RoadVitals

1987 Plymouth Reliant

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.
10
Latest Sep 26, 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 Apr 14, 2008
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

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Plymouth Reliant, most frequently naming the engine, body & structure and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name 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

  • Engine436.4%
  • Body & structure218.2%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Driver assistance19.1%
  • Interior & seats19.1%
  • Seat belts19.1%
  • Steering19.1%

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
08E033000

SUSPENSION

Apr 14, 2008
6,903 units potentially affected
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE91065ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING GEAR BOLTS LOOSEN

Opened Apr 16, 1991
Closed Aug 30, 1991

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
EA91010ClosedEngineering Analysis

TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE

Opened Dec 10, 1990
Closed Dec 31, 1991

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 10
Steering
Filed Sep 26, 2002

STEERING GEAR BOX CAME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID
8019542
Incident
Sep 16, 2002
BrakesEngine
Filed Jan 26, 2001

ENGINE MOUNT COLLAPSED ON TOP OF VELOCITY JOINT. ALSO, CRACKED DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE HOSE DUE TO WEIGHT OF ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
879063
Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2000

THIS CAR INTERMITENTLY STALLS IT SOMETIMES STARTS RIGHT UP OTHER TIMES IT TAKES 15 MIN. TO RESTART PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED LOGIC MODULE COMPUTER , FUEL INJECTER, MAP SENSER, IGNITION WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND SHUTOFF RELAY THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND SO IAM WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY RECALL ITEMS FOR THIS CAR I SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR WITH OUT FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
730683
Body & structure
Filed Mar 3, 1999

THE K-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A HALT. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED IT SAID THIS IS A COMMON FAULT WITH THE K-CARS. HE ALSO SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS GOING VERY SLOW. HE SAID IF IT HAD BUSTED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE GOING 60 MPH, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A RECALL ON THE K-CARS? EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, I'LL BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID EACH TIME I'M IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
703998
Incident
Feb 26, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 8, 1999

WHEN TRYING TO USE THE REAR GATE OF THE VEHICLE TO PUT THINGS INTO OR GETTING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR GATE, THE REAR GATE WILL FALL DOWN ON THE CONSUMER'S HEAD BECAUSE THER ISN'T ENOUGH SUPPORT TO HOLD THE REAR GATE UP WHENEVER CONSUMER IS TRYING TO PUT ITEMS IN OR GET ANYTHING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
834570
Incident
Sep 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN WET OR DAMP WEATHER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
825112
Incident
Jan 15, 1998
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 1997

CRANKSHAFT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
525143
Incident
Oct 20, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 4, 1997

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC/SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
810685

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Plymouth Reliant by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1990101—
1989722—
1988161257.3
1987Viewing101240.8
1986423—
1985523—
1984122—
1983143—
1982243—
1981244—

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.