1987 Plymouth Horizon problems
The Dodge Omni and the nearly identical badge engineered variant, the Plymouth Horizon, is a subcompact car manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Corporation for model years 1978-1990. The first Chrysler model line produced with front-wheel drive, the Omni and Horizon were also the first front-wheel drive economy cars assembled in the United States. Marketed for eleven years with very few changes, around 2,500,000 Omnis and Horizons were manufactured, with the Plymouth variants more popular than the Dodge-branded models.
The first (and only) world car designed by Chrysler, the model line originated from a design of Chrysler Europe (who developed the namesake Chrysler Horizon). While visually similar, the American Omni/Horizon would have extensive functional differences from its European counterpart, primarily to accommodate US marketing and regulatory requirements.
From 1977 to 1990, Chrysler manufactured the Omni and Horizon at its Belvidere Assembly Plant facility (Belvidere, Illinois); from 1987 to 1989, the model line was manufactured under contract by American Motors Corporation (AMC) at its own facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin. From 1987 to 1990, the model line was marketed alongside its successor, the Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance hatchback sedan.
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Common 1987 Plymouth Horizon problems
The 1987 Plymouth Horizon is known for several common problems, primarily related to its engine and transmission.
One common issue is the engine not starting or running poorly due to fuel or spark problems. Users have reported difficulty in starting the car, with the engine cranking but not starting. This could be due to a lack of spark or fuel reaching the engine. In some cases, the engine might smell of gas, indicating that the fuel pump is working but not delivering fuel to the engine. It is recommended to check for spark at the plugs and fuel delivery to the engine to diagnose this issue.
Another common problem is a high idle when starting the car, which could be caused by a faulty gasket between the carburetor and the intake manifold. As the gasket deteriorates, it allows air to be sucked in, causing an uneven idle. Checking and replacing the gasket might solve this problem. Additionally, the high idle adjustment on the carburetor might have been set too high, causing the engine to idle at a higher rate than normal. Adjusting the high idle setting could help resolve this issue.
The 1987 Plymouth Horizon also has issues with run-on, where the engine continues to run even after the ignition is turned off. This is caused by the valves or cylinders being hot enough to ignite the gas charge without a spark from the plugs. Some cars have an anti-run-on solenoid to cut fuel flow through the carb when the ignition is off, but this might have been bypassed by previous owners.
The automatic transmission in the 1987 Plymouth Horizon might also cause problems, particularly with acceleration and driving enjoyment. Although the automatic transmission makes stop-and-go commutes smoother, it does not contribute to the car's performance.
In summary, the 1987 Plymouth Horizon has common problems related to the engine and transmission, including fuel and spark issues, high idle, run-on, and transmission performance. Regular maintenance and checking for common issues can help ensure the car's longevity and performance.
Who made the engine in a Plymouth Horizon?
Volkswagen
Their 1980 Horizon came from the early run of the Omni-Horizon twins, before Chrysler even had its own four-cylinder engine for it. As a result, Volkswagen provided the engine–Rabbit engines punched out to 1.7 liters–and four-speed transmissions.
Why did Plymouth cars fail?
Final years: 1990s–2001
By the 1990s, Plymouth had lost much of its identity, as its models continued to overlap in features and prices with its sister brands, Dodge and Eagle. Chrysler attempted to remedy this by repositioning Plymouth to its traditional target market as the automaker's entry-level brand.
What year did they stop making the Plymouth Horizon?
The Dodge Omni and the nearly identical badge engineered variant, the Plymouth Horizon, is a subcompact car manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Corporation for model years 1978-1990.
Are Dodge and Plymouth the same?
Dodge and Plymouth have made the same cars for years. They are the same company, (DaimlerChrysler), different 'brands'. Cars like the Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Sundance were the same body style with different accessory packages.
Who made the engine in a Plymouth Horizon?
Volkswagen
Their 1980 Horizon came from the early run of the Omni-Horizon twins, before Chrysler even had its own four-cylinder engine for it. As a result, Volkswagen provided the engine–Rabbit engines punched out to 1.7 liters–and four-speed transmissions.
What year did they stop making the Plymouth Horizon?
The Dodge Omni and the nearly identical badge engineered variant, the Plymouth Horizon, is a subcompact car manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Corporation for model years 1978-1990.
What car is a horizon?
The Talbot Horizon is a compact hatchback that was designed by Chrysler Europe and was produced from 1978 to 1987 under the Simca, Chrysler and Talbot nameplates. The successor to both the Simca 1100 and Hillman Avenger, the Horizon adopted a front-wheel drive, transverse-engine layout.
Was Plymouth made by Ford?
Plymouth was a brand of automobiles produced by Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler. The brand was launched in 1928 to compete in what was then described as the "low-priced" market segment that was dominated by Chevrolet and Ford. It became a high-volume seller for the automaker until the late 1990s.
1987 Plymouth Horizon car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Plymouth Horizon problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Tires problems
- Structure problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Plymouth Horizon vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Plymouth Horizon complaints
The NHTSA has received 9 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Plymouth Horizon.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-09-01
- VIN: 1P3BM18C2HD
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: TOP TREAD OF TIRE , FROM SIDEWALL TO SIDEWALL WAS COMPLETELY TORN OFF. METAL CASING IS SHOWING AROUND THE WHOLE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD USE TO BE.*AK
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-02-04
- VIN: 1P3BM18C9HD
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: DRIVER'S OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME. ALSO, REAR DOOR, BEHIND THE PASSENGER, WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY IT WILL BE DANGEROUS. DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS. *AK *ML
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-05-16
- VIN: 1P3BM18C6H0
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: REAR AXLE RUSTED CAUSING IT TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE MOUNT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND LOSS TO CONTROL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-12-10
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: TRANSMISSION/ AIR-CONDITIONER/ BRAKES/ PARKING BRAKE FAILED.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-03-17
- VIN: 1P38M18C6HD
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: SUDDEN ACCELERATION; ONLY WAY VEHICLE COULD BE STOPPED WAS BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. *AK
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1P3BM18C8HD
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: REQUESTING ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO VEHICLE.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-07-30
- Crash: 1
- Fire: 1
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/FIRE. *DH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-05-05
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: PURCHASED VEHICLE USED THE ENGINE STALLS AND CUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1993-02-03
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: POWER STEERING; WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING GO OUT. TT
1987 Plymouth Horizon recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1987 Plymouth Horizon.
- Manufacturer: FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTS
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
- Consequence: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
- Manufacturer: CHRYSLER CORPORATION
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
- Summary: PRESSURE REGULATOR INSTALLED IN THE FUEL SUPPLY PLUMBING SYSTEM LEAKS FUEL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
- Consequence: FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN NEAR A SOURCE OFIGNITION.
- Remedy: THE FUEL SUPPLY PRESSURE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY TO ENSURE INTEGRITY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1987 Plymouth Horizon problems:
87 Plymouth Horizon high idle - Maintenance/Repairs - Car Talk ...
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