IllustrationHEAD GASKET REPLACED ONCE ALREADY,AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO A LEAK,CHECKING ON ANY TSB BULLTINS AVAIABLE FOR THIS ON GOING PROBLEM OR PARTS REDESIGNS MADE. *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
What owners actually said
308 reportsDEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK AND DAMAGE ENGINE AND ENGINE BLOCK. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ENGINE GASKET WAS LEAKING, OIL UNDER CAR. ALSO, HORN WOULD GO OFF BY ITSELF WHEN EVER WEATHER WAS COLD. *AK
CONSUMER HAD FOUND OIL LEAK ON DRIVEWAY. THEN, HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT OIL WAS COMING FROM HEAD GASKET. THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. *AK
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SINGLE CAR CRASH; ICY ROAD CONDITIONS CAUSED CAR TO ROLL. *AK
THIS IS A CHRYSLER ENGINE PRODUCT. THE ENGINE HAS A OIL HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALER TWICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS IN THE INTERNET BY CONSUMERS, COMPLAINING. THIS A COSTLY REPAIR FOR THE CONSUMER. THERE SHOULD …
Read full complaint
THIS IS A CHRYSLER ENGINