1988 Plymouth Reliant Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 2.2L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 28 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Plymouth Reliant (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Reliant. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 4 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (3) and seat belts (2). Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
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.
- Engine cooling4 25%
- Seat belts2 13%
- Steering2 13%
- Body and structure2 13%
- Brakes1 6.3%
- Electrical system1 6.3%
- Fuel system1 6.3%
- Seats1 6.3%
- Suspension1 6.3%
Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (1).
Example complaints
Vehicle speed control: “Started the car from a parking lot, as soon as I put on drive, the car went on high speed, went in a circular motion, I could not stop the car until I hit two other cars.”
NHTSA complaint #708526, filed 1999-07Steering: “Had noticed steering was off. To much turning to get wheels to turn. Had mechanic check & bolts were loose & had them tightened on the left side. The bolts on the right side were split & could be seen moving when the wheel was turned. Also noticed crossbar was cracked. Pe91065.”
NHTSA complaint #843280, filed 1999-07Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Plymouth Reliant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliant FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Reliant FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Reliant FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 20 | 25 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Reliant Wagon FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Reliant Wagon FWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Reliant Wagon FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1988 Plymouth Reliant in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Plymouth Reliant.
Other model years of the Plymouth Reliant
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 7 | 42,320 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 16 | — | 0 | — | 24 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 10 | — | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 5 | — | 1 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
All Plymouth Reliant model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Plymouth Reliant have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1988 Plymouth Reliant as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Plymouth Reliant is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 4 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 3.
Has the 1988 Plymouth Reliant been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Plymouth Reliant get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Plymouth Reliant (Reliant, 2.2L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 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.