IllustrationTHE 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.
32 crash reports11 fire reports24 injury reports
Steering complaints
15 reportsO 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.
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
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…
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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.
ON THE ENGINE FAILURES, BOTH THE HEAD GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AT SEPARATE TIMES, RESULTING IN ALL OF THE OIL RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS. REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OFTEN COMES ON WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. IT WILL GO…
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ON THE ENGINE FAILURES, BOTH THE HEAD GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AT SEPARATE TIMES, RESULTING IN ALL OF THE OIL RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS. REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OFTEN COMES ON WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. IT WILL GO OFF IF I TOUCH THE TURN SIGNAL HANDLE ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS GONE ON EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. REGARDING THE WHEEL PROBLEM, THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE STEERING/HANDLING HAS FELT LOOSE AND WOBBLY DESPITE HAVING THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, A FULL ALIGNMENT AND HAVING THE TIRES BALANCED. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. AND, WATER LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK AND SOAKED ITEMS IN BOTH THE TRUNK AND ON THE REAR FLOOR. THIS, I THINK, HAS BEEN FIXED BY RESEALING THE REAR LIGHTS. *AK
AIR/WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE DOOR.
TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED FOUR TIMES.
VEHICLE LOOSES POWER STEERING ABILITY WHILE MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, DURING RAINY WEATHER.
STEERING KNUCKLES/HEAD GASKET/ABS BRAKES AN TRANSMISSION FAILED.
POWER STEERING: WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER, CAN'T TURN THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT RAINS AND GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THERE IS NO POWER . HAVE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR AND THE DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE IS FINE. *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