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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OUTSIDE I HAVE A LAKE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE BACK AND IN THE TRUNK WHICH IS MOLDING THE CARPET AND ITEMS KEPT INSIDE. 2. THE BACK UP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, DUE TO THE MOISTURE. 3. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKS REALLY FAST, …

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1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OUTSIDE I HAVE A LAKE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE BACK AND IN THE TRUNK WHICH IS MOLDING THE CARPET AND ITEMS KEPT INSIDE. 2. THE BACK UP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, DUE TO THE MOISTURE. 3. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKS REALLY FAST, AND STAYS ON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. 4. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS TO BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF AFTER TURNING LEFT. 5. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED ON A STEEP TURN RESULTING ME GOING OFF ROAD, LUCKILY NOT HITTING ANYONE. 6. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR AT NIGHT. 7. RADIO RECEPTION IS GETTING WORSE. STATIONS THAT USED TO COME IN WON'T ANYMORE. 8. CAR SHAKES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND AT A LIGHT. 9. THERE IS GLARE ON THE WINDSHEILD FROM DASH THAT CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY IN THE DAY TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086924

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2004
Visibility

PAINT IS PEELING OFF MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON. IS THIS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS GLUED TO THE PEELING PAINT? THE DEALER SAYS CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAINT IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072985

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2001
Visibility

WINDOWS FOG UP DUE TO SOME KIND OF MOISTURE GETTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE, AND CAUSING WINDOWS AND LIGHTS TO FOG UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. ALSO, DEALER CALLED CHRYSLER, AND CHRYSLER STATED IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899821

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

FAILURE#1:1/97-6/97 HORN MADE NO NOISE WHEN PUSHED. SEVERAL VISITS TO TWO DEALERS IN FT.WAYNE AND INDIANAPOLIS, IN AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FINALLY RESOLVED AS BEING A PINCHED WIRE. HAD TO INVOLVE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY. FAILURE#2:1/97-3/97 THE REAR DEFROST SWITCH FAILED ON OCCASSION FOR FIRST …

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FAILURE#1:1/97-6/97 HORN MADE NO NOISE WHEN PUSHED. SEVERAL VISITS TO TWO DEALERS IN FT.WAYNE AND INDIANAPOLIS, IN AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FINALLY RESOLVED AS BEING A PINCHED WIRE. HAD TO INVOLVE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY. FAILURE#2:1/97-3/97 THE REAR DEFROST SWITCH FAILED ON OCCASSION FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WORKS CONTINUOUSLY NOW. FAILURE#3:8/97-1998 LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, ONLY OCCASSIONALLY AND WHILE IT WAS SLOWING DOWN, NOT AT A STOP. FAILURE#4:6/99-CURRENT POWER LOCKS FAILED. FAILURE#5: 7/99-8/99 POWER STEERING FAILED. POWER SWITCH REPLACED. FAILURE#6: 3/00-7/00 A/C FAILED. 1/2 LB COOLANT LEAKED OUT AND WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #727754

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

GAS GAUGE INOPERABLE CAUSING DRIVER TO RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL OCCASIONS. YH

NHTSA ODI #549970

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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

NHTSA ODI #703037

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE REAR WINSDHIELD FREEZE OVERNIGHT IN THE WINTERTIME. THE EGR VALVE BUSTED OPEN, AND THE CAR STALLED CONTINUOUSLY. IT WAS UNSAFE AND UNFIT TO DRIVE. I HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK AND THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702828

Mileage unknown · May 27, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

AIR/WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI #535993

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 1997
Visibility

INSIDE WINDOWS GET ICED UP IN THE WINTER, REAR SIDE WINDOWS UNABLE TO BE DEFROSTED RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #525840

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1997
Visibility

SIDE WINDOW STRIP LEAKS.

NHTSA ODI #604514

Official recalls

2

96V075000 · 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

2

PE02082 · 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