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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Plymouth Sundance1987–1994

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚗 SEDAN
Plymouth Sundance
1987–1994
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
14
Recalls
99
Complaints
—
Best Yr
26
Injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
8
Years Analyzed
14
Total Recalls
99
Total Complaints
26
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 4 past investigations into the Sundance became recalls.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 11, 2026.

Plymouth Sundance — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
19940114—
57
39
51
Caution
19930199—
57
39
51
Avoid
19922165—
57
39
51
Avoid
199127——
57
39
51
Caution
1990286—
57
39
51
Avoid
1989321——
57
39
51
Avoid
19883132—
57
39
51
Avoid
198724——
57
39
51
Good

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Plymouth Sundance Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
16
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
4
SEAT BELTS
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Sundance compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Sundance models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1987 · 511988 · 511989 · 511990 · 511991 · 511992 · 511993 · 511994 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Sundance to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Sundance model year.

Which Sundance years have the most problems?+

See the year-by-year problem table for a complete breakdown.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Sundance problems?+

The most frequently reported Plymouth Sundance issues involve: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Plymouth Sundance.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sedan vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Sundance year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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