RoadVitals

1988 Plymouth Colt

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Feb 13, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Colt, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts1062.5%
  • Electrical16.3%
  • Fuel system16.3%
  • Driver assistance16.3%
  • Exterior lighting16.3%
  • Other / unspecified16.3%
  • Interior & seats16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103003

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
920,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA92034ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Oct 22, 1992
Closed Oct 29, 1993

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 14
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 13, 2002

FRONT DOOR LATCHES FAULTY. TO LOCK DOORS HANDLE MUST BE HELD UP, DRIVER'S DOOR WAS FIRST TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEM. I WOULD NOTICE DOOR PARTIALLY OPEN SOME MORNING AND I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS MESSING WITH THE CAR. THOUGH ALWAYS EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT LOCKING, I BECAME EVEN MORE SO. PROBLEM PERSISTED, APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER PASSENGER DOOR BEGAN EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. NOW IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET DOORS TO LATCH WHEN LOCKING. WHEN TURNING CORNER PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT OPEN BUT UNLATCHED ENOUGH TO CAUSE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON.

NHTSA ID
758177
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Feb 3, 1998

CONSUMER UNABLE TO RECEIVE RECALL WORK ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

NHTSA ID
529707
Incident
Aug 4, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Oct 20, 1997

PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKEN.

NHTSA ID
605488
Fuel systemExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Oct 3, 1997

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF BELT AND BUCKLE, DUE TO PART ORDER (ONLY ABLE TO ORDER BUCKLE WITH BELT). (MJS)

NHTSA ID
523157
Incident
Jul 22, 1993
Seat belts
Filed Aug 8, 1997

THE CAR HAS A FRONT SEAT BELT RECALL, AND THE DEALER REMOVED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY; WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ASSEBLY FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID
815207
Electrical
Filed May 6, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING HOME, ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE DIED, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, STARTING SMOKING, GOT BABY AND SELF OUT, HOOD BUCKLED AND FLAMES ENGULFED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984093
Incident
May 4, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Apr 2, 1996

THE DEALERSHIP IS GIVING THEM THE RUN AROUND ABOUT SEAT BELT RECALL. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE/PERSON INCHARGE IS NOT IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. (95V103.003). *AK

NHTSA ID
982189
Incident
Mar 2, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Mar 13, 1996

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE CRACKED. *SD

NHTSA ID
502229
Incident
Mar 13, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Plymouth Colt by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996000—
1995001—
1994013—
1993713355.7
1992133255.8
1991712—
1990912—
1989110248.1
1988Viewing141151.9
1987611—
1986711—
1985001—
1984010—
1983010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.