AI Damage1988 Plymouth Colt: common problems
Owners of the 1988 Plymouth Colt filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 71% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 10 complaints (71% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (7% 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 14 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 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While attempted to pull out of parking space, accelerator pedal stuck. Tt
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.
Consumer unable to receive recall work on the seat belt buckle.
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.
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.
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).
When jacking vehicle per instruction manual, jack collapses, falls to ground; dropped twice; once nearly hitting owner on leg. 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 9,552 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Colt has 15 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 14, about average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Plymouth Colt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, electrical system, equipment. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (57%), door locks, latches, handles (7%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1988 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 1988 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 1988 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.