Plymouth Champ problems
The Dodge Colt is a subcompact car that was manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors and marketed by Dodge for model years 1971 to 1994 as captive imports. Rebadged variants include the Plymouth Champ and Plymouth Colt, both were marketed by Plymouth.
The Colt was initially a rebadged variant of the rear-wheel drive Galant and Lancer families before shifting to the smaller front-wheel drive Mitsubishi Mirage subcompacts in 1979.
First generation (1971–1973)
Introduced in 1970 as a 1971 model, the first generation Dodge Colt was a federalized first-generation Mitsubishi Colt Galant. Available as a 2-door pillared coupe, 2-door hardtop coupe, 4-door sedan, and 5-door wagon, the Colt had a 1,597 cc (97.5 cu in) 4-cylinder engine. The unibody layout was traditional, front engine and rear-wheel drive with MacPherson struts in front and a live rear axle. Standard transmission was a 4-speed manual, with a 3-speed automatic being an option. The engine was initially rated for 100 hp (75 kW), but dropped to 83 hp (62 kW) in 1972 when manufacturers revised the method of measuring horsepower from gross to SAE net. For 1973, a GT hardtop coupe model was added featuring rally stripes, sport wheels, and a center console amongst other features. The Dodge Colt was Chrysler's response to the AMC Gremlin, Ford Pinto, and Chevrolet Vega. As a captive import from Mitsubishi, the Colt also competed directly with other Japanese imports, such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Datsun 1200.
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Plymouth Champ model years
Common Plymouth Champ problems
The Plymouth Champ, also known as the Dodge Colt, was a compact front-wheel-drive car produced by Chrysler in partnership with Mitsubishi. While the car was praised for its fuel efficiency and interior space, it did have some common problems that owners have reported over the years.
- Automatic choke failures: One of the common problems reported by Plymouth Champ owners is the failure of the automatic choke. This issue can make starting the car difficult, especially on cold mornings. The solution is to use a screwdriver to open the butterfly valve and use starting fluid to help start the engine. However, this is only a temporary fix, and a new carburetor may be required to fully resolve the issue.
- Body damage: The Plymouth Champ's body was prone to damage, particularly in the case of collisions with animals such as deer. In such cases, the cost of repairing the damage may be too high, and owners may opt to remove the damaged parts and repair them by hand.
- Air conditioning issues: Some Plymouth Champ owners have reported issues with the air conditioning system. In some cases, the system may not work at all, while in others, it may only work intermittently. This issue can be particularly problematic in hot weather, and may require the attention of a professional mechanic to resolve.
- Reliability concerns: While the Plymouth Champ was generally considered to be a reliable car, some owners have reported issues with various components, including the engine, transmission, and electrical system. These issues can be costly to repair and may affect the car's overall reliability.
- Lack of safety features: The Plymouth Champ was not known for its safety features, and some owners have reported concerns about the car's ability to protect occupants in the event of a crash. While the car did have some safety features, such as seat belts and airbags, it lacked more advanced features such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.
- Limited availability of spare parts: Due to the age of the Plymouth Champ, some owners have reported difficulty finding spare parts for the car. This can make repairs more difficult and costly, and may affect the car's overall longevity.
In summary, while the Plymouth Champ was a popular car in its time, it did have some common problems that owners have reported over the years. These issues include automatic choke failures, body damage, air conditioning issues, reliability concerns, lack of safety features, and limited availability of spare parts.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Plymouth Champ years
We have researched Plymouth problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Plymouth Champ cars and compiled the top 1 most problematic Plymouth Champ model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Plymouth Champ model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Plymouth Champ years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Plymouth Champ car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Plymouth Champ , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Power train problems
- Steering problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Plymouth Champ vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Plymouth Champ . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Plymouth Champ vehicles.
List of Plymouth Champ complaints
Plymouth Champ 1982
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 1995-06-05
- VIN: JP3BE2828CU
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: THE CLUTCH,SHANK AND THE COOLING SYSTEM WENT OUT. TT
Plymouth Champ 1982
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 1995-06-05
- VIN: JP3BE2828CU
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: THE CLUTCH,SHANK AND THE COOLING SYSTEM WENT OUT. TT
Plymouth Champ 1982
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 1995-06-05
- VIN: JP3BE2828CU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: THE CLUTCH,SHANK AND THE COOLING SYSTEM WENT OUT. TT
Recalls Plymouth Champ
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the Plymouth Champ.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Plymouth Champ 1982
- Report Received Date: 2007-08-27
- Manufacturer: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Summary: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
- Consequence: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
- Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
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