IllustrationOIL 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
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
36 reportsTHE 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
THE ABS BRAKES ON THE CAR HAVE FAILED ABOUT 8 TIMES IN THE 5 YEARS WE'VE OWNED THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WON'T STOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, FRONT DISC BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE ALL THE WAY CAUSING THEM TO WEAR EASILY BECAUSE OF CONSTANT DRIVING WITH THEM ENGAGED, ALL BRAKES FAILED LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT BRAKES AT ALL. *JG
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
AIR CONDITION BLOWS OUT HOT AIR AND MAKES A NOISE. ALSO, WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO REMAIN ON. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR DOWN INTO THE ROTORS. HEAD GASKET AT THE DRIVERS SIDE, REAR, TOWARDS TOP LEAKS OIL DOWN OVER THE ENGINE. CAM SENSOR GASKET LEAKS OIL DOWN OVER THE ENGINE.
ALL FOUR ORIGINAL ROTORS EXPERIENCING "PITTING" RELATED TO RECALL OF 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V136000. *AK
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGUL…
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TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY UNDER QUICK STOPPING ATTEMPTS, EVEN THOUGH THE PADS/SHOES ARE STILL GOOD. THERE IS A GAS LEAK THAT ALLOWS FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. EGR VALVE IS BROKEN AND WON'T BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE ENGINE. PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CAR AND THE PANELS ARE NOW RUSTING. CAR STALLS IN REVERSE. CAR IDLES ROUGHLY EVEN AFTER TUNE-UPS. HEAT/AC KNOBS ARE CRACKED DUE TO IMPROPER DRILLING.
I WAS TOLD THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH IT. MINE HAS COLLASPED AND WHILE NOT CREATING A SAFETY PROBLEM AT THIS POINT COULD LATER ON IF I CAN'T GET A PART TO REPLACE IT.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED . *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