IllustrationHORN 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
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
Electrical System complaints
45 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…
Read full complaint
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
DASH METERS WERE ALREADY PREVIOUSLY FIXED BUT SAID I WAS GOING TO BE CHARGED TO REPLACE THE 2ND TIME SINCE I WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. THE OIL LEAK IS SAID TO BE FOUND IN ALL NEONS FROM THE MECHANICS I TOOK IT TO.
ENGINE HAS STALLED DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER SAID THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH CAR FROM ENGINE TO WIRING. NOT HAPPY WITH CAR CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM CAR!
ALL REPAIRS WERE PAID FOR BY OWNER. ANY RECALLS ON LISTED PROBLEMS?.
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK
NO SUMMARY
WIRING HARNESS CAUSING PCM TO GIVE BAD CODES AND CAUSING ME ALOT OF MONEY
VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT FOR 15 MINUTES AND SUDDENLY A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD, BURNING ALL THE WIRES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
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