1991 Plymouth Laser

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

74/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Plymouth Laser, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Seat belts	9	24%
Engine and engine cooling	5	13%
Electrical system	4	11%
Suspension	3	8%
Structure	3	8%
Latches/locks/linkages	3	8%
Seats	2	5%
Engine and engine cooling	2	5%
Tires	1	3%
Interior lighting	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PLYMOUTH LASER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HUBCAPS ON THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPINNING AND INEVITABLY CUT THE VALVE STEM OFF OF HIS TIRE. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR DURING THE FAILURE. THE
NHTSA complaint: Tires

I SEE QUITE A FEW LASERS,ECLIPSES,AND TALONS THAT HAVE THE TELLTALE BLUE SMOKE TRAIL BEHIND THEM.BUT MINE ALSO SEEMS TO BE BUILDING UP EXHAUST, AND EMITTING A LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE UPON RESTARTING
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

MECHANICAL (SUSPENSION, R.F.) REPAIRED W/USED/REMAN. PARTS. LOCAL PLYMOUTH DEALER'SSERVICE MANAGER WAS OF NO HELP CONCERNING POSSIBLE UNANNOUNCED RECALL.ALSO, I CHECKAD PLYMOUTH/MITSUBISHI (DSM MOTORS) WEBSITE FOR ANY RE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

THE HATCHBACK SUPPORT RODS FAIL TO HOLD THE LIFTGAGE IN THE RAISED POSITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED ON OCCASIONS. *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Interior lighting

A SHORT IN THE FUSE BOX CAUSES THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO NOT WORK. *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THIS AUTO HAS A MITSUBISHI ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN WITH WHICH I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHILE PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION THE CROSSMEMBER BROKE AND SNAPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Plymouth Laser. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:buckle assembly 95V103003

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A

The seven scores

Reliability raw	88	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	43	below average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 57% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 69% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 88: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1991 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1991 Plymouth Laser?

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 9 of them (24%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1991 Plymouth Laser reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 88/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1991 Plymouth Laser last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1991 Plymouth Laser?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.