Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Plymouth Colt, and it carries 3 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 62 | 81% |
| Power train | 4 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3% |
| Seats | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 1% |
| Power train | 1 | 1% |
| Structure | 1 | 1% |
| Air bags | 1 | 1% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT INFLATE, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO CONSUMER. *JB THE AIR BAG WAS PARTIALLY OUT WITHOUT INFLATING AND CAUSED STEERING WHEEL INJURIES. ALSO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WHEN CONSUMER IS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE VEHICLE DOOR, THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE WILL NOT RETRACT, THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WILL TRAVEL APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES AND STOP, WHEN THE DOOR IS OPE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE SINCE SIDE GUIDE RAIL IS DEFECTIVE, WIRE FROM SEAT BELT IS SHOWING. THERE IS A RECALL 07V073OOO FOR THIS PROBLEM. ) BUT MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT ONLY TWO DOOR VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
BACK IN 1997 SEATBELT GOT STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION AND BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. DEALER INSTALLED BELT FOR REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN IN APRIL2000, AND WAS COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECAL
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THERE IS RECALL 97V0730002 ON DRIVERS SIDE GUIDE RAIL CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THIS 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 PROB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WAS STUCK. SHE COULD PUSH ON THE BOTTON TO RELEASE AND UNRELEASE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.*AK AFTER THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED, THE CUSTOMER BEGAN TO MANUALLY BUCKLE THE SHOUL
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
KEY STICKING INTO THE IGNITION SWICH, AND TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE UNLESS THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON IS PUSHED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1993 Plymouth Colt. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, T
THE GUIDE RAIL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTAINS A COVERED CABLE AND ALSO AN ANGLED BELT GUIDE AT THE TOP END OF THE WEBBING. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS CAN LEAD, OVER TIME, TO THE CABLE'S MOVEMENT EXERTING ABRADING FORCE TO THE LOWER EDGES OF THE CABLE'S CHAMBER, SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE CABLE TO
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT GUIDE RAIL THAT INCORPORATES A DOUBLE LIP DUST SEAL AND AN ANODIC OXIDE COATING.
EXCESS LUBRICATION CAN CAUSE THE RUBBER DOOR LATCH SWITCH COVER TO DEFORM, AND THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH TO MALFUNCTION, SO THAT THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH WITH A SWITCH THAT UTILIZES REDUCED LUBRICATING GREASE, IMPROVED CONTACT SURFACE, AND A DIFFERENT RUBBER ISOLATION BOOT.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 62 of them (81%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. 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.