Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 18 of 481 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 147 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
57 crash reports29 fire reports44 injury reports
What owners actually said
481 reports
85,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
BRAKES FAILED TO WORK RIGHT WHEN MY BOYFRIEND WRECKED THE CAR WHICH THEN MADE HIM HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T COME OUT. WE CONTACTED THE PLACE WE GOT THE CAR FROM BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL US ANYTHING. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF IT ON OCTOBER 1, 2003. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED. WE WERE TOLD THE PLACE WE B…
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BRAKES FAILED TO WORK RIGHT WHEN MY BOYFRIEND WRECKED THE CAR WHICH THEN MADE HIM HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T COME OUT. WE CONTACTED THE PLACE WE GOT THE CAR FROM BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL US ANYTHING. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF IT ON OCTOBER 1, 2003. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED. WE WERE TOLD THE PLACE WE BOUGHT IT FROM DID NOT PUT IN NEW CLUTCH AND PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARINGS IN WHEN WE HAD JUST BOUGHT IT. WE HAD TOLD THEM THE CLUTCH WAS MAKING NOISE. THEY WOULD NOT FIXED IT. THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING WHEN I TOOK IT IN; THAT'S JUST NEONS THEY SAID... MY BIGGEST CONCERN BESIDE THE TRANNY AND CLUTCH IS THE AIR BAGS NOT COMING OUT AT ALL...
NHTSA ODI #10071032
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other
PAINT IS PEELING OFF AND IS CRACKING ALL OVER CAR. I HAVE WAXED THIS CAR ALL THE TIME AND IT IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE OTHER THAN THE PAINT.
NHTSA ODI #10069335
82,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other
PAINT STARTED BUBBLING UP AND PEELING OFF IN LARGE CHUNKS. CAN'T EVEN WASH WITH A HOSE OR MORE PAINT IS REMOVED. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAIR AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY CHRYSLER. THEY STILL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBLITY.
NHTSA ODI #10068923
59,535 miles · Nov 10, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE CAR'S COMPUTER, OR ECU MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. NO POWER WAS REACHING THE COIL, HENCE THERE WAS NO SPARK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AT FIRST THE AUTO SHUTOFF DELAY WAS REPLACED. BUT THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED, IT ONCE AGAIN STALLED. IT TOOK ONE WEEK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM: BAD COMPUTER IN THE CAR. THIS MIGHT HAVE B…
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THE CAR'S COMPUTER, OR ECU MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. NO POWER WAS REACHING THE COIL, HENCE THERE WAS NO SPARK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AT FIRST THE AUTO SHUTOFF DELAY WAS REPLACED. BUT THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED, IT ONCE AGAIN STALLED. IT TOOK ONE WEEK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM: BAD COMPUTER IN THE CAR. THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10045929
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2003
Structure
BLUE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE ROOF IN SPLOTCHES, WITH SMALL SCATTERED AREAS OF PAINT LOSS ELSEWHERE, AND HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10030285
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING NOISE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *NLM
THE GAS MILEAGE WAS VERY POOR, THE SEAT BELT COVERS, TIRE TREAD, FOG LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE AND THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10011750
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2003
Fuel System, DieselFire
THE WIRES THAT RUN THROUGH THE GAS TANK ONE OF THOSE WIRES CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT A HOLE IN TANK. CONSUMER FEELS LUCKY THE CAR DIDN'T BLOW UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001939
100,070 miles · Dec 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE VALVE COVER. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THIS LEAK CONTINUED, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001068
63,400 miles · Dec 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER THAT I TOOK IT TO FOR REPAIRS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY, BUT THAT I COULD CONTACT CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER HAS DECLINED TO COVER AN…
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I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER THAT I TOOK IT TO FOR REPAIRS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY, BUT THAT I COULD CONTACT CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER HAS DECLINED TO COVER ANY OF THE COST OF PARTS AND SERVICE FOR THIS REPAIR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT HEAD GASKETS ARE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY NEON OWNERS ARE FIGHTING THIS SAME BATTLE. I AM APALLED THAT A RECALL WAS NEVER DONE ON THIS PART. VIEW OTHERS PROBLEMS WITH THE NEON HEAD GASTKET AT THIS WEBSITE. <HTTP://GROUPS.GOOGLE.COM/GROUPS?Q=NEON+HEAD+GASKET&IE=ISO-8859-1&HL=EN> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD GIVE ME ANY ADVICE ON THIS MATTER. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT WARRANTS A RECALL?
