1981 Plymouth Reliant Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1981 Plymouth Reliant, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1981 Plymouth Reliant
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Suspension: lower arm
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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Vehicle speed control
The automatic speed control switch may stick in the "resume" position restricting return movement. This will not allow the normal brake pedal operation to deactivate the system.
Remedy: The shield portion of the "resume" slide lever in the speed control unit will be replaced without charge.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
The stop lamp switches installed on the subject vehicles may have inadequate internal switch contact pressure due to an incorrect formation of the switch contact terminals. This lack of switch contact continuity may render the (stop) brake warning lights inoperative.
Remedy: The stop lamp switches on all involved vehicles will be replaced and properly formed terminals will be installed at no cost to owner.
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Fluid (service brakes)
Brake fluid may contain an excessive amount of water. This can cause degradation of braking performance or brake failure under a variety of circumstances.
Remedy: Existing brake fluid will be removed from brake system and brake system will be refilled with fresh brake fluid.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1981 Plymouth Reliant have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 0 injuries and 1 death. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“1981 plymouth reliant k-car. Consumer states accelerator problems. *tgw the consumer stated his parents purchased the above mentioned vehicle. But, since he did most of the driving, he asked them if h”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 7, 2010 · Unknown or other
“Death resulted from side impact, attorney for client. *aw”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 5, 1995 · Structure
Compare Plymouth Reliant model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Plymouth Reliant model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 Plymouth Reliant | 4 | 2 |
| 1982 Plymouth Reliant | 4 | 2 |
| 1983 Plymouth Reliant | 4 | 1 |
| 1984 Plymouth Reliant | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 Plymouth Reliant | 1 | 5 |
| 1986 Plymouth Reliant | 1 | 4 |
| 1987 Plymouth Reliant | 0 | 10 |
| 1988 Plymouth Reliant | 0 | 16 |
| 1989 Plymouth Reliant | 1 | 7 |
| 1990 Plymouth Reliant | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1981 Plymouth Reliant
How do I know if my 1981 Plymouth Reliant has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1981 Plymouth Reliant; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Plymouth dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 81V021000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Plymouth models
- Voyager5,245 complaints
- Grand Voyager2,440 complaints
- Neon1,372 complaints
- Breeze667 complaints
- Acclaim426 complaints
- Sundance309 complaints
- Colt138 complaints
- Laser117 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.