The 1990 Chrysler Imperial has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 401,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC96V0990001996-06-13321,000 affected
Defect
THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR CAUSING PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Consequence
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION COULD BE LOST AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. ALSO THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL ALSO BE…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC91V1910001991-11-0180,000 affected
Defect
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE MAY LEAK OR DETACH AT ITS CRIMPED END FITTING RESULTING IN THE DISCHARGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.
Consequence
FLUID DISCHARGE EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE LOSS OF BOTH THEANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND HYDRAULIC ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, RESULTING ININCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF BRAKE LOCKUP AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WITH A HOSE OF DIFFERENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
65
5crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
3
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
3
1crashes2injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
2
1fires
INTERIOR LIGHTING
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
Total complaints133
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chrysler imperial. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph and exiting the highway, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The contact stated that the brakes eventually responded and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was taken to a dealer…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chrysler imperial. The contact stated while driving 40 mph with the brake pedal engaged, the pedal went all the way to the floorboard and failed to slow down the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the abs modular pump failed. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chrysler imperial. The vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 96v099000 (service brakes, hydraulic: anti-lock). The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, and attempting to brake at a stop sign, the braking system failed. The contact almost crashed into…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chrysler imperial. The contact stated that while driving 3 mph, he applied the brakes and the brake pedal felt soft. The vehicle did not properly brake as a result. The vehicle was then towed to an automotive store, where they stated that the abs hydraulic control unit…”
“The abs control unit failed causing loss of hydraulic brake pressure. I was told by a local mechanic that the part installed on my vehicle had been recalled by chrysler, and that chrysler was to fix the vehicle at their expense. However, I've been told by chrysler my vin isn't included in the…”
“The abs control unit failed causing loss of hydraulic brake pressure. I was told by a local mechanic that the part installed on my vehicle had been recalled by chrysler, and that chrysler was to fix the vehicle at their expense. However, I've been told by chrysler my vin isn't included in the…”
“I am the original owner of a 1990 chrysler imperial. In january 2010, my daughter was driving it when she said the brakes totally failed. She was traveling about 30 mph and when she pressed on the brake pedal, the car barely slowed down even with maximum force being applied. Traffic was light and…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chrysler imperial. While driving down a slope, he attempted to apply the brakes, but he had reduced braking capability. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 81000.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95016 Opened 1995-05-26 · closed 1996-06-24
ABS BRAKING MALFUNCTION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE91094 Opened 1991-07-05 · closed 1991-11-26
BRAKING PERFORMANCE LOSS
ABS SYSTEM LEAKS ARE ALLEGED BY CONSUMERS WHICH RESULT IN COMPLETE BRAKEFAILURE. SEVERRE LEAKING OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURSRESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. LEAKS ARE APPEARING IN BOTH THE HIGHAND LOW PRESSURE LINES POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL OR COUPLING. ONECOMPLAINT ALLEGES FLUID BEING…
InvestigationPE91094 Opened 1991-07-05 · closed 1991-11-26
BRAKING PERFORMANCE LOSS
ABS SYSTEM LEAKS ARE ALLEGED BY CONSUMERS WHICH RESULT IN COMPLETE BRAKEFAILURE. SEVERRE LEAKING OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURSRESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. LEAKS ARE APPEARING IN BOTH THE HIGHAND LOW PRESSURE LINES POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL OR COUPLING. ONECOMPLAINT ALLEGES FLUID BEING…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Chrysler Imperial as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.