U.S. public vehicle records

1988 Plymouth COLT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

14 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 14 complaints (57.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Electrical System:Ignition

Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift

Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights

Fuel System, Other

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Seat Belts:Front:Webbing

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	8
Electrical System:Ignition	1
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift	1
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights	1
Fuel System, Other	1
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch	1
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	1
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	1

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 8; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

2002

1995: 6; 1996: 3; 1997: 3; 1998: 1; 2002: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

14 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 14 records

78.6%Valid incident date11 / 14 records

100.0%Valid filing date14 / 14 records

78.6%Ordered incident and filing dates11 / 14 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Seat Belts	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 565713 RESPOND TO REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION DUE TO DRIVER RECEIVING INJURIES PRIOR TO RECEIVING NOTICE OF RECALL (95V-103-003, SUMMARY SENT) FOR SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN A 1987 PLYMOUTH COLT AND SENT A VOQ FOR FUTURE USE. CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. LD JS *JS Look up ODI 565713 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	218.2% ODI 504823 MOTORIZED SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE PERSON TO CHOKE. *SD Look up ODI 504823 at NHTSA ↗	444.4% ODI 526526 MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILURE. Look up ODI 526526 at NHTSA ↗	342.9% ODI 506597 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *AW Look up ODI 506597 at NHTSA ↗	1076.9% ODI 489444 AUTOMATIC MOTOR BELT DESIGN CAUSES DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S TO FORGET TO FASTEN LAP BELT. *SKD Look up ODI 489444 at NHTSA ↗	4563.4% ODI 484201 AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD Look up ODI 484201 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	571.4% ODI 481341 DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS RELEASE MECHANISM CHIPPED, CAUSING PIECES TO FALL INTO LOCKING MECHANISMS, RESULTING IN BUCKLES JAMMING. *SKD Look up ODI 481341 at NHTSA ↗	466.7% ODI 507998 RECALL WORK DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS ON SEAT BELT BUCKLES. Look up ODI 507998 at NHTSA ↗	857.1% ODI 502229 FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE CRACKED. *SD Look up ODI 502229 at NHTSA ↗	327.3% ODI 505818 SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. Look up ODI 505818 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 964487 SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, RELEASE MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE BUCKLE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT Look up ODI 964487 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 516865 THE RECALL PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ARE UNAVAILABLE, THUS THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BE DONE. Look up ODI 516865 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	22.8% ODI 739486 THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V073002. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO SANTA ROSA DODGE, WHO HAD ORIGINALLY REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE RECALL WAS MADE IN 1997. THIS TIME THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS I PAID FOR IT. IO CONTACTED THE MANUFATURER AT THE NUMBER PROVIDED ON THE RECALL NOTICE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME (THEY GO BY WHAT THE DEALER SAYS). AT THIS TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THIS DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK Look up ODI 739486 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	114.3% ODI 500224 FUEL INJECTORS FAILED. *DSH Look up ODI 500224 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	19.1% ODI 984433 THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER RETRACTS ON THE TRACT CONSISTANTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK Look up ODI 984433 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 964766 PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, SEATBELT IS AT FULL EXTEND. TT Look up ODI 964766 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 983911 THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS RETRACT TOO TIGHTLY AND CHOKE THE OCCUPANTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK Look up ODI 983911 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1014.1% ODI 507936 MOTORBELT RETRACTOR INOPERABLE. Look up ODI 507936 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	114.3% ODI 522235 SEAT BELT RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. Look up ODI 522235 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.1% ODI 605488 PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKEN. Look up ODI 605488 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 513833 RADIATOR FAILED. Look up ODI 513833 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	57.0% ODI 800478 AUTOMATIC SHOULDER/LAP BELT STOPPED WORKING, WITHOUT WARNING, PASSENGER WOULD BE RESTRAINED WITH LAP BELT ONLY.*AK Look up ODI 800478 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	19.1% ODI 481854 TIMING BELT FAILED 4 TIMES, ALSO GASKETS/PISTONS/RINGS AND VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SKD Look up ODI 481854 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	22.8% ODI 526832 VALVE COVER HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE, CAUSING LEAKAGE. Look up ODI 526832 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	114.3% ODI 481045 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TW Look up ODI 481045 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	22.8% ODI 526832 VALVE COVER HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE, CAUSING LEAKAGE. Look up ODI 526832 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	22.8% ODI 806694 KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, DEALER SAYS KEY IS NOT BENT, INGNITION PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. AK JB Look up ODI 806694 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	218.2% ODI 481854 TIMING BELT FAILED 4 TIMES, ALSO GASKETS/PISTONS/RINGS AND VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SKD Look up ODI 481854 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1993: 13 complaints · 1994: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1993	1	1	13
1994	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1993	54	17	0
1994	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	Electrical System:Ignition	Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift	Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights	Fuel System, Other	Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch	Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	—	0	0	1 ODI 523157 TAIL LIGHT FAILED. (MJS) Look up ODI 523157 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 523157 TAIL LIGHT FAILED. (MJS) Look up ODI 523157 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights	1 ODI 523157 TAIL LIGHT FAILED. (MJS) Look up ODI 523157 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	1 ODI 523157 TAIL LIGHT FAILED. (MJS) Look up ODI 523157 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Fuel System, Other	1 ODI 523157 TAIL LIGHT FAILED. (MJS) Look up ODI 523157 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 523157 TAIL LIGHT FAILED. (MJS) Look up ODI 523157 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 7.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 758177

FRONT DOOR LATCHES FAULTY. TO LOCK DOORS HANDLE MUST BE HELD UP, DRIVER'S DOOR WAS FIRST TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEM. I WOULD NOTICE DOOR PARTIALLY OPEN SOME MORNING AND I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS MESSING WITH THE CAR. THOUGH ALWAYS EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT LOCKING, I BECAME EVEN MORE SO. PROBLEM PERSISTED, APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER PASSENGER DOOR BEGAN EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. NOW IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET DOORS TO LATCH WHEN LOCKING. WHEN TURNING CORNER PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT OPEN BUT UNLATCHED ENOUGH TO CAUSE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON.

Look up ODI 758177 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b