1994 Plymouth Acclaim review from North America
"Fun to drive, hard to maintain"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Water leaked onto my feet from somewhere near the pedals during long drives, then mysteriously stopped one day around 121,000 miles.
Water pump failed at 125,000 miles. $400
Front drive axles replaced at 125,000 miles. $500
Two speakers randomly went out at 128,000 miles.
Radiator had severe leak, replaced at 130,000 miles. $550 for a brand new one.
Exhaust rusted, clamps put on at 135,000 miles.
Transmission serviced for two leaks at 135,000 miles, one repaired, second minor leak was too costly (my mechanic said it'd be as much as replacing the transmission.)
Water pump began leaking minorly at 135,000 miles. Mechanic said it only leaked when he put pressure on it while it was cold, so I didn't have it serviced.
Transmission failed while driving at 140,000 miles ($2,000 to rebuild, $1,250 for a salvage transmission)
Strange odor and mist/smoke from vents when running A/C for prolonged periods of time for duration of owning the vehicle.
General comments?
The 3.0L V6 engine makes this car incredibly fun to drive. Gives it very fast acceleration, but cuts down on fuel economy.
Comfortable front seats, roomy for a compact sedan. Took it on several road trips without feeling cramped.
If this car hadn't been such a money pit, I would have much better things to say about it. All around performance-wise it was great, but the trick is keeping it running.
I had read somewhere that these cars are great until they hit about 140,000 miles, and that's when the problems begin. My problems finally ended there, when the transmission was the straw that broke the camels back.
Going for an import this time around!
Recommended reviews
| Very good car to modify and turn into a custom pocket rocket |
| Classic that unfortunately doesn't last forever |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1994 |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 120000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 140000 miles |
| Previous car | Buick Regal |
| Date of Entry | 13th November, 2006 |