IllustrationHAD NOTICED STEERING WAS OFF. TO MUCH TURNING TO GET WHEELS TO TURN. HAD MECHANIC CHECK & BOLTS WERE LOOSE & HAD THEM TIGHTENED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WERE SPLIT & COULD BE SEEN MOVING WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. ALSO NOTICED CROSSBAR WAS CRACKED. PE91065. *AK
1988 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 16 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
16 reportsSTARTED THE CAR FROM A PARKING LOT, AS SOON AS I PUT ON DRIVE, THE CAR WENT ON HIGH SPEED, WENT IN A CIRCULAR MOTION, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR UNTIL I HIT TWO OTHER CARS.
FRONT CROSSMEMBER CORRODED, CONSUMER STUCK IT WITH A SCREW DRIVER HANDLE AND IT FELL APART. MJS
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN MAKING A TURN, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED.
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
VEHICLE JERKS INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE SUMMER.
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE W/CAUSE, SPEED SENSOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2PE91065 · Steering Gear Bolts Loosen
Opened Apr 16, 1991 · Closed Aug 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
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