IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL LEAK FROM FILTER PICK UP CAUSING BIG PUDDLES UNDER HIS CAR. NLM
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
14 reportsMY NEON HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY STALLING OUT WHEN SLOWING FOR STOPS, STARTING THE VEHICLE AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I AM AT IDLE. THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN I AM PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLS, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO STOP IN TIME. NO CRASHES HAVE INCURRED YET, BUT THEY ARE POSSIBLE. I HAV…
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MY NEON HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY STALLING OUT WHEN SLOWING FOR STOPS, STARTING THE VEHICLE AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I AM AT IDLE. THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN I AM PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLS, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO STOP IN TIME. NO CRASHES HAVE INCURRED YET, BUT THEY ARE POSSIBLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES NOW TO LEBANON CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH FOR REPAIR. 11-19: FUEL PUMP AND VARIOUS CABLES REPLACED. PROBLEM RETURNED. !2-31: IDLE MEMORY NEEDED TO BE RESET. 1-2-02: THROTTLE BODY AND THERMOSTAT NEED REPLACED...ALL OF THESE ITEMS WERE COMPLETED ON DIFFERENT DATES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT LEBANON CHRYSLER AND HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED COMPLETELY THIS TIME, BUT IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE I DRIVE. I LEAVE SUFFICIENT DISTANCE BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT I CANNOT PREDICT HOW OTHERS WILL DRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP. LISA BRADY. *AK
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, CLIP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL HOSE IN PLACE CAME OFF, ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FUEL FILTER. *AK *ML
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
NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH CAR FROM ENGINE TO WIRING. NOT HAPPY WITH CAR CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM CAR!
FUEL GAUGE INACCURATELY READS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL TO RETURN HOSE CONNECTION CAUSED THE FUEL VAPORS TO IGNITE FROM THE SPARKS WHICH WERE CREATED DURING NORMAL OPERATION, RESULTING IN FIRE AND MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC
AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHI…
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AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. CAMPAIGN # 96V228000
AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHI…
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AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. CAMPAIGN # 96V228000
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