IllustrationHEAD GASKET OIL LEA. ,DEALERS ARE REPAIRING VERY LARGE NUMBERS,RECALL? *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 reportsFIRST THE BATTERY KEPT DRAINING DUE TO A SHORT WITHIN IN IT AND WAS REPLACED. SECOND, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. BY THE TIME ANYONE FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS WRONG IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. THIRD, THE HEAD GASKET IS CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OTHER THINGS THAT JUST STOPPED WO…
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FIRST THE BATTERY KEPT DRAINING DUE TO A SHORT WITHIN IN IT AND WAS REPLACED. SECOND, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. BY THE TIME ANYONE FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS WRONG IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. THIRD, THE HEAD GASKET IS CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OTHER THINGS THAT JUST STOPPED WORKING INCLUDE THE RELASE FOR THE TRUNK AND BACK LEFT SPEAKER. THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO COMPENSATE ANYONE WHO STILL HAS ONE. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN. THE CAR WILL DIE WHEN STARTED SOMETIMES GOING DOWN THE ROAD. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TWICE FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT FIND IT. *AK
AFTER THIS VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR, A 5 MONTH OLD CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT BELT LET GO AND SHE CAME OUT OF HER SEAT AND STRUCK HER HEAD AND STOMACH ON THE HANDLE OF THE CAR SEAT.
AT 38,000 MILES ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
GASKET HAS OIL LEAK, I HAD IT FIXED AT MOBIL GAS STATION THE MECHANICS TOULD ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM HE SEES OFTEN ON THE NEON CARS. *AK
IF NOT FOR MY DAUGHTER WEARING HER SEATBELT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE DURING A CRASH. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND CAR REQUIRES NEW ROTORS AT 38,500 MILES. OBVIOUS DEFECT. I CALLED CHRYSLERS 800 NUMBER FOR RECALL AND WARRANTIES AND WAS ADVISED THAT "CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS". IN ORDER FOR CHRYSLER TO EVEN CONSIDER PAYING FOR THE REPAIR, I HAVE TO SEE AN AUT…
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HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND CAR REQUIRES NEW ROTORS AT 38,500 MILES. OBVIOUS DEFECT. I CALLED CHRYSLERS 800 NUMBER FOR RECALL AND WARRANTIES AND WAS ADVISED THAT "CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS". IN ORDER FOR CHRYSLER TO EVEN CONSIDER PAYING FOR THE REPAIR, I HAVE TO SEE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WILL DETERMINE WHAT IF ANYTHING CHRYSLER WILL PAY FOR. I HAVE TO WAIT 4 DAYS BEFORE I CAN EVEN GET INTO SEE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEN IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 2-3 DAYS TO REPAIR. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND I HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. I CALL THIS VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I WOULD LIKE CHRYSLER TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS TO MY CAR. *AK
I BOUGHT MY NEON USED, SUPPOSEDLY BY A DEALERS WIFE. I REALLY DID NOT HAVE TOO MANY PROBLEMS UNTIL LAST MARCH, WHEN MY ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. MY HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND STILL UNDER MY FACTORY WARRANTY. WELL LAST MONTH, MY ENGINE WAS PROFUSELY LEAKING OIL WHEN MY CAR WAS IDLING. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY …
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I BOUGHT MY NEON USED, SUPPOSEDLY BY A DEALERS WIFE. I REALLY DID NOT HAVE TOO MANY PROBLEMS UNTIL LAST MARCH, WHEN MY ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. MY HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND STILL UNDER MY FACTORY WARRANTY. WELL LAST MONTH, MY ENGINE WAS PROFUSELY LEAKING OIL WHEN MY CAR WAS IDLING. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CAM SEAL AS LEAKING. I BELIEVE THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY REPLACED LAST YEAR WITH THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT I PUT ABOUT 6,500 MILES PER YEAR ON MY CAR, NONE OF WHICH ARE HIGHWAY AND I MAINTENANCE MY CAR REGULARLY. *AK
HEAD GASKET REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE. HEAD GASKET LEAKS AGAIN. *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