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Plymouth ReliantYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 49 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on record for the Plymouth Reliant.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints49Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls121981–1990 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Plymouth Reliant years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Reliant median. Tap a year for its full report.

'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1990Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10010 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 4 recalls1981Not rated–/1002 complaints · 4 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Plymouth Reliant problems

All model years combined: 49 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling173
Vehicle speed control74
Structure61
Steering50
Seat belts41
Fuel system, gasoline42
Electrical system30
Service brakes, hydraulic32
Suspension30
5 other systems71
12 recalls

Plymouth Reliant recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Engine and engine cooling: engine89V-237 · 1989 · Dec 27, 1989 · 634,000 vehicles–Control arm: lower arm89V-052 · 1981–1983 · Mar 29, 1989 · 500,000 vehicles–Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery86V-053 · 1986 · Apr 10, 1986 · 32,149 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings84V-147 · 1984–1985 · Nov 21, 1984 · 340,000 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings83V-060 · 1983 · Jun 6, 1983 · 3,785 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings82V-123 · 1983 · Dec 9, 1982 · 50,000 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings82V-085 · 1983 · Sep 9, 1982 · 1,236 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid82V-063 · 1982 · Jun 15, 1982 · 69 vehicles–Control arm: lower ball joint82V-055 · 1982 · May 27, 1982 · 4,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control81V-111 · 1981–1982 · Sep 22, 1981 · 150,000 vehicles–Brake lights: switch81V-093 · 1981 · Aug 5, 1981 · 110,000 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid81V-021 · 1981 · Feb 11, 1981 · 32 vehicles
7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Reliant

  1. STEERING GEAR BOLTS LOOSENPE91065 · 1987–1989 · closed Aug 30, 1991
    No recall
  2. TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILUREEA91010 · 1981–1990 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  3. FRAME CORROSIONPE89093 · 1981–1983 · closed Mar 29, 1989
    Led to recall 89V-052
  4. SEAT ATTACHMENT FAILUREC88001 · 1985–1986 · closed Oct 30, 1989
    No recall
  5. SEAT ATTACHMENTEA88008 · 1985–1986 · closed May 18, 1988
    Led to recall 88V-061
  6. FRAME AND CHASSIS COMPONENTSDP86010 · 1981 · closed Aug 20, 1986
    No recall
  7. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE85011 · 1981–1984 · closed Jul 31, 1985
    Led to recall 84V-147