AI Damage1990 Plymouth Colt: common problems
Owners of the 1990 Plymouth Colt filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 78% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 7 complaints (78% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (22% 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 · 4 cyl
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 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.
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.
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.
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.
Passenger seatbelt retractor does not work, seatbelt is at full extend. Tt
Consumer was driving car caught on fire think electrical. 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 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Colt has 15 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 9, below 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.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Plymouth Colt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, electrical system. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (33%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), vibration (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 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 1990 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 1990 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.