The 1990 draws 5 complaints per run and the 1993 2.27, a 2.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 88% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Service Brakes, with 167 complaints, typically at 5.9 years.
Chrysler Imperial years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 25 | 11 | yes | |
| 1992 | 39 | 16 | yes | |
| 1991 | 63 | 24 | yes | |
| 1990 | 90 | 18 | yes |
Among the 4 Chrysler Imperial years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1990, 1991, 1992; the three worth hunting are 1993, 1992, 1991.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 1.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 3.6% | covered | |
| 2 years | 12% | covered | |
| 3 years | 24.1% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 48.2% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 57.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 66.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 72.3% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 77.1% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 80.7% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 84.3% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 91.6% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 97.6% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 98.8% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 12% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 88% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 7% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Chrysler Imperial, the early trouble is Suspension and Steering — reported at around 3.9 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 5.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5.9 yrs | 6 | 1 | |
| Hydraulic | 6 yrs | 6 | 1 | |
| Suspension | 3.9 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Power Train | 5 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 6.8 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Gasoline | 6.8 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 yrs | — | — | |
| Steering | 4 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Imperial's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 3.19 for the Imperial.
| Same class as the Imperial | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 133 | 1983–2026 | |
| Chrysler 300 | 86 | 1999–2026 | |
| Kia K5 | 21 | 2021–2026 | |
| Hyundai Sonata | 152 | 1989–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Impala | 98 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lincoln Continental | 80 | 1981–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chrysler Imperial reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.19 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which Imperial years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1990, 1991, 1992. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1993, 1992, 1991. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Imperial problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Service Brakes, typically at 5.9 years, followed by Hydraulic.
Will the warranty cover Imperial problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 12% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 7% of the complaints here.
Is the Imperial more reliable than the Dodge Charger?
Yes: 3.19 complaints per production run for the Imperial against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.