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.
Jan 1995peak 2Jan 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1992 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.
Scotia, NY1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BRACKET HOLDING BACK REST OF DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING NECK INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #519479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tucsan, AZ
SEAT BELTS
COSNUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MAIL. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER TO GET REPAIRED DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT PROBLEM WAS UNFIXABLE. RECALL WAS FOR T SHOULDER BELT SYSTEM MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #877833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grass Valley, CA
SEAT BELTS
FRONT SHOULDER BELTS AREN'T WORKING. GOT STUCK WHEN GOING FORWARD, AND WON'T COME DOWN. ALSO, FRONT WINDOW DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #850848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fountain, CO
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WILL RETRACT BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT BEING OCCUPIED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #832410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clearwater, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED BUT THERE WAS NO POWER, REPLACE COMPUTER.
NHTSA complaint #523519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marlboro, MA
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS, AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF OFTEN THE BELTS DO NOT GO BACK TO STARTING POSITION, PREVENTING THE CONSUMER FROM GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #818197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scotia, NY
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #519479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scotia, NY1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BRACKET HOLDING BACK REST OF DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING NECK INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #519479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Isabel, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THE SHOULDER BELT COMES OPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, ALSO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.
NHTSA complaint #802289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Isabel, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THE SHOULDER BELT COMES OPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, ALSO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.
NHTSA complaint #802289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portland, ME
SEAT BELTS
MOTORBELTS JAM/FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #506802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malone, NY
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS HAS PULLED OUT FROM DOOR CABLE, RENDERING SHOULDER HARNESS INOPERATIVE.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #800627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Casselberr, FL
SEAT BELTS
MOTORBELT LOCKS UP, ALMOST STRANGLING PASSENGER, ALSO DRIVERS MOTORBELT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO RETRACT.
NHTSA complaint #506505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester C, VT
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #985521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Berlin, NY
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC MOTOR BELT DESIGN CAUSES DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S TO FORGET TO FASTEN LAP BELT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #489444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
SLIDE DOOR FELL OFF THE TRACK. TT
NHTSA complaint #959165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.