sundance?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, seat belts, electrical system. Total complaints: 33. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (15%), smoke, burning smell, fire (12%), A/C or heater (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Plymouth Sundance?
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 1989 Plymouth Sundance 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 1989 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.