RecallMyCar

1982 Plymouth Reliant Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1982 Plymouth Reliant, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1982 Plymouth Reliant

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 89V052000 Reported 500,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

  2. Fluid (service brakes)

    NHTSA 82V063000 Reported 69 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The brake hydraulic system bay be equipped with brake fluid containing an excess of water.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace defective brake fluid without charge to owner.

  3. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 82V055000 Reported 4,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Clamp bolts installed on certain vehicles may contain cracks. Eventually these bolts may break through, causing separation of the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace both ball joint stud clamp bolts without charge to owner.

  4. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 81V111000 Reported 150,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1982 Plymouth Reliant have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 124,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Compare Plymouth Reliant model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Plymouth Reliant model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1981 Plymouth Reliant42
1982 Plymouth Reliant42
1983 Plymouth Reliant41
1984 Plymouth Reliant11
1985 Plymouth Reliant15
1986 Plymouth Reliant14
1987 Plymouth Reliant010
1988 Plymouth Reliant016
1989 Plymouth Reliant17
1990 Plymouth Reliant01

Checking a specific 1982 Plymouth Reliant

How do I know if my 1982 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 1982 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 81V111000).

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

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.