PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA · model year

1989 PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA

2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989PLYMOUTHCOLT VISTA carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 COLT VISTA is seat belts:front:webbing with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:driveshaft (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1989 COLT VISTA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1

Recent Complaints

19970325POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

TRANSAXLE CASE BROKE, EXPOSING A SHAFT WHICH HAS EIGHT MISSING BEARINGS, POSING THE RISK OF TRANSAXLE LOCKING UP/ACCIDENT.

19950414CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

DRIVERS SIDE/PASSENGER SEATBELT SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT RETAIN OCCUPANTS IN REAR END COLLISION AT 25-35MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Compare 1989PLYMOUTHCOLT VISTA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA have?
The 1989 PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA?
The most-complained component for the 1989 PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT.
Is the 1989 PLYMOUTH COLT VISTA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.