Plymouth SUNDANCE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
172 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
116,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 1995 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 172 complaints (11.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 14 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 13 |
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Suspension:Rear | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 7 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 14; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 13; Seat Belts: 9; Suspension:Rear: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 167 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 86 |
| 1996 | 42 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 3 |
1995: 86; 1996: 42; 2000: 19; 2001: 12; 2002: 4; 2003: 6; 2004: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 959257 · 1995-01-27 (January 27, 1995)
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES SEAT BACK WENT FORWARD. CALLER DOES NOT OWN THE VEHICLE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971210 · 1995-08-29 (August 29, 1995)
THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE, SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550323 · 2000-01-10 (January 10, 2000)
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 977987 · 1996-01-22 (January 22, 1996)
AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END ACCIDENT, CAUSED STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK; AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED FACIAL/ARMS/LEGS INJURIES; OWNER WILL GIVE MORE DETAILS. T
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718389 · 2000-02-06 (February 6, 2000)
DRIVING WHEN IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS NO POWER, WENT FROM 35 TO 20 MPH THEN STARTED SMOKING AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. WENT TO GET HELP BUT NO ONE WAS AT WORK, MEN NEXT DOOR NOTICED SMOKE AND RAN OVER WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE HOOD LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. POLICE DEPT RESPONDED AND TIRED TO EXTINGUISHED BUT COULD NOT GET INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE SHORTED ALL WIRING. CAR WIRING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND CAR WAS TOTALED. SECOND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. LAST FAILURE WAS ON APRIL 1991. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960541 · 1995-02-24 (February 24, 1995)
WHEN USING THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567088 · 2002-08-12 (August 12, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND LIFT THE ACCELERATOR WITH HIS TOE IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 970021 · 1995-08-08 (August 8, 1995)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR WHILE SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 890782 · 2001-06-20 (June 20, 2001)
SERPENTINE BELT ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERNATOR SLIPS FROM PULLEY ASSEMBLY WHEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER IS MADE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED BELT. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT WHEN BELT SLIPS FROM ASSEMBLY, LOSS OF POWER WOULD OCCUR, AND VEHICLE COULD BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961160 · 1995-03-06 (March 6, 1995)
AFTER BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961539 · 1995-03-08 (March 8, 1995)
LEAK IN FUEL PUMP CAUSED CORROSION TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORK PROPERLY AND POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 559923 · 2001-02-27 (February 27, 2001)
FUEL PUMP FAILED, FUEL HOSE WAS REPLACED, FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, AND O2 SENSOR FAILED. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 559923 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 4 |
| 1992 | 4 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 2; 1989: 2; 1990: 1; 1991: 4; 1992: 4; 1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1995: 0