Total Complaints
34 filings
PLYMOUTH LASER · model year
1990 PLYMOUTH LASER
34 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990PLYMOUTHLASER carries 34 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 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 1990 LASER is exterior lighting:headlights with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (4) and structure:frame and members (3). 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 1990 LASER. 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.
34
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020826ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHEN OVERHEATED, OIL DISPERSED. *AK
20020326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH
20010316SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEATBELT STAYS IN FORWARD POSITION MOST TIMES. WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING, THERE IS NOR RESTRAINT.*AK
20001107STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
METAL FATIGUE OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME RESULTED IN LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE DIRECTION AND NO POWER. *ET
20001017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE AND TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE STOPPED, UPON SERVICE DEALER FOUND 4 BROKEN VALVES, ONE OF WHICH WAS LODGED INTO HEAD, HOLES IN 1 PISTON, SCARRED CYLINDER BLOCK. *ET
20001017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE AND TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE STOPPED, UPON SERVICE DEALER FOUND 4 BROKEN VALVES, ONE OF WHICH WAS LODGED INTO HEAD, HOLES IN 1 PISTON, SCARRED CYLINDER BLOCK. *ET
20000928ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT CUT OFF. COMPLETE POWER SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AT A 65 MILES/ HOUR ZONE, INCLUDING STEERING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION ALMOST RESULTING IN THE INJURY AND DEATH OF THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLE DRIVERS ON HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING ALTHOUGH BELT WAS CHANGED AT DEALERSHIP 35,000 MILES AGO. MANUFACTURER SUGGESTS CHANGING TIMING BELT EVERY 60,000 MILES OR MORE.
20000905TIRES
CRACKS DEVELOPED IN TIRE AFTER ONLY 6000 MILES OF USE AND DEALER WOULD NOT REFUND FOR FAULTY PRODUCT.( DOT NUMBER: E4 027269 TIRE SIZE: 205/55 R16 )
20000519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY MENTIONED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20000413SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL 95V103.003/ACTIVE RESTRAINTS BELT BUCKELES: RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED AND CONSUMER BEEN TRYING TO GET DEALER TO HONOR IT SINCE DEC/1998. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
20000411UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
19990929ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES DUE TO A CRACK IN ENGINE MANIFOLD. DEALER HAS REPAIREDVEHICLE. *AK
19990814EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS MORE THEN ONCE. REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW I WAS TOLD BY A BODY SHOP MAN THAT A PEICE WAS BROKEN INSIDE THE DOOR ASSEMBLY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT 200 MILES PAS THE 12,000 MILE WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP WHEN ITS DOWN. REGARDING THE DEFROSTING SYSTEMS AND AIR CONDITIONER THE COIL IN THE FRONT ROTTED OUT AND NOW THE AIR DOESNT WORK ALSO THE DEFROSTER DOESNT DEFROST THE WINDOWS VERY WELL AND THE REAR DEFROSTER THE PIECE FELL OFF.
19990814VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS MORE THEN ONCE. REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW I WAS TOLD BY A BODY SHOP MAN THAT A PEICE WAS BROKEN INSIDE THE DOOR ASSEMBLY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT 200 MILES PAS THE 12,000 MILE WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP WHEN ITS DOWN. REGARDING THE DEFROSTING SYSTEMS AND AIR CONDITIONER THE COIL IN THE FRONT ROTTED OUT AND NOW THE AIR DOESNT WORK ALSO THE DEFROSTER DOESNT DEFROST THE WINDOWS VERY WELL AND THE REAR DEFROSTER THE PIECE FELL OFF.
19990814VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS MORE THEN ONCE. REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW I WAS TOLD BY A BODY SHOP MAN THAT A PEICE WAS BROKEN INSIDE THE DOOR ASSEMBLY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT 200 MILES PAS THE 12,000 MILE WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP WHEN ITS DOWN. REGARDING THE DEFROSTING SYSTEMS AND AIR CONDITIONER THE COIL IN THE FRONT ROTTED OUT AND NOW THE AIR DOESNT WORK ALSO THE DEFROSTER DOESNT DEFROST THE WINDOWS VERY WELL AND THE REAR DEFROSTER THE PIECE FELL OFF.
19990814ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS MORE THEN ONCE. REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW I WAS TOLD BY A BODY SHOP MAN THAT A PEICE WAS BROKEN INSIDE THE DOOR ASSEMBLY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT 200 MILES PAS THE 12,000 MILE WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP WHEN ITS DOWN. REGARDING THE DEFROSTING SYSTEMS AND AIR CONDITIONER THE COIL IN THE FRONT ROTTED OUT AND NOW THE AIR DOESNT WORK ALSO THE DEFROSTER DOESNT DEFROST THE WINDOWS VERY WELL AND THE REAR DEFROSTER THE PIECE FELL OFF.
19990213EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LAMP DOORS DO NOT GO UP WHEN YOU SELECT LIGHTS ON..ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN THEY ARE UP AND ON THEY DO NOT GO DOWN, WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF.
19981012STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRONT SUBFRAME FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
19980923POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
19980721SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS IN WHICH THE 3POINT SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE SEATB ELT HOUSING, MAKES THE SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THERE IS NO PROTECTION FOR THE CONSUMER. *AK
Compare 1990PLYMOUTHLASER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 PLYMOUTH LASER have?▼
The 1990 PLYMOUTH LASER has 34 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 PLYMOUTH LASER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 PLYMOUTH LASER is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1990 PLYMOUTH LASER 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.