AI Damage1986 Plymouth Colt: common problems
Owners of the 1986 Plymouth Colt filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 86% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 6 complaints (86% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Recall notice on seat belt, dealer said no parts available and will not call customer when parts are available.
Driver's/passenger's seat belts release mechanism chipped, causing pieces to fall into locking mechanisms, resulting in buckles jamming.
Vehicle drivers side seat belt buckle is inoperative.(pe94-093). Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,539 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Colt has 15 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Plymouth Colt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, fuel system, powertrain. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (43%), transmission slipping (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1986 Plymouth Colt?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1986 Plymouth Colt from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1986 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.