Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Plymouth Colt
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
880.0%
Electrical System
220.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 1995peak 2May 2003
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Plymouth Colt
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA96014Opened 28 Jun 1996Closed 12 Jun 1997SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
PE96007Opened 19 Jan 1996Closed 28 Jun 1996SEAT BELTS
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Potsdam, NY1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
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. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Potsdam, NY1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
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. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
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.
NHTSA complaint #708727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jefferson, MO
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #526526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
SEAT BELTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #805842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, OH
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT RETRACT. MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BURNT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #987306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, OH
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT RETRACT. MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BURNT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #987306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVERS AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESTRAINS SO TIGHTLY THAT IT CHOKES THE DRIVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highspire, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, SEATBELT IS AT FULL EXTEND. TT
NHTSA complaint #964766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Racine, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, RELEASE MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE BUCKLE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
NHTSA complaint #964487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crestview, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THINK ELECTRICAL. TT
NHTSA complaint #961753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.