1981 Plymouth Reliant 2-Door
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Unverified
All photo credits
- Photo: 1982 Plymouth Reliant Custom wagon, front left (ISWC meet, July 15, 2023) by MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Plymouth Reliant (4101301144) by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Plymouth Reliant Wagon by Bull-Doser, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 1982 Plymouth Reliant Custom wagon, rear left (ISWC meet, July 15, 2023) by MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 1981 Plymouth Reliant (31402659540) by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 1981 Plymouth Reliant 2-Door is an 84-hp 2.2-liter inline-4 with a 4-speed manual and front-wheel drive. It starts at $5,995 MSRP.
It makes 84 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 111 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm.
The Reliant measures 175.0 inches long on a 99.6-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 2,344 lb.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | |
| Body Type | Coupe |
| Powertrain | Gas |
| Price | |
| MSRP | $5,995 ($21,434 *) |
| Engine | |
| Engine Type | 2.2L K I4 |
| Displacement | 2.2 L |
| Horsepower | 84 hp @ 4,800 rpm |
| Torque | 111 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm |
| Valvetrain | SOHC |
| Bore and Stroke | 3.44 x 3.62 in |
| Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 |
| Injection Type | 2-Barrel Carburetor |
| Drivetrain | |
| Drive Type | FWD |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | 4-Speed Manual |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs |
| Rear Suspension | Semi-independent trailing arm (beam axle), coil springs |
| Tires & Wheels | |
| Wheels Front | 13 in |
| Wheels Rear | 13 in |
| Tires Front | 175/80R13 |
| Tires Rear | 175/80R13 |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Length | 175 in |
| Width | 68 in |
| Height | 52 in |
| Wheelbase | 99.6 in |
| Curb Weight | 2,344 lbs |
| Interior | |
| Headroom Front | 38 in |
| Headroom Rear | 37 in |
| Legroom Front | 42 in |
| Legroom Rear | 35 in |
| Shoulder Room Front | 55 in |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 58 in |
| Hip Room Front | 56 in |
| Hip Room Rear | 56 in |
Similar cars
Rivals to the 1981 Plymouth Reliant 2-Door with similar size, power and price from around the same years.
Safety & Recalls
NCAP safety ratings
Not crash-tested by NHTSA for this model year.
Recalls
4 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 1981 Plymouth RELIANT. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mar 29, 1989 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER MAY CORRODE AND FAIL AT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR PIVOT MOUNTS IF OPERATED WHERE SALT IS USED TO AID IN SNOW REMOVAL.
Consequence: CONTROL ARM COULD DETACH FROM THE CROSSMEMBER, ADVERSELYAFFECTING DIRECTIONAL STABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT CONTROL ARM DETACHMENT AS A RESULT OF CORROSION WEAKENING.
NHTSA campaign 89V052000
Sep 22, 1981 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL SWITCH MAY STICK IN THE "RESUME" POSITION RESTRICTING RETURN MOVEMENT. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM.
Remedy: THE SHIELD PORTION OF THE "RESUME" SLIDE LEVER IN THE SPEED CONTROL UNIT WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA campaign 81V111000
Aug 5, 1981 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES INSTALLED ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE INTERNAL SWITCH CONTACT PRESSURE DUE TO AN INCORRECT FORMATION OF THE SWITCH CONTACT TERMINALS. THIS LACK OF SWITCH CONTACT CONTINUITY MAY RENDER THE (STOP) BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.
Remedy: THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED AND PROPERLY FORMED TERMINALS WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO COST TO OWNER.
NHTSA campaign 81V093000
Feb 11, 1981 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
BRAKE FLUID MAY CONTAIN AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER. THIS CAN CAUSE DEGRADATION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE OR BRAKE FAILURE UNDER A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
Remedy: EXISTING BRAKE FLUID WILL BE REMOVED FROM BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKE SYSTEM WILL BE REFILLED WITH FRESH BRAKE FLUID.
NHTSA campaign 81V021000
2 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 1981 Plymouth RELIANT
Owner Complaints
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1981 Plymouth RELIANT. See all on nhtsa.gov
| Equipment | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 1981 PLYMOUTH RELIANT. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.