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1986 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 →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19831
19845
19854
198610
198716
19887
1989
Compare all Reliant years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Electrical System
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1Steering
1
All reported categories
Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

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 4 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. *AK ALL POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS FAIL, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL RESTART RIGHT AWAY, MORE OFTEN IN SEVERAL HOURS, RECENTLY IT WOULD NOT START FOR DAYS AFTER IT WOULD STALL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, COMPUTER POWER MODULE, AND COMPUTER LOGIC MODULE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLE…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. *AK ALL POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS FAIL, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL RESTART RIGHT AWAY, MORE OFTEN IN SEVERAL HOURS, RECENTLY IT WOULD NOT START FOR DAYS AFTER IT WOULD STALL, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, COMPUTER POWER MODULE, AND COMPUTER LOGIC MODULE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING, DEALER HAS ALSO REASSEMBLED THE FUEL INJECTOR, REPLACED COOLING FAN, AND TIGHTENED BELTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #983337

Official recalls

1

86V053000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Apr 10, 1986

BATTERY CAP VENTS MAY BE PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY BLOCKED WITH PLASTIC FLASHING. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A BUILD UP OF INTERNAL GAS PRESSURE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN CASE RUPTURE, PARTICULARLY DURING POST CHARGING. SHOULD A PERSON BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BATTERY WHEN THE CASE RUPTURES, THEY MAY BE INJURED BY THE RELEASED GASES AND/OR ACID.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REWORK BATTERIES BY PROBING BOTH VENT ORIFICES TO ELIMINATE ANY VENT OBSTRUCTION.

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

3

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

C88001 · Seat Attachment Failure

Opened May 18, 1988 · Closed Oct 30, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available

EA88008 · Seat Attachment

Opened Nov 17, 1987 · Closed May 18, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED ONE SERVICE BULLETIN, HON-ORED 4,028 WARRANTY CLAIMS, SOLD 2,700 SEATS, AND 2,491 ADJUSTMENT REIN-FORCEMENTS. THE SUBJECT DEFECT APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE GM J-BODY RE-CALL (87V-079) OF MAY 1987 IN WHICH 1,136,407 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED. INTHAT RECALL THERE WERE 159 COMPLAINTS, 17 ALLEGED ACCIDENTS, AND 26 RE-PORTED INJURIES FOR ABOUT SIX TIMES AS MANY CARS. CHRYSLER HAS PROPOSEDA SERVICE RECALL FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THEY BELIEVE THAT SINCE INI-TIALLY ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS BREAK, AT THAT TIME THE SEAT ROCKINGMOTION IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM IF PROMPTLY REPAIRED. THE SUBJECT VEHICLESARE LIMITED TO THOSE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM.PROPOSED ACTION: TEST REQUEST SENT TO ETF 11/23/87.INSPECTION & TESTINGOF A FEW VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DEFECTIVE SEATS IS ONGOING.===