Illustration23% OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I'VE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES FIRST TIME THE REAR BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED, REPLACE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, REPLACE PADS, SCUFF ROTORS AND DRUMS, ADJUST REARS. 2 TIME NOTHING WAS TOLD BRAKES ARE BRAKING AS DESIGNED. NEXT TIME AIR BUBBLE WAS FOUND. NOW HCU UNIT NEED REPLACING.
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 reportsABS BRAKES ARE CONTINUALLY MAKING SQUEAKY NOISES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE REVS UP WITHOUT NOTICE. ALSO ENGINE REVS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. DEALER CURRENTLY HAS VEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, OIL LEAK CAUSED SMALL EXPLOSION THAT BLEW OFF SPARK PLUGS.
AIR CONDITIONER EXPANSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED.
CONSUMER COMPLAINT WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING INTO TOWN AT 25 MPH, ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE KEY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE ITS SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INSPECTION IS BEING MADE OF VEHIC…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINT WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING INTO TOWN AT 25 MPH, ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE KEY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE ITS SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INSPECTION IS BEING MADE OF VEHICLE. *AK
AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHI…
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AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. CAMPAIGN # 96V228000
AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHI…
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AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. CAMPAIGN # 96V228000
DASH BOARD REFLECTS ONTO WINDSHIELD CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
OIL MECHANISM FAILURE.
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