IllustrationTHE DASH CONTROL'S(SPEED)ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES!THE FRONTEND FEELS LIKE IT IS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, AND THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE TOP AND THE SIDES. I AM TRUELY DISAPPOINTED. PLUS I HAVE HAD IT WORKED ON FOR THE HEADGASKET.PLUS GAS PEDAL STICKS.
1996 Plymouth Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Neon years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Plymouth Neon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 151.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 19 of 308 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 167 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports11 fire reports24 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
45 reportsENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL INTO ENGINE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK THE FAILURE OF THE GASKET IS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. THE BATTERY DIED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER REPAIR. *YH
HORN WILL ACTIVATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON,ONCE WHEN CAR WAS PARKED,AND DRAINED BATTERY. *AK.
I TOOK MY CAR TO HORTON'S TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE COMPUTER. THEY CHARGED ME $90.00 TO PUT ON A NEW FUEL FILTER, WHEN IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS.PLEASE SEND ME A RECALL FOR THE PARTS ON MY CAR.
I HAVE HAD NON-STOP PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE. IT IS GETTING TO COSTLY TO KEEP REPAIRING THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE HELP I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN REGARDS TO THE SEVERAL PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
FAILURE#1:1/97-6/97 HORN MADE NO NOISE WHEN PUSHED. SEVERAL VISITS TO TWO DEALERS IN FT.WAYNE AND INDIANAPOLIS, IN AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FINALLY RESOLVED AS BEING A PINCHED WIRE. HAD TO INVOLVE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY. FAILURE#2:1/97-3/97 THE REAR DEFROST SWITCH FAILED ON OCCASSION FOR FIRST …
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FAILURE#1:1/97-6/97 HORN MADE NO NOISE WHEN PUSHED. SEVERAL VISITS TO TWO DEALERS IN FT.WAYNE AND INDIANAPOLIS, IN AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FINALLY RESOLVED AS BEING A PINCHED WIRE. HAD TO INVOLVE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY. FAILURE#2:1/97-3/97 THE REAR DEFROST SWITCH FAILED ON OCCASSION FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WORKS CONTINUOUSLY NOW. FAILURE#3:8/97-1998 LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, ONLY OCCASSIONALLY AND WHILE IT WAS SLOWING DOWN, NOT AT A STOP. FAILURE#4:6/99-CURRENT POWER LOCKS FAILED. FAILURE#5: 7/99-8/99 POWER STEERING FAILED. POWER SWITCH REPLACED. FAILURE#6: 3/00-7/00 A/C FAILED. 1/2 LB COOLANT LEAKED OUT AND WAS REPLACED.
RECALL 00V026 000/WIRING:HARNESS:UNDERHOOD: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION STILL REOCCURRING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED T CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE …
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RECALL 00V026 000/WIRING:HARNESS:UNDERHOOD: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION STILL REOCCURRING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED T CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
AFTER 2 MONTHS OF A SMALL OIL LEAK, THE PROBLEM WORSENED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. RECENTLY ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING.*AK
ON 6/18/98 THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AGAIN ON 6/15/00. ON 6/17/00 MY A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED TO OPERATE; PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND A BREAK IN WIRING HARNESS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. PUT IN BATTERY/FUEL PUMP AND A STARTER, AND VEHICLE STILL CUT OFF. DEALER DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE WHEN TRAVELING. *AK
Official recalls
296V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
May 3, 1996
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.
96V026000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Feb 5, 1996
AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE..
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROPERLY AND ANY WIRE THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED WILL BE REPLACED.
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
2PE02082 · 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