IllustrationHEAD GASKET LEAK...WAS REPLACED TWICE...FINALLY A DIFFERENT STYLE THAT WAS NOT FAULTY WAS RELEASED...FIBROUS GASKET LEAKED, WHEREAS THE MULTILAYER METAL GASKET DIDN'T.
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
167 reportsHEAD GASKET FAILED. PH
3 HEAD GASKETS FAILURED IN 6 YEARS RESULTING IN ENGINE STALLING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAILURES WERE AT 30K, 45K, AND 70K MILES RESPECTIVELY. MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON 01/29/02. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURES. TS
THE VEHICLE NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE BRAKES. *YH THE CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED TWICE, THE POWER STEERING BELTS FAILED WHILE TRAVELING DURING TRAFFIC, AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. *SCC
IN APRIL 2000, HEAD GASKET BLEW, WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC TO CALL CHRYSLER CORP. CALLED THEM AND THEY SENT ME TO CHRYSLER DEALER. HAD TO PAY 195 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKET. ASLO INFORMED THEM OF WATER ENTERING THE REAR OF THE CAR THRU SIDE WINDOWS. THEY CLAIMED THEY WATER TESTED IT AND FOUND NO WATER…
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IN APRIL 2000, HEAD GASKET BLEW, WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC TO CALL CHRYSLER CORP. CALLED THEM AND THEY SENT ME TO CHRYSLER DEALER. HAD TO PAY 195 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKET. ASLO INFORMED THEM OF WATER ENTERING THE REAR OF THE CAR THRU SIDE WINDOWS. THEY CLAIMED THEY WATER TESTED IT AND FOUND NO WATER LEAK. NOW 26 MONTHS LATER, NOTICED ANOTHER LEAK, TOOK TO MECHANIC WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING. CONTACT CHRYSLER, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO LOOK INTO THIS. MY COMPLAINT MAKES 108 ON HEAD GASKETS ONLY. THAT IS 108 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT MONIES ON SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED CHRYLSER/PLYMOUTH WILL HAVE LOST ANOTHER CUSTOMER. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE?*AK
O RINGS ON AIR CONDITIONING UNIT REPLACED ON 6-23-00, EVAPORTATION COIL REPLACED ON 9-12-00. PLUG, SENOR-OXYGEN, EXHAUST, WIRING PKG-POSTIVE CABLE REPLACED 10-2-00, TEMPERATURE PROBE REPLACED 7-19-01. AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AGAIN IN AUGUST, 2001. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE INNER OUTER LEFT TIE RODS 4-9-98, HEAD GASKET 1-28-00, …
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O RINGS ON AIR CONDITIONING UNIT REPLACED ON 6-23-00, EVAPORTATION COIL REPLACED ON 9-12-00. PLUG, SENOR-OXYGEN, EXHAUST, WIRING PKG-POSTIVE CABLE REPLACED 10-2-00, TEMPERATURE PROBE REPLACED 7-19-01. AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AGAIN IN AUGUST, 2001. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE INNER OUTER LEFT TIE RODS 4-9-98, HEAD GASKET 1-28-00, OIL SENDING UNIT 3-3-00, REAR MAIN SEAL AND BEDPLATE 5-9-00.
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEEDS ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE RUNS HOT AND ROUGH AS MOTOR OIL LEAKS OUT. A QUART ONCE A WEEK PROGRESSED TO EVERY 2-3 DAYS DUE TO LEAKING OUT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
LOSS OF OIL WHILE DRIVING, AND OIL LEAKAGES WHILE PARKED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
UPCOMING ENGINE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO WATER/ OIL MIXING. *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