1988 Plymouth Colt Problems
- Complaints
- 14filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Plymouth Colt (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Colt. The part named most often is seat belts, with 10 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system (1) and equipment (1). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the buckle assembly filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seat belts10 71%
- Electrical system1 7.1%
- Equipment1 7.1%
- Exterior lighting1 7.1%
- Fuel system1 7.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 7.1%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “The dealership is giving them the run around about seat belt recall. The part is not available/person incharge is not in. Please describe. (95v103.003).”
NHTSA complaint #982189, filed 1996-04Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Plymouth Colt version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colt FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed manual | 29 | 35 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Colt FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 27 | 34 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Colt FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 26 | 29 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Colt FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Colt FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 21 | 24 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Colt Vista FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Colt Vista FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 20 | 22 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Colt Vista 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Colt Wagon FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 26 | 32 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Colt Wagon FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 24 | 27 | 25 | $2,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103003May 24, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Plymouth Colt 1986–1988, 1990–1991, Dodge Colt 1986–1991, RAM 50 1986–1991 +7 more
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.
Recall details for the 1988 Plymouth Colt → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Plymouth Colt.
Other model years of the Plymouth Colt
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 71 | — | 3 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 13 | — | 3 | — | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 7 | — | 1 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 1990 | 9 | — | 1 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 11 | — | 0 | — | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 14 | — | 1 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 6 | — | 1 | — | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 7 | — | 1 | — | 27 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Plymouth Colt have?
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Colt as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Plymouth Colt is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 10 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system with 1.
Has the 1988 Plymouth Colt been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Plymouth Colt get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Plymouth Colt (Colt, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.