THE VEHICLE NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE BRAKES. *YH THE CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED TWICE, THE POWER STEERING BELTS FAILED WHILE TRAVELING DURING TRAFFIC, AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. *SCC
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.
Equipment complaints
12 reportsAIR CONDITIONER RUNS OUT OF COOLANT EVERY YEAR--NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE DEALER COULD FIND A LEAK. *AK
O RINGS ON AIR CONDITIONING UNIT REPLACED ON 6-23-00, EVAPORTATION COIL REPLACED ON 9-12-00. PLUG, SENOR-OXYGEN, EXHAUST, WIRING PKG-POSTIVE CABLE REPLACED 10-2-00, TEMPERATURE PROBE REPLACED 7-19-01. AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AGAIN IN AUGUST, 2001. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE INNER OUTER LEFT TIE RODS 4-9-98, HEAD GASKET 1-28-00, …
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O RINGS ON AIR CONDITIONING UNIT REPLACED ON 6-23-00, EVAPORTATION COIL REPLACED ON 9-12-00. PLUG, SENOR-OXYGEN, EXHAUST, WIRING PKG-POSTIVE CABLE REPLACED 10-2-00, TEMPERATURE PROBE REPLACED 7-19-01. AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AGAIN IN AUGUST, 2001. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE INNER OUTER LEFT TIE RODS 4-9-98, HEAD GASKET 1-28-00, OIL SENDING UNIT 3-3-00, REAR MAIN SEAL AND BEDPLATE 5-9-00.
EXHAUST HAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM IT AND THE AIR-CONDITIONER COMPRESSER WHISTLES. I CHECKED FOR AN OIL LEAK AND FOUND IT TO BE THE HEAD GASKET. WHY SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM IS NOT CAUSING A FORCED RECALL IS BEYOND ME!*AK
ON 6/18/98 THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AGAIN ON 6/15/00. ON 6/17/00 MY A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED TO OPERATE; PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND A BREAK IN WIRING HARNESS. *AK
CONSUMER HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. ENGINE VALVE/ ENGINE HEAD GASKET/AIR CONTIONER: COMPRESSOR & CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED 2-3 TIMES FROM 1998. CONSUMER HAS BEEN MISLED EACH TIME . APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR REPAIRS. *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!
HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET 3 TIMES/VALVE COVER GASKET TWICE, AND TRANSMISSION SEALS ONCE, BUT DEFECTS HAVE REOCCURRED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL NOT BLOW COLD AIR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF AND STALLING, AND SOMETIMES CONSUMER COULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO GET OVER 30 MPH, VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER HAD PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT…
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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF AND STALLING, AND SOMETIMES CONSUMER COULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO GET OVER 30 MPH, VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER HAD PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR SERVICE ABOUT 10 TIMES, AND THE CONSUMNER JUST GOT THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE SHOP ON FEB 17TH. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR REGULARLY, BUT I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. FIRST OF ALL, I'VE ALWAYS HAD BRAKE TROUBLE, SECOND: MY TURN SIGNALS WILL SOMETIMES COME ON WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES (OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL), MY DEFROST KEEPS BREAKING (ONLY VENT AND BI-LEVEL WILL WORK); MY HORN DIED FOR NO REASON A FEW MONTHS AGO,…
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I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR REGULARLY, BUT I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. FIRST OF ALL, I'VE ALWAYS HAD BRAKE TROUBLE, SECOND: MY TURN SIGNALS WILL SOMETIMES COME ON WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES (OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL), MY DEFROST KEEPS BREAKING (ONLY VENT AND BI-LEVEL WILL WORK); MY HORN DIED FOR NO REASON A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND TODAY MY CAR WON'T START (I DROVE TO CHURCH, AND IT WORKED FINE, BUT WHEN I LATER TRIED STARTING MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD <EVEN THOUGH I DIN'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON. SO A FRIEND JUMP-STARTED MY CAR. IT STARTED, BUT ON MY WAY HOME, THE ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND HOT-COLD GAUGES WERE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN, AND THE RADIO KEPT RESETTING CHANNELS. THE SEATBELT AND BATTERY LIGHTS KEPT FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AS DID THE CHIMES. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHARGED MY CAR, ALTHOUGH I FELT CERTAIN IT WAS NOT ONLY THE BATTERY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NOW, MY CAR WON'T START AT ALL, AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE (IF ANYTHING) WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION. THE GAUGES ON MY DASH MOVE UP AND DOWN (EVEN THE SPEDOMETER) AND YET MY CAR REMAINS STILL. THE DOME AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, AND THE RADIO CHANGES STATIONS, YET RECEIVES NOTHING. IT SEEMS LIKE SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY CAR WORKED FINE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BROKEN HORN AND USUAL PROBLEMS, UNTIL TODAY. ALSO, AT MY 36000 CHECK-UP, THE " ENGINE" CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THE MECHANICS SAID IT WAS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE TELL ME IF OTHER PERSONS ARE HAVING SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES. COULD MY DEAD HORN HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY WHATEVER IS MALFUNCTIONING NOW? ALSO, I HEAR WIERD CLUNKING NOISES MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING, ESPEC WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR AROUND CURVES. MY CAR MAKES SQUEAKING NOISES LIKE A BIRD CHIRPING ALSO. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, WHICH IS WHY NOW I AM CONVINCED THAT THESE MUST BE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. I HAVE EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIPS. PLEASE HELP. *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
Illustration