IllustrationCONSUMER HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. ENGINE VALVE/ ENGINE HEAD GASKET/AIR CONTIONER: COMPRESSOR & CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED 2-3 TIMES FROM 1998. CONSUMER HAS BEEN MISLED EACH TIME . APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR REPAIRS. *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
What owners actually said
308 reportsVEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE MANIFOLD. *AK
PLYMOUTH NEON STARTED LEAKING OIL AT 35000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT GASKET HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE OIL STARTED LEAKING OUT AGAIN AT 45000 MILES AND THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT OUR EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY…
Read full complaint
PLYMOUTH NEON STARTED LEAKING OIL AT 35000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT GASKET HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE OIL STARTED LEAKING OUT AGAIN AT 45000 MILES AND THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT OUR EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MADE THE INITIAL REPAIR. THIS LEAK IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. CHRYSLER SHOULD MAKE A RECALL AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *AK
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN CRASH. SOME ONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN REALLY HURT IF SITTING ON THAT SIDE, OIL LEAKS HORRIBLY AFTER ONLY 48,000 MILES, ALOT OF PROBLEMS I HAVE SEEN WITH THAT ONE AS WELL. *AK
THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT SEAL DID NOT WORK FOR UN KNOWN REASON AND THEREFORE CAUSED A LEAK. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NLM
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
HORN DOES NOT WORK TO FIX IT IS LOCATED UNDER AIRBAG CHYRSLER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBAILITY TO FIX COULD BE A MAJOPR PROBLEM IN AND ACCEDENT IF ARIBAG IS DEFECTIVE ALSO BECAUSE OF ITS. *AK
SEAT LATCH DOESN'T LOCK. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES SEAT FLIPS FORWARD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INSPECTED SEATS & EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OKAY. *AK
VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER WAS NOT CONTRACTED AT THIS TIME. *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