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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

27 reports
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62,000 miles · Jan 3, 2006
Power Train

CONSUMER 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON PCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED CAUSING COMER VEHICLE TO FAIL EMISSIONS. *TS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED STATE EMISSION INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S READINESS CODES WERE CLEARED EACH TIME THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONSUMER FOUND A TSB WHICH STATED THAT THE PCM MUST BE REPROGRAM…

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CONSUMER 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON PCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED CAUSING COMER VEHICLE TO FAIL EMISSIONS. *TS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED STATE EMISSION INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S READINESS CODES WERE CLEARED EACH TIME THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONSUMER FOUND A TSB WHICH STATED THAT THE PCM MUST BE REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE CONDITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE WHERE THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED AT NO CHARGE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10147566

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE IS VERY SLOW, NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER STATED THERE IS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO SHE HAD TO PAY, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 64000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024747

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUILD FROM THE GASKETS ,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011096

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2002
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER FAILS OFTEN. DEALER IS NO HELP, THEY WANT A DIAGNOSIS FEE. DANGEROUR TO OPERATE W/O ACCURATE SPEEDOMETER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #761011

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2002
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758261

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #746689

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Fuel System, OtherPower Train

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.*AK SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #881058

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGUL…

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TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY UNDER QUICK STOPPING ATTEMPTS, EVEN THOUGH THE PADS/SHOES ARE STILL GOOD. THERE IS A GAS LEAK THAT ALLOWS FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. EGR VALVE IS BROKEN AND WON'T BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE ENGINE. PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CAR AND THE PANELS ARE NOW RUSTING. CAR STALLS IN REVERSE. CAR IDLES ROUGHLY EVEN AFTER TUNE-UPS. HEAT/AC KNOBS ARE CRACKED DUE TO IMPROPER DRILLING.

NHTSA ODI #725978

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2000
Power Train

WHEN THE CAR TURNED OVER 76,000 MILES, WITHIN THREE WEEKS I HAVE SPENT $1,024.00 TO FIX MY CAR. NOW, AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE BEING FIXED, MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725726

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2000
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS WORN OUT AFTER 70K MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725364

Official recalls

2

96V075000 · 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

2

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