1990 Plymouth Reliant problems
The Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries are mid size cars introduced for model year 1981 as the first "K-cars" manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation. The Reliant and Aries were the smallest cars to have the traditional 6 passenger 2 bench seat with column shifter seating arrangement favored by customers in the United States (Chrysler marketed the car as being able to seat "six Americans"), similar to larger rear-wheel drive cars such as the Dodge Dart and other front-wheel drive cars such as the Chevrolet Celebrity. The Reliant was powered by a then-new 2.2 L I4 SOHC engine, with a Mitsubishi "Silent Shaft" 2.6 L as an option (this engine also featured hemispherical combustion chambers, and all 1981 models equipped with it featured "HEMI" badges on the front fenders). The Reliant was available as a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, or as a 4-door station wagon, in three different trim lines: base, Custom and SE ("Special Edition"). Station wagons came only in Custom or SE trim.
As rebadged variants, the Reliant and Aries were manufactured in Newark, Delaware, Detroit, Michigan, and Toluca, Mexico — in a single generation. After their introduction, the Reliant and Aries were marketed as the "Reliant K" and "Aries K". The Aries was sold as the Dart K in Mexico, and as the Michigan in Japan. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré/Road Runner, while the Aries replaced the Dodge Aspen.
The Reliant and Aries were selected together as Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1981. Initial sales were brisk, with both Reliant and Aries each selling over 150,000 units in 1981, with cumulative sales of million Aries and 1.1 million Reliant units over the nine-year run.
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Common 1990 Plymouth Reliant problems
Based on the search results, I couldn't find specific information about common problems with the Plymouth Reliant 1990. However, I can provide you with a general approach to identifying common issues with a specific car model by analyzing complaints from owners.
- Engine and Transmission Issues: Engine and transmission problems are common in many car models. For the Plymouth Reliant 1990, complaints might include issues with the starter motor, engine misfires, rough idling, transmission slipping, or difficulty shifting gears.
- Suspension and Steering Problems: Complaints about suspension and steering problems might include issues with the steering wheel being off-center, excessive play in the steering, or a rough ride due to worn-out suspension components.
- Electrical System Issues: Electrical system problems can range from minor issues like blown fuses or intermittent electrical connections to more significant problems like failing alternators or batteries.
- Braking System Issues: Brake system complaints might include issues with the brake pedal feeling spongy, excessive brake fade, or difficulty stopping the vehicle.
- Interior and Exterior Issues: Complaints about the interior and exterior might include issues with the upholstery wearing out prematurely, rust forming on the exterior, or problems with the doors or windows not functioning correctly.
- Fuel System Issues: Fuel system problems might include issues with the fuel pump, fuel injectors, or fuel pressure regulator.
To gather more specific information about common problems with the Plymouth Reliant 1990, you might want to consult car-specific forums, owner's clubs, or mechanic resources that specialize in this car model. These sources can provide more detailed information about common issues and solutions based on the experiences of actual owners.
How reliable is the Plymouth Reliant K?
The Chrysler K cars (Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant) were average in reliability for their time. They sold incredibly well, and combined with all the models they spawned, saved Chrysler from going out of business.
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.
Was the K car reliable?
Known as the K car platform, it would become the centerpiece of Chrysler's turnaround. Not only was it less expensive to produce cars built on the same platform, they could be built more reliably with tightly focused engineering.
What was the Dodge version of the Plymouth Reliant?
Dodge Aries
The Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries are mid size cars introduced for model year 1981 as the first "K-cars" manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation.
How reliable is the Plymouth Reliant K?
The Chrysler K cars (Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant) were average in reliability for their time. They sold incredibly well, and combined with all the models they spawned, saved Chrysler from going out of business.
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.
Was the K car reliable?
Known as the K car platform, it would become the centerpiece of Chrysler's turnaround. Not only was it less expensive to produce cars built on the same platform, they could be built more reliably with tightly focused engineering.
Why is Plymouth Reliant called K car?
The K was an internal designation for the chassis/body. Diplomats were M bodies, the lamentable Dodge St. Regis was an R body, and so forth. GM had marketed their new (and flawed) FWD compacts as the X cars the year before.
1990 Plymouth Reliant car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Plymouth Reliant problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Plymouth Reliant vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1990 Plymouth Reliant complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Plymouth Reliant.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-11-17
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. INDEPENDENT SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1990 Plymouth Reliant problems:
1989 Plymouth Reliant Reviews - Carsurvey.org
Feb 27, 2020 ... 1989 Plymouth Reliant Reviews. < Previous; 1; 2 · 3 ... common problem for this type of engine. The ... 1990. Most recent year of ownership, 2007.
COAL: 1981 Plymouth Reliant Sedan - Old Reliable - Curbside Classic
Jan 15, 2017 ... I can't even count how many of these cars fried the Engine Control Modules, up in NE Ohio, where moisture is a common problem year round. And ...
Chrysler K Car Memories? - Airliners.net
1996), the body shop replaced the Aries front end with that of a Plymouth Reliant K of the same vintage. ... Very common problem with those. Mines ...
Curbside Classic: 1988 Plymouth Reliant America - Mom And Dad ...
Jun 1, 2021 ... ... 1990 Cutlass Supreme sedan, but that was ... problems from the Tempo's 2.3L HSC engine, I ... common problem. Reply. avatar. ken. June 2, 2021.
Why are 2.6s such bad engines ? | The Chrysler Minivan Fan Club ...
Oct 26, 2010 ... My father recently got a free old Plymouth Reliant that had been sitting in a garage since 1990. He's a retired diesel mechanic, so he's not ...
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