AI DamagePlymouth Reliant: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Plymouth Reliant across 10 model years: 49 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 35% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 12% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 17 complaints (35% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 7 complaints (14% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 6 complaints (12% of all).
- Steering: 5 complaints (10% of all).
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1989
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1986–1989
- 2.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1985
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1989
- manual, 4-speed 1984–1985
- manual, 5-speed 1984–1989
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 49 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
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.
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.
Vehicle will accelerate w/cause, speed sensor. Please describe details. Tt
The master cylinder failed on two occasions at 20k and again at 40k, 0nce resulting in an accident. Tt
1981 plymouth reliant k-car. Consumer states accelerator problems. The consumer stated his parents purchased the above mentioned vehicle. But, since he did most of the driving, he asked them if he could install cruise control. He then purchased it and installed it himself.
While parked after driving for an hour, the vehicle caught on fire. The consumer was driving the vehicle when she smelled something burning.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-05.