RoadVitals

1990 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.
9
Latest May 26, 2003
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.
2
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.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Plymouth Colt, most frequently naming the seat belts and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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 belts777.8%
  • Electrical222.2%

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.

EA96014ClosedEngineering Analysis

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Jun 28, 1996
Closed Jun 12, 1997

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 97V063002
PE96007ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Jan 19, 1996
Closed Jun 28, 1996

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS

SEAT BELTS

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 9
Seat belts
Filed May 26, 2003
1 injury reported

DRIVER SIDE SEAT HARNESS UNSAFE----DELAYS ON WORKING AND CAUGHT HEAD BETWEEN BELT, STEERING WHEEL AND LEFT WELT ON NECK. SNAP WOULD NOT RELEASE HARNESS BELT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020527
Incident
May 20, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jul 17, 1999

CAR SHUTS DOWN SHAKES COMPLETE TUNEUP DEALER DIA. COMPUTER NOT RESP. TO PROBLEM NEW CHIP TO FIND PROBLEM NOT ORDER CAR HAS ORIGINAL MILES OF 40,006 FOR 9 YRS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WITHOUT NEW CHIP. SEAT BEATS CHOKE PASS. & DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID
708727
Incident
Jul 11, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Nov 27, 1997

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
526526
Seat belts
Filed Dec 3, 1996

OWNER STATES THAT UPON ENTERING VEHICLE AND TURNING KEY THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTORS GET TOO TIGHT, CHOKING OCCUPANTS ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES, OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND THREE MONTHS LATER IT CAME BACK. *AK

NHTSA ID
805842
Seat belts
Filed Jul 25, 1996

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT RETRACT. MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BURNT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
987306
Incident
Jul 20, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 6, 1996

THE DRIVERS AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESTRAINS SO TIGHTLY THAT IT CHOKES THE DRIVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984138
Incident
Apr 29, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 3, 1995

PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, SEATBELT IS AT FULL EXTEND. TT

NHTSA ID
964766
Incident
Jan 1, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Apr 28, 1995

SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, RELEASE MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE BUCKLE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT

NHTSA ID
964487

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

2300800B

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

230800

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

233599

SEATS

INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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—
1990Viewing912—
1989110248.1
1988141151.9
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.