IllustrationHEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES...CHRYSLER DOESN'T CONSIDER CAR A LEMON
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING FOR LONGER THAN 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR ENGINE STALLS. VEHICLE HAS TO SIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS IN ORDER TO START BACK UP. DEALER CANT FIND A SOLUTION NOR CAN CAUSE BE DETERMINED. *AK
PART OF HUB ASSEMBLY ,WHERE AXLE GOES THROUGH, BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH DOWN HWY, CAUSING DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO LOCK AND LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
HAD TURNED VEHICLE OFF & SMELLED BURNING OIL. TOOK TO SHOP TO LOCATE ODOR. WAS INFORMED SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT HEAD GASKETS LEAKING OIL. *AK
NO SUMMARY
FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL TO RETURN HOSE CONNECTION CAUSED THE FUEL VAPORS TO IGNITE FROM THE SPARKS WHICH WERE CREATED DURING NORMAL OPERATION, RESULTING IN FIRE AND MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC
BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE. MJS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT MOVE. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PROBLEM REOCCURRED ON 10-JUN-99, AND STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER. *AK
THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1996 DODGE NEON HAS BEEN RUBBING ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUPPORT MEMBER. THE MEMBER HAS SHARP EDGES. THE RESULT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED AGAINST THE STEEL MEMBER, MELTING A WIRE TO THE INSIDE AND PANEL LIGHTS, SMOKING, AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NONE OF THE FUSES DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE SY…
Read full complaint
THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1996 DODGE NEON HAS BEEN RUBBING ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUPPORT MEMBER. THE MEMBER HAS SHARP EDGES. THE RESULT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED AGAINST THE STEEL MEMBER, MELTING A WIRE TO THE INSIDE AND PANEL LIGHTS, SMOKING, AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NONE OF THE FUSES DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE SYSTEM WERE BLOWN. I TRACED A MELTED WIRE FROM THE LIGHT SWITCH ALL THE WAY TO THE RADIO. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL ALL NEON'S AND PLACE A WIRING TUBE AROUND THE HARNESS WHERE IT CONTACTS THE SUPPORT BRACE UNDER THE DASH.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
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