Plymouth RELIANT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1981 to 1990 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 33 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 12.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 19 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 19; 1996: 6; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 983337 · 1996-04-23 (April 23, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. *AK ALL POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS FAIL, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL RESTART RIGHT AWAY, MORE OFTEN IN SEVERAL HOURS, RECENTLY IT WOULD NOT START FOR DAYS AFTER IT WOULD STALL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, COMPUTER POWER MODULE, AND COMPUTER LOGIC MODULE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING, DEALER HAS ALSO REASSEMBLED THE FUEL INJECTOR, REPLACED COOLING FAN, AND TIGHTENED BELTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730683 · 2000-09-07 (September 7, 2000)
THIS CAR INTERMITENTLY STALLS IT SOMETIMES STARTS RIGHT UP OTHER TIMES IT TAKES 15 MIN. TO RESTART PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED LOGIC MODULE COMPUTER , FUEL INJECTER, MAP SENSER, IGNITION WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND SHUTOFF RELAY THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND SO IAM WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY RECALL ITEMS FOR THIS CAR I SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR WITH OUT FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323176 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
1981 PLYMOUTH RELIANT K-CAR. CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *TGW 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. THE UNIT RECEIVED ITS CONTROL PULSES FROM MAGNETS AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT, WITH A MAGNETIC PICK UP SENSOR. AFTER ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS, THE UNIT HE INSTALLED STARTED TO ACT ERRATIC. SOMETIMES HE WOULD SET THE CRUISE SPEED, BUT WHEN HE APPROACHED TRAFFIC, HE TAPPED THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10323176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 984963 · 1996-05-29 (May 29, 1996)
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965234 · 1995-05-12 (May 12, 1995)
WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE WILL JERK FORWARD. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8019542 · 2002-09-26 (September 26, 2002)
STEERING GEAR BOX CAME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8019542 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 4 |
| 1982 | 4 |
| 1983 | 4 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 0 |
1981: 4; 1982: 4; 1983: 4; 1984: 1; 1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 0; 1988: 0; 1989: 1; 1990: 0