The 1990 Plymouth Colt has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 920,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030031995-05-24920,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
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 ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS…
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1
1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1
Total complaints10
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Driver side seat harness unsafe----delays on working and caught head between belt, steering wheel and left welt on neck. Snap would not release harness belt. *nlm”
“Car shuts down shakes complete tuneup dealer dia. Computer not resp. To problem new chip to find problem not order car has original miles of 40,006 for 9 yrs. Dealer cannot find problem without new chip. Seat beats choke pass. & driver. *ak”
“Automatic shoulder belt locked in closed position. It will not retract. Motor seems to be burnt out. *ak”
“Automatic shoulder belt locked in closed position. It will not retract. Motor seems to be burnt out. *ak”
“The drivers automatic restraint system restrains so tightly that it chokes the driver. Please describe. *ak”
“Consumer was driving car caught on fire think electrical. Tt”
“Passenger seatbelt retractor does not work, seatbelt is at full extend. Tt”
“Shoulder/lap belt buckles inoperative, release mechanism broke inside buckle, male won't go into female portion. Tt”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA96014 Opened 1996-06-28 · closed 1997-06-12
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
InvestigationEA96014 Opened 1996-06-28 · closed 1997-06-12
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
InvestigationEA96014 Opened 1996-06-28 · closed 1997-06-12
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
InvestigationPE96007 Opened 1996-01-19 · closed 1996-06-28
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Plymouth Colt as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.