THE FUEL AND REAR BRAKE TUBES CAN EXPERIENCE ACCELERATED CORROSION BETWEEN THE TUBES AND A RUBBER ISOLATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CORROSION OF THE TUBES CAN LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID OR FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKES OR RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE, FUEL SUPPLY AND FUEL VAPOR TUBES FOR THE PRESENCE OF CORROSION. ANY TUBES SHOWING CORROSION WILL BE REPLACED. ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE RUBBER ISOLATOR REPLACED WITH A PLASTIC CLIP.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
THE FUEL AND REAR BRAKE TUBES CAN EXPERIENCE ACCELERATED CORROSION BETWEEN THE TUBES AND A RUBBER ISOLATOR.
Consequence: CORROSION OF THE TUBES CAN LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID OR FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKES OR RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE, FUEL SUPPLY AND FUEL VAPOR TUBES FOR THE PRESENCE OF CORROSION. ANY TUBES SHOWING CORROSION WILL BE REPLACED. ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE RUBBER ISOLATOR REPLACED WITH A PLASTIC CLIP.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
THE FUEL AND REAR BRAKE TUBES CAN EXPERIENCE ACCELERATED CORROSION BETWEEN THE TUBES AND A RUBBER ISOLATOR.
Consequence: CORROSION OF THE TUBES CAN LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID OR FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKES OR RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE, FUEL SUPPLY AND FUEL VAPOR TUBES FOR THE PRESENCE OF CORROSION. ANY TUBES SHOWING CORROSION WILL BE REPLACED. ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE RUBBER ISOLATOR REPLACED WITH A PLASTIC CLIP.
THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.
THE REAR BRAKE HOSE MOUNTING BRACKET SCREWS CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE BRAKE HOSES TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION. THE UNRESTRAINED HOSES ARE THEN SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL REDUCE THE BRAKING PERFORMANCEOF THE VEHICLE, EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE REAR BRAKE LINE HOSE BRACKET SCREWS ON THESE VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED.
THE ABS BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL ALLOWS AIR TO ENTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING SPONGY BRAKES OR PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OR PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: MASTER CYLINDERS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR THE SUSPECT BUILD DATE CODE RANGE AND WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
9
DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
PE98012 · Underhood Fires
Opened Feb 26, 1998 · Closed Jun 23, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
EA98003 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Jan 30, 1998 · Closed Jan 5, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.
PE97042 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened Sep 21, 1997 · Closed Jan 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
EA97009 · Loss Of Steering Control
Opened Apr 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 8, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE97007 · Alleged Fires In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 31, 1997 · Closed Apr 7, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE ACCUMULATION OF BRASS POWDER, THAT WEARS OFF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS INSIDE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH.THIS POWDER COLLECTS IN SMALL TRAILS OF GREASE THAT TRACK FROM ONE CONTACT TO ANOTHER.WHEN THE CONCENTRATION OF BRASS IN THE GREASE GETS HIGH ENOUGH, IT CAN CAUSE A HIGH RESISTANCE SHORT.THIS SHORT, IN TURN CAN IGNITE THE GREASE AND CAUSE SMOKE TO BE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.THE GREASE USED INSIDE THE SWITCH, AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS PLASTIC COMPONENTS IN THE COLUMN, ARE FIRE RETARDANT AND WILL NOT BURN WITHOUT A SUSTAINED HEAT SOURCE.THERE HAS BEEN ONLY A SINGLE VERIFIED INCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND THIS REPORTED FIRE WAS SMALL, INVOLVING SOME CHARRING OF THE STEERING WHEEL.ALL OTHER VERIFIED INCIDENTS WERE LIMITED TO SMOKE FROM THE COLUMN AND MINOR INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
PE96069 · Loss Of Steering Control
Opened Nov 26, 1996 · Closed Apr 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE94095 · Loss Of Steering Control
Opened Dec 28, 1994 · Closed Apr 25, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
1995 Plymouth Neon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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