1990 Plymouth Laser Problems and Recalls (27 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1990 Plymouth Laser is Engine (30% of 27 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 27 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 1990 Plymouth Laser?

8 of 27 filings named Engine (30% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Seat belts (5 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Seat belts. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 1990 Plymouth Laser

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  4. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 8 complaints · 29.6% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 8 of 27 owner complaints (29.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 8 complaints, 29.6% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 8 · 29.6% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 5 complaints, 18.5% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 5 · 18.5% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 4 complaints, 14.8% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 fire reports 4 · 14.8% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 4 complaints, 14.8% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 4 · 14.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 3 complaints, 11.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 · 11.1% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 3.7% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 3.7% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 1 complaints, 3.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 · 3.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 22 complaints, 81.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 fire reports 22 · 81.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 8 29.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 5 18.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 4 14.8% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 4 14.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 11.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 3.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 3.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 22 81.5% 0 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 1989. 1995-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1995-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 1989 Jul 2002 Recall campaign 89V128000 ◆ Recall campaign 89V128000 Recall campaign 90V056001 ◆ Recall campaign 90V056001 Recall campaign 90V106001 ◆ Recall campaign 90V106001 Recall campaign 95V103003 ◆ Recall campaign 95V103003 Investigation PE94074 ● Investigation PE94074 Investigation EA98002 ● Investigation EA98002
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q2 Owner reports 3
1995-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q2 Owner reports 2
1996-Q3 Owner reports 2
1996-Q4 Owner reports 1
1997-Q1 Owner reports 1
1998-Q1 Owner reports 1
1998-Q2 Owner reports 2
1998-Q3 Owner reports 2
1998-Q4 Owner reports 1
1999-Q1 Owner reports 1
1999-Q3 Owner reports 2
1999-Q4 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q2 Owner reports 2
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 89V128000
Recall campaign 1 90V056001
Recall campaign 1 90V106001
Recall campaign 1 95V103003
Defect investigation 1 PE94074
Defect investigation 1 EA98002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Seat belts.

  1. Recall campaign 89V128000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 90V056001

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 90V106001

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    WINDSHIELDS WOULD NOT PREVENT EJECTION OF VEHICLEOCCUPANTS DURING A VEHICLE CRASH, WHICH CAUSES SERIOUS INJURIES AND FATALITIES.
    Remedy:
    REPLACE WINDSHIELDS, ASSOCIATED PARTS, AND PRIMER.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 95V103003

    Seat belts

    Report date
    Component:
    Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 27 complaints · page 1 of 2
2002-08-25Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 766172
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN OVERHEATED, OIL DISPERSED. *AK
2002-03-26Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 8006419
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH
2001-03-06Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 742011
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SEATBELT STAYS IN FORWARD POSITION MOST TIMES. WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING, THERE IS NOR RESTRAINT.*AK
2000-09-24Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 732380
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2000-05-03Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 722257
CrashFireInjuryDeath
NO SUMMARY MENTIONED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
2000-04-13Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 860257
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2000-03-30Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 720813
CrashFireInjuryDeath
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
1999-11-23Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 784320
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
1999-09-29Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 849216
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES DUE TO A CRACK IN ENGINE MANIFOLD. DEALER HAS REPAIREDVEHICLE. *AK
1999-08-14Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 709996
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1990 Plymouth Laser?

Owners named Engine most often — 8 of 27 reports (30%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1990 Plymouth Laser?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Seat belts. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1990 Plymouth Laser?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources