IllustrationWHILE PUMPING FUEL INTO THE TANK THE VEHICLE WAS OFF,WITH THE KEY TO IGNITION POSITION TO VIEW THE GAS GAUGE, WENT BACK TO CHECK GAS PUMP, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE TANK. FIRE WENT OUT ON ITS OWN, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1986 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Reliant years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 4 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsWHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. *AK
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 PROBLE…
Read full complaint
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
AXLE DROPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING/CONTROL. *SKD
Official recalls
186V053000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
Apr 10, 1986
BATTERY CAP VENTS MAY BE PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY BLOCKED WITH PLASTIC FLASHING. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A BUILD UP OF INTERNAL GAS PRESSURE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN CASE RUPTURE, PARTICULARLY DURING POST CHARGING. SHOULD A PERSON BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BATTERY WHEN THE CASE RUPTURES, THEY MAY BE INJURED BY THE RELEASED GASES AND/OR ACID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REWORK BATTERIES BY PROBING BOTH VENT ORIFICES TO ELIMINATE ANY VENT OBSTRUCTION.
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
3EA91010 · 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
C88001 · Seat Attachment Failure
Opened May 18, 1988 · Closed Oct 30, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
EA88008 · Seat Attachment
Opened Nov 17, 1987 · Closed May 18, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED ONE SERVICE BULLETIN, HON-ORED 4,028 WARRANTY CLAIMS, SOLD 2,700 SEATS, AND 2,491 ADJUSTMENT REIN-FORCEMENTS. THE SUBJECT DEFECT APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE GM J-BODY RE-CALL (87V-079) OF MAY 1987 IN WHICH 1,136,407 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED. INTHAT RECALL THERE WERE 159 COMPLAINTS, 17 ALLEGED ACCIDENTS, AND 26 RE-PORTED INJURIES FOR ABOUT SIX TIMES AS MANY CARS. CHRYSLER HAS PROPOSEDA SERVICE RECALL FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THEY BELIEVE THAT SINCE INI-TIALLY ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS BREAK, AT THAT TIME THE SEAT ROCKINGMOTION IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM IF PROMPTLY REPAIRED. THE SUBJECT VEHICLESARE LIMITED TO THOSE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM.PROPOSED ACTION: TEST REQUEST SENT TO ETF 11/23/87.INSPECTION & TESTINGOF A FEW VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DEFECTIVE SEATS IS ONGOING.===