PLYMOUTH LASER · model year

1993 PLYMOUTH LASER

18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993PLYMOUTHLASER carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1993 LASER is power train:automatic transmission with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (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 1993 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.

18
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20130114POWER TRAIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V069002 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,902. UPDATED 02/26/13* LJ

Mileage: 137,902

20070430POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ALL FOUR OF THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS LOCKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE, SEAL, AND YOKE FAILED, AND FLUIDS SLOWLY LEAKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ROCKED THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH, PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THERE WAS SAFETY RECALL # 98V069002 CONCERNING POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERTAINING TO THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED, BUT WOULD REPAIR IT AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 96,500, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,002.*AK

Mileage: 96,002

20060106POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND A TOW TRUCK WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ALL FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM TRANSFER CASE. THE MECHANIC ALSO FOUND A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE RECALL WILL NOT COVER THIS REPAIR SINCE THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. AK

Mileage: 100,000

20040420CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE ABS BRAKES ENGAGED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND PULSATED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN ICY SURFACE. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN TWO CRASHES. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A CEMENT PARKING BLOCK AND RAN INTO A BRICK BUILDING. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE ABS FUSE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *AK *NM

Mileage: 72,000

20000814SUSPENSION:REAR

THE REAR AXLE WAS BENT IN AN ACCIDENT AND REPLACEMENT PART THAT MEETS MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION COULD NOT BE FOUND, OWNER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL AXLES THAT DO NOT MEET THE MANUFACTURERS STANDARDS. YH

20000623POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CAR KEPT STALLING EVERY TIME I TRIED TO TURN IT ON. IT WOULD NOT IDLE, BUT WOULD RUN IF YOU CONTINUALLY GAVE IT GAS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THEY CLEANED THE STARTER PLATE, WHICH HELPED FOR A DAY, BUT THE CAR HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT IS WORST WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS ALSO STARTED TICKING SINCE THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED, BUT THE CAR CAR HAS HAD ALL NEW BELTS AND A NEW TENSIONER FOR THE TIMING BELT PUT INTO IT, PLUS THE EXHAUST HAS BEEN CHECKED AN NO LEAKS HAVE BEEN FOUND. *AK

20000524POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN DRIVING TRANSFER CASE LOCKS UP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. ALSO, WILL HAVE TO TIGHTEN TRANSMISSION BOLT EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS. *AK

20000524POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

WHEN DRIVING TRANSFER CASE LOCKS UP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. ALSO, WILL HAVE TO TIGHTEN TRANSMISSION BOLT EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS. *AK

20000113POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR (SLIPPING INTO GEAR, NOT ENGAGING IMMEDIATELY WHEN PUT IN GEAR), WHEN I HAD FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT 5204 MILEAGE, I RETURNEDTO THE DEALER ,AND HAD TRANSMISSION EXAMINED (I HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER), AND WAS TOLD ALL THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS BEHAVED THIS WAY. IT WAS VERY IRRITATING AND THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT TOTALLY STOP FUNCTIONING UNTIL ON MY WAY TO WORK 7/22/98 AT MILEAGE 67927. I CONTACTED ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA (SINCE THE ONE I PURCHASED FROM HAD CLOSED), AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE I WAS OVER THE 60000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER SUPPORT, AND WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED ME $131.00 FOR HAVING MY CAR REPAINTED DO TO THE DETERIORATING PAINT CONDITIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR (ANOTHER VERY LONG STORY AND BATTLE). SINCE I COULD NOT GET ANY HELP AT THE DEALERSHIP, I TOOK

19990503ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE WAY TO WORK. I HAD IT TOWED TO BOB CROW CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH IN ROSWELL, NM. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BOB CROW DID NOT TOUCH THE CAR FOR A WEEK. WHEN WE CALLED THEY TOLD US WE HAD NOT PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THEM AND IT WOULD SIT UNTIL THEY WERE READY TO DO THE WORK. A MECHANIC CHALLENGED THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THEY FIRED HIM. THE OWNER, BOB CROW, SWORE AT US, TOLD US TO TAKE OUR F,,, CAR AND GET IT OUT OF THERE. WE FINALLY CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP. THEY SAID, YES, TIMING CHAINS CAN TAKE A WHILE TO FIX, SINCE THERE WERE OTHER DAMAGES TO THE CAR. I AM REPORTING THAT BOB CROW CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH IN ROSWELL, NM, HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. MOST PEOPLE JUST GO AWAY AND DO BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. UNFORTUNATELY, I PURCHASED MY CAR BEFORE MOVING HERE; I CANNOT CHANGE THAT. I THOUGHT I HAD THE RIGHT TO REASONABLY PROMPT SERVICE. I DID NOT THINK I WOULD BE VERBALLY ABUSED AND PUNISHED FOR NOT BUYING A CAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP.

19990111ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SMMARY

19990111ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

NO SMMARY

19981124SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER LAP BELT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT AFTER BEING FULLY EXTENDED.

19980402ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES.

19980402POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.

19961126STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE HATCHBACK WILL NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION, IT COMES DOWN SLOWLY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE HATCH BACK SUPPORTS ARE DEFECTIVE.*JB

19960129POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. *AK

19950215CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

DRIVING 45-50MPH, MADE ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN, TOUCHED BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY, SUDDENLY VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN 360 DEGREES FOUR TO FIVE TIMES. TT

Compare 1993PLYMOUTHLASER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER have?
The 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER has 18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER?
The most-complained component for the 1993 PLYMOUTH LASER is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1993 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.