IllustrationI 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
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
20 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VIA INTERNET HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND GETTING NO SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER
NO SUMMARY
FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
WHILE DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ENGINE RED LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. THEN SHE STOPPED VEHICLE AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD WHERE OIL/ ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF AND STALLING, AND SOMETIMES CONSUMER COULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO GET OVER 30 MPH, VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER HAD PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF AND STALLING, AND SOMETIMES CONSUMER COULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO GET OVER 30 MPH, VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER HAD PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR SERVICE ABOUT 10 TIMES, AND THE CONSUMNER JUST GOT THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE SHOP ON FEB 17TH. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
DASH BOARD REFLECTS ONTO WINDSHIELD CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
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