1990 Plymouth Colt 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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Common 1990 Plymouth Colt problems
The Plymouth Colt, produced in 1990, was a reliable and fun car for many of its owners. However, there were some common problems that emerged over time. One of the most frequently mentioned issues was clutch trouble. According to Consumer Reports' reliability ratings, this generation Colt experienced a lot of clutch trouble by the late 1980s.
Another issue that some owners faced was the car's tendency to stall when driving in "econ" mode. This happened to the author of the article, who noticed the "econ" LED lit on the dash and had to switch to "power" mode to avoid stalling. This issue could be frustrating for drivers, especially if they were not aware of the car's quirks.
The Colt's interior materials and fit were generally considered to be better than those of some competing models, such as the 1981 Mazda GLC.
There were also some issues with the car's transmission. Some owners reported that the transmission could be noisy, especially during cold weather.
Overall, the Plymouth Colt was a reliable and fun car for many of its owners. However, like any vehicle, it had its share of common problems, including clutch trouble, stalling in "econ" mode, tight headroom, noisy transmission, and a difficult-to-use twin-stick transmission.
1990 Plymouth Colt car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Plymouth Colt problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Seat belts problems
- Electrical system problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Suspension problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Plymouth Colt vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1990 Plymouth Colt complaints
The NHTSA has received 13 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Plymouth Colt.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-05-20
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: JP3CU24X3LU
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: DRIVER SIDE SEAT HARNESS UNSAFE----DELAYS ON WORKING AND CAUGHT HEAD BETWEEN BELT, STEERING WHEEL AND LEFT WELT ON NECK. SNAP WOULD NOT RELEASE HARNESS BELT. *NLM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-07-11
- VIN: JP3CU24X5LU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: CAR SHUTS DOWN SHAKES COMPLETE TUNEUP DEALER DIA. COMPUTER NOT RESP. TO PROBLEM NEW CHIP TO FIND PROBLEM NOT ORDER CAR HAS ORIGINAL MILES OF 40,006 FOR 9 YRS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WITHOUT NEW CHIP. SEAT BEATS CHOKE PASS. & DRIVER. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILURE.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: JB3CU14A2MU
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: OWNER STATES THAT UPON ENTERING VEHICLE AND TURNING KEY THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTORS GET TOO TIGHT, CHOKING OCCUPANTS ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES, OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND THREE MONTHS LATER IT CAME BACK. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-07-20
- VIN: JP3CU14X6LU
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT RETRACT. MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BURNT OUT. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-07-20
- VIN: JP3CU14X6LU
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT RETRACT. MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BURNT OUT. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-04-29
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE DRIVERS AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESTRAINS SO TIGHTLY THAT IT CHOKES THE DRIVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-01-01
- VIN: JP3CU24X1LU
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, SEATBELT IS AT FULL EXTEND. TT
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, RELEASE MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE BUCKLE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-02-21
- VIN: JP3CU14X4LU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THINK ELECTRICAL. TT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-12-15
- VIN: 1P3XA46K7LF
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKE PADS REPLACED.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-12-15
- VIN: 1P3XA46K7LF
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-12-15
- VIN: 1P3XA46K7LF
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: TIRES REPLACED. *SKD
1990 Plymouth Colt recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1990 Plymouth Colt.
- Manufacturer: CHRYSLER CORPORATION
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- Summary: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
- Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
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