1989 Plymouth COLT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 9.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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. 11 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1997 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 6; 1997: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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.
Owner report 961377 · 1995-03-07 (March 7, 1995)
WIRING IN BRAKE LIGHTS SCREWED INTO PLASTIC HOUSING OF TAIL LIGHT MELTED, CAUSING CONNECTION TO BE INTERMITTENT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961377 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
11 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
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.
| Component | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 565713RESPOND 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 218.2%ODI 504823MOTORIZED SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE PERSON TO CHOKE. *SD | 444.4% | 342.9% | 1076.9%ODI 489444AUTOMATIC MOTOR BELT DESIGN CAUSES DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S TO FORGET TO FASTEN LAP BELT. *SKD | 4563.4% | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 571.4%ODI 481341DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS RELEASE MECHANISM CHIPPED, CAUSING PIECES TO FALL INTO LOCKING MECHANISMS, RESULTING IN BUCKLES JAMMING. *SKD | 466.7%ODI 507998RECALL WORK DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS ON SEAT BELT BUCKLES. | 857.1% | 327.3%ODI 505818SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. | 111.1%ODI 964487SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, RELEASE MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE BUCKLE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT | 114.3%ODI 516865THE RECALL PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ARE UNAVAILABLE, THUS THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BE DONE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 22.8%ODI 739486THIS 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 | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 984433THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER RETRACTS ON THE TRACT CONSISTANTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK | 111.1%ODI 964766PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, SEATBELT IS AT FULL EXTEND. TT | 114.3%ODI 983911THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS RETRACT TOO TIGHTLY AND CHOKE THE OCCUPANTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1014.1% | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1% | 19.1% | 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 800478AUTOMATIC SHOULDER/LAP BELT STOPPED WORKING, WITHOUT WARNING, PASSENGER WOULD BE RESTRAINED WITH LAP BELT ONLY.*AK | 0UnavailableNo 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 481854TIMING BELT FAILED 4 TIMES, ALSO GASKETS/PISTONS/RINGS AND VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SKD | 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% | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 114.3% | 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% | 0UnavailableNo 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 806694KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, DEALER SAYS KEY IS NOT BENT, INGNITION PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK *JB | 0UnavailableNo 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 481854TIMING BELT FAILED 4 TIMES, ALSO GASKETS/PISTONS/RINGS AND VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SKD | 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. | 0UnavailableNo 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 | 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.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | 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.
1993: 13 complaints · 1994: 0 complaints
| 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
| 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 | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Seat Belts | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 481854TIMING BELT FAILED 4 TIMES, ALSO GASKETS/PISTONS/RINGS AND VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SKD | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0 | 1ODI 481854TIMING BELT FAILED 4 TIMES, ALSO GASKETS/PISTONS/RINGS AND VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SKD | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.