RoadVitals

1988 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.
16
Latest Jul 26, 1999
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.
5

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Reliant, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and seat belts 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

  • Engine421.1%
  • Driver assistance315.8%
  • Seat belts210.5%
  • Steering210.5%
  • Body & structure210.5%
  • Suspension15.3%
  • Transmission15.3%
  • Brakes15.3%

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
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 16
Body & structureSteering
Filed Jul 26, 1999

HAD NOTICED STEERING WAS OFF. TO MUCH TURNING TO GET WHEELS TO TURN. HAD MECHANIC CHECK & BOLTS WERE LOOSE & HAD THEM TIGHTENED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WERE SPLIT & COULD BE SEEN MOVING WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. ALSO NOTICED CROSSBAR WAS CRACKED. PE91065. *AK

NHTSA ID
843280
Incident
May 30, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 12, 1999
Crash reported

STARTED THE CAR FROM A PARKING LOT, AS SOON AS I PUT ON DRIVE, THE CAR WENT ON HIGH SPEED, WENT IN A CIRCULAR MOTION, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR UNTIL I HIT TWO OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ID
708526
Incident
Mar 29, 1999
Suspension
Filed May 28, 1999

FRONT CROSSMEMBER CORRODED, CONSUMER STUCK IT WITH A SCREW DRIVER HANDLE AND IT FELL APART. MJS

NHTSA ID
545820
Incident
Apr 26, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 15, 1997
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN MAKING A TURN, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
819968
Incident
Jul 21, 1997
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 1997

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
526613
Incident
Oct 20, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 29, 1996

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
601921
Incident
Oct 29, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 9, 1996
Crash reported

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
509664
Incident
Sep 5, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 22, 1996

VEHICLE JERKS INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE SUMMER.

NHTSA ID
507828
Incident
Jun 1, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Plymouth Reliant by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1990101—
1989722—
1988Viewing161257.3
1987101240.8
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.