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1981 Plymouth Reliant

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

4Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19812
19821
19831
1984
Compare all Reliant years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Equipment
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

2 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2010
EquipmentUnknown Or Other

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 MAGNE…

Read full complaint

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 CANCEL BUTTON, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO SPEED UP. THERE WAS NO EFFECT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER CRUISE CONTROL UNIT AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10323176

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1995
Structure

DEATH RESULTED FROM SIDE IMPACT, ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. *AW

NHTSA ODI #482766

Official recalls

4

89V052000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mar 29, 1989

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER MAY CORRODE AND FAIL AT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR PIVOT MOUNTS IF OPERATED WHERE SALT IS USED TO AID IN SNOW REMOVAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONTROL ARM COULD DETACH FROM THE CROSSMEMBER, ADVERSELYAFFECTING DIRECTIONAL STABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT CONTROL ARM DETACHMENT AS A RESULT OF CORROSION WEAKENING.

81V111000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 22, 1981

THE AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL SWITCH MAY STICK IN THE "RESUME" POSITION RESTRICTING RETURN MOVEMENT. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE SHIELD PORTION OF THE "RESUME" SLIDE LEVER IN THE SPEED CONTROL UNIT WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

81V093000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Aug 5, 1981

THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES INSTALLED ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE INTERNAL SWITCH CONTACT PRESSURE DUE TO AN INCORRECT FORMATION OF THE SWITCH CONTACT TERMINALS. THIS LACK OF SWITCH CONTACT CONTINUITY MAY RENDER THE (STOP) BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED AND PROPERLY FORMED TERMINALS WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO COST TO OWNER.

81V021000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Feb 11, 1981

BRAKE FLUID MAY CONTAIN AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER. THIS CAN CAUSE DEGRADATION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE OR BRAKE FAILURE UNDER A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: EXISTING BRAKE FLUID WILL BE REMOVED FROM BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKE SYSTEM WILL BE REFILLED WITH FRESH BRAKE FLUID.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

EA91010 · Trans Park System Failure

Opened Dec 10, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available

PE89093 · Frame Corrosion

Opened Mar 1, 1989 · Closed Mar 29, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

===

DP86010 · Frame And Chassis Components

Opened May 21, 1986 · Closed Aug 20, 1986

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

FRAME AND CHASSIS COMPONENTS

PE85011 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Nov 14, 1984 · Closed Jul 31, 1985

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available