IllustrationPAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR
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 reportsOIL LEAKS, DASHBOARD FAILURE, NOISE IN BRAKES, WIND NOISE IN PASSENGERS DOOR. HAVE REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKET TWICE, REPLACED OIL SENDIND UNIT,CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED NOW I HAVE A BIG OIL LEAK, CAR ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY PAINT ON MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON PEELING OFF. ITS NOT LIKE IT ON THE ROOF OR HOOD ITS ALL OVER THE CAR THE TRUNK, THE DOORS, THE HOOD AND THE ROOF ARE ALL PEELING. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM EITHER.*JB
WHILE DRIVING, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SURFACE ALL THE GAUGES ON MY 1996 NEON FAILED. SOMETIMES IF YOU TAP THE DASHBOARD GLASS THAT COVERS THE GAUGES THEY COME BACK ON OR IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THEY COME BACK ON, BUT THIS ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD STARTI…
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WHILE DRIVING, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SURFACE ALL THE GAUGES ON MY 1996 NEON FAILED. SOMETIMES IF YOU TAP THE DASHBOARD GLASS THAT COVERS THE GAUGES THEY COME BACK ON OR IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THEY COME BACK ON, BUT THIS ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD STARTING IN MAY, 2004. *AK
WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THEY CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE CHEST. *AK *TC
1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OUTSIDE I HAVE A LAKE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE BACK AND IN THE TRUNK WHICH IS MOLDING THE CARPET AND ITEMS KEPT INSIDE. 2. THE BACK UP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, DUE TO THE MOISTURE. 3. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKS REALLY FAST, …
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1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OUTSIDE I HAVE A LAKE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE BACK AND IN THE TRUNK WHICH IS MOLDING THE CARPET AND ITEMS KEPT INSIDE. 2. THE BACK UP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, DUE TO THE MOISTURE. 3. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKS REALLY FAST, AND STAYS ON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. 4. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS TO BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF AFTER TURNING LEFT. 5. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED ON A STEEP TURN RESULTING ME GOING OFF ROAD, LUCKILY NOT HITTING ANYONE. 6. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR AT NIGHT. 7. RADIO RECEPTION IS GETTING WORSE. STATIONS THAT USED TO COME IN WON'T ANYMORE. 8. CAR SHAKES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND AT A LIGHT. 9. THERE IS GLARE ON THE WINDSHEILD FROM DASH THAT CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY IN THE DAY TIME.*AK
PAINT IS PEELING OFF MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON. IS THIS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS GLUED TO THE PEELING PAINT? THE DEALER SAYS CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAINT IT. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON A 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON SPORT SOHC 2.0. HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT $500.00 REPAIR BILL THROUGH MECHANIC ALONG WITH $200.00 IN PARTS
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 96V026000 CONCERNING THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, BUT CHRYSLER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT EXIST. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE H…
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AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 96V026000 CONCERNING THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, BUT CHRYSLER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT EXIST. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HORN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THE ENGINE MISFIRING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND SPUTTER AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. *SC *JB
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