The 1994 draws 2.41 complaints per run and the 1991 1.31, a 1.8-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 72.7% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 107 complaints, typically at 4.8 years.
Chrysler LeBaron years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 69 | 26 | yes | |
| 1994 | 77 | 32 | yes | |
| 1993 | 52 | 37 | yes | |
| 1992 | 68 | 48 | yes | |
| 1991 | 42 | 32 | yes | |
| 1990 | 59 | 42 | yes | |
| 1989 | 36 | 29 | yes | |
| 1988 | 20 | 20 | yes | |
| 1987 | 26 | 25 | yes | |
| 1986 | 16 | 15 | yes |
Among the 5 Chrysler LeBaron years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1994, 1992, 1993; the three worth hunting are 1991, 1990, 1993.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 5.4% | covered | |
| 1 year | 17.3% | covered | |
| 2 years | 27.3% | covered | |
| 3 years | 40% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 58.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 71.5% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 82.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 88.5% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 93.5% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 96.2% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 97.7% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 98.8% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 99.6% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 27.3% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 72.7% 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 34% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Chrysler LeBaron, the early trouble is Engine And Engine Cooling and Electrical System — reported at around 3.8 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 4.8 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4.8 yrs | 6 | — | |
| Structure | 4.7 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3.8 yrs | 2 | 13 | |
| Electrical System | 3.4 yrs | 1 | 14 | |
| Suspension | 4.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 3.9 yrs | 30 | 2 | |
| Service Brakes | 2.5 yrs | 5 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2.5 yrs | 5 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the LeBaron's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.51 for the LeBaron. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the LeBaron | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
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
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Chrysler LeBaron reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.51 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which LeBaron years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1994, 1992, 1993. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1991, 1990, 1993. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do LeBaron problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 4.8 years, followed by Structure.
Will the warranty cover LeBaron problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 27.3% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 34% of the complaints here.
Is the LeBaron more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.51 complaints per production run for the LeBaron against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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