1991 Plymouth Laser Problems and Recalls (30 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1991 Plymouth Laser is Seat belts (27% of 30 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Seat belts — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 30 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 1991 Plymouth Laser?

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

Second is Engine (6 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Seat belts. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1990 has 27 reports on file; this year has 30. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1991 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 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Seat belts. 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: Seat belts 8 complaints · 26.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 2
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 3
  • 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 Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) appears in 8 of 30 owner complaints (26.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 8 complaints, 26.7% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 8 · 26.7% Engine (ENGINE): 6 complaints, 20.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 6 · 20.0% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 3 complaints, 10.0% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 crash reports 3 · 10.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 2 complaints, 6.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 · 6.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 2 complaints, 6.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 · 6.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 3.3% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 · 3.3% Tires (TIRES): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 · 3.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 3.3% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 3.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 25 complaints, 83.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 25 · 83.3% 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)
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 8 26.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 6 20.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 10.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 1 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 25 83.3% 1 crashes · 0 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 Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in May 1995. 1995-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1995-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1996-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1994 Jan 2009 Recall campaign 95V103003 ◆ Recall campaign 95V103003 Investigation PE94074 ● Investigation PE94074 Investigation EA98002 ● Investigation EA98002
  • Campaign 95V103003 was reported 98 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 1
1995-Q2 Owner reports 1
1995-Q3 Owner reports 2
1995-Q4 Owner reports 2
1996-Q1 Owner reports 4
1996-Q2 Owner reports 1
1996-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q4 Owner reports 4
1997-Q1 Owner reports 2
1997-Q2 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q4 Owner reports 1
1998-Q1 Owner reports 1
1998-Q2 Owner reports 2
1999-Q3 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 95V103003
Defect investigation 1 PE94074
Defect investigation 1 EA98002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

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

In short, these campaigns were filed about Seat belts.

  1. 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 30 complaints · page 1 of 2
2009-01-21Tires (TIRES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10255908
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PLYMOUTH LASER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HUBCAPS ON THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPINNING AND INEVITABLY CUT THE VALVE STEM OFF OF HIS TIRE. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR DURING THE FAILURE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOST AND THE RISK OF A SERIOUS CRASH WAS INCREASED. PEP BOYS STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE EQUIPMENT INFORMATION AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 220,000. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN THE VALVE STEM WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB
2002-05-21Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 762124
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I SEE QUITE A FEW LASERS,ECLIPSES,AND TALONS THAT HAVE THE TELLTALE BLUE SMOKE TRAIL BEHIND THEM.BUT MINE ALSO SEEMS TO BE BUILDING UP EXHAUST, AND EMITTING A LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE UPON RESTARTING
2002-02-04Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 757729
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MECHANICAL (SUSPENSION, R.F.) REPAIRED W/USED/REMAN. PARTS. LOCAL PLYMOUTH DEALER'SSERVICE MANAGER WAS OF NO HELP CONCERNING POSSIBLE UNANNOUNCED RECALL.ALSO, I CHECKAD PLYMOUTH/MITSUBISHI (DSM MOTORS) WEBSITE FOR ANY RECALL INFO (NONE). MY VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED MODERATE SHEETMETAL (BODY) DAMAGE.
2001-04-02Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 785382
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. *MJS
2000-08-23Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 728779
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THIS AUTO HAS A MITSUBISHI ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN WITH WHICH I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE
1999-07-29Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 843782
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION THE CROSSMEMBER BROKE AND SNAPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK
1998-05-04Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
NHTSA ODI 535192
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SEAT BELT MOTOR PROBLEM CAUSES THE SHOULDER BELT TO LATCH, TO GO BACK AND FORTH IN ITS TRACK FROM THE MOST REAR POSITION TO ABOUT 5 INCHES FORWARD.
1998-04-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 822665
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN HOOD UNLATCHED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE HOOD TO SMASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND HIT THE ROOF OF VEHICLE, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AND PERSONAL INJURIES. *AK
1998-02-03Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 523206
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TURBO-CHARGER FAILED TWICE. ALSO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
1997-10-14Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 523774
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS,SEAT BELT REPAIR.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1991 Plymouth Laser?

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

Are there recalls for the 1991 Plymouth Laser?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about 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 1991 Plymouth Laser?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed. 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