1990 Plymouth Laser

Routine

Owners filed 30 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the exterior lighting › headlights. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Exterior Lighting › Headlights4
010
Structure › Frame and Members3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Body › Hood1
000
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly95V103003
Filed May 24, 1995920,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. 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.

Risk. THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

Visibility › Windshield90V106001
Filed Jun 1, 1990184 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. DILUTED PRIMER MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGES PRIOR TO WINDSHIELD GLASS INSTALLATION WHICH WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE RETENTION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212.

Risk. WINDSHIELDS WOULD NOT PREVENT EJECTION OF VEHICLEOCCUPANTS DURING A VEHICLE CRASH, WHICH CAUSES SERIOUS INJURIES AND FATALITIES.

Remedy. REPLACE WINDSHIELDS, ASSOCIATED PARTS, AND PRIMER.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly90V056001
Filed Mar 21, 1990265 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. OPERATION OF SUNROOF IN "NON-STANDARD" MANNER MAY CAUSE MALE HINGE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE ROOF HINGE RECEIVER.

Risk. THE SUNROOF GLASS COULD DETACH FROM THE ROOF AND RESULTIN INJURY TO OCCUPANTS OR PERSONS IN THE VICINITY, ESPECIALLY IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

Remedy. REPLACE MALE HINGE WITH A MODIFIED VERSION TO INCREASE ROOF HINGE RECEIVER RETENTION ABILITY.

Electrical System › Wiring89V128000
Filed Jul 31, 19895,510 vehiclesDiamond-Star Motors

Defect. WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLAMPS MAY BREAK DUE TO THE STRESS CREATED BY THE HEADLAMP POP UP DEVICES.

Risk. BREAKAGE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSES LOSS OFHEADLAMP ILLUMINATION WHICH COULD HAVE A POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. HEADLAMP WIRING HARNESS ROUTING WILL BE MODIFIED AND DAMAGED WIRES REPAIRED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Aug 25, 2002CA

WHEN OVERHEATED, OIL DISPERSED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 26, 2002NJ

CONSUMER STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Mar 6, 2001WA

SEATBELT STAYS IN FORWARD POSITION MOST TIMES. WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING, THERE IS NOR RESTRAINT.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 24, 2000OH

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.

Tires
Filed Aug 26, 2000CA

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 )

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 3, 2000OH

NO SUMMARY MENTIONED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 13, 2000FL

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 30, 2000ME

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 23, 1999AL

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Sep 29, 1999NY

THE VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES DUE TO A CRACK IN ENGINE MANIFOLD. DEALER HAS REPAIREDVEHICLE. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Aug 14, 1999MI

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.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Feb 13, 1999NJ

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.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 12, 1998CA

FRONT SUBFRAME FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 12, 1998CA

METAL FATIGUE OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME RESULTED IN LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE DIRECTION AND NO POWER. *ET

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 23, 1998UN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jul 21, 1998FL

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

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed May 10, 1998CO

REAR AXLE CROSSMEMBER FAILED.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut
Filed May 10, 1998CO

HATCHBACK LIFTER FAILED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 23, 1998NC

TIMING BELT SHREADED WHILE GOING 20 MPH WHICH CREATED ENGINE INTERFERENCE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 27, 1997TX

ENGINE: MOTOR ON CAR EATS TIMING BELT ON VEHICLE. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND VEHICLE STOPPED ,LOSS OF ALL POWER. TIMING BELT HAD 30,000 MILES. THERE WAS A NATIONAL RECALL IN 1993, HAD NEW ENGINE AND TIMING BELT PUT ON. THE PROBLEM IS STILL AN EXISTING ONE. *AK

20 of 30 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1992
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19982000Routine
19951000Routine
19944110Routine
199315100Routine
199235101Fatalities reported
199130100Routine
1990 — this page30410Routine

Compare every Laser year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 24, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.