IllustrationWHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLED OUT/ SHUT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
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 reportsI HAVE SPOKE WITH NUMEROUSE MECHANICS AND NEON OWNERS AND THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY COMMENT AS SAYING NEONS ARE NETORIOUS FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ONE THE FACTORY INSTALLED. SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED ANOTHER HEAD GASKET AND REPLACED THAT ONE AND NOW 2YEARS LATER IT NEED TO BE RE…
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I HAVE SPOKE WITH NUMEROUSE MECHANICS AND NEON OWNERS AND THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY COMMENT AS SAYING NEONS ARE NETORIOUS FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ONE THE FACTORY INSTALLED. SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED ANOTHER HEAD GASKET AND REPLACED THAT ONE AND NOW 2YEARS LATER IT NEED TO BE REPLACED AGIAN. THIS IF REDICULOUS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE HEAD GASGET THAT WAS ISSUED WAS FAULTY AND THEY REISSUED A HIGH PREFORMANCE ONE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE THING TO FIX. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS BASIC MAITNANCE. THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE CASE IN ANY OF THE ONES I HAVE CAME ACROSS. IF YOU TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK TO NEON SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND OWNERS YOU WOULD SEE THAT IT IS AN OVERWHELMING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESED AND THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICALS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO HELP THE CONCUMER, DAMIEN MICHEL. *AK
VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A GARAGE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO INSPECTION, AND PERSONNEL TOLD HIM THAT IT WILLL NOT PASS. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS 3-4 TIMES A DAY, MOSTLY AT 45 MPH AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 2-3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON, IN MARCH 17,1997 THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. STARTING WITH CAMSHAFT SEAL. OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET MANY TIMES, RADIATOR RECALL, MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE, BREAK REPAIRS, MASTER CYLINDER SEALS SWOLLEN, RUBBER TRANS RETURN COOLER LINE CRACKED, REBUILT TRANS AND REPLACED …
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SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON, IN MARCH 17,1997 THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. STARTING WITH CAMSHAFT SEAL. OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET MANY TIMES, RADIATOR RECALL, MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE, BREAK REPAIRS, MASTER CYLINDER SEALS SWOLLEN, RUBBER TRANS RETURN COOLER LINE CRACKED, REBUILT TRANS AND REPLACED SEALS, FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, REPLACE REAR MAIN SEAL, REPLACE PAN GASKET, REPLACE OXYGEN SENSOR, AND RECENT TRANS FAILURE.
BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO REMAIN ON. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR DOWN INTO THE ROTORS. HEAD GASKET AT THE DRIVERS SIDE, REAR, TOWARDS TOP LEAKS OIL DOWN OVER THE ENGINE. CAM SENSOR GASKET LEAKS OIL DOWN OVER THE ENGINE.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A CRACK WHICH ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD THIS REPAIRED IN 1998, AND IN MAY OF 2001 WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. HEAD GASKET HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER CRACK AND WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK IF THE OILS SPILLS ON THE HOT ENGINE, THERE COULD BE FIRE. CHANGING HEAD GASKET EVERY …
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A CRACK WHICH ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD THIS REPAIRED IN 1998, AND IN MAY OF 2001 WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. HEAD GASKET HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER CRACK AND WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK IF THE OILS SPILLS ON THE HOT ENGINE, THERE COULD BE FIRE. CHANGING HEAD GASKET EVERY 2-3 YEARS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *YH
ENIGINE POWER FAILING, CONTINOUS PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKING AFTER GASKET REPLACED, AIR CONDITIONER MAKING NOISES, BRAKES SQUEAL ESP. AFTER RUNNING
OIL IN RADIATOR FLUID. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE EXAMINED. BUT, CONSUMER STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN IN ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*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