1983 Plymouth Reliant
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 4
- Investigations
- 3
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
Campaigns on file for 1983
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1983: 1 complaint
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 2 |
| 1982 | 2 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1987 | 10 |
| 1988 | 16 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1990 | 1 |
Known problem areas
Only 1 complaint on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Engine and engine cooling
1 of 1 total report mentions: engine and engine cooling, most commonly citing engine.
Show complaint excerpts
Engine design with rollover/separator valve, causes excessive noise from engine.
NHTSA ODI report, 1995-05-25
Safety timeline
4 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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1982-09-03Service brakes, hydraulic82V085000 On the involved vehicles, improper routing of the hydraulic brake tube could cause it to chafe against the park brake cables. Eventually, the brake tube may fail and brake fluid leakage may occur.
Remedy: Dealer will reroute the hydraulic brake tube, if necessary, without charge to owner.
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1982-12-16Service brakes, hydraulic82V123000 Hydraulic brake tubing routed to the left rear wheel brake system may have been bent out of shape during assembly and could chafe against the exhaust system hanger bolt.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and relocate tube, if necessary. A retaining clip will be installed to ensure adequate clearance for the tubing; any damaged tubes will also be replaced.
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1983-05-26Service brakes, hydraulic83V060000 Location of hydraulic brake tube to both rear wheels causes interference and chafing between the tubes and rear suspension trailing arm pivot brackets.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect rear wheel brake tubes and reroute to ensure proper tube to pivot bracket clearance. Any damaged tubes will also be replaced.
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1984-11-14Preliminary evaluationClosed 1985-07-31 Engine compartment fires
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1989-03-01Preliminary evaluationClosed 1989-03-29 Frame corrosion
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1989-06-29Suspension89V052000 Front suspension crossmember may corrode and fail at lower control arm rear pivot mounts if operated where salt is used to aid in snow removal.
Remedy: Install attachment reinforcement brackets to prevent control arm detachment as a result of corrosion weakening.
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1990-12-10Engineering analysisClosed 1991-12-31 Trans park system failure
Buy-smart checklist
1983 Plymouth Reliant — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Engine and engine cooling: 1 report on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 82V085000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 82V123000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 83V060000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 89V052000 · Suspension
FAQ
- Is the 1983 Plymouth Reliant reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1983 Plymouth Reliant?
- The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 100% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1983 Plymouth Reliant have?
- 4 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-08-10 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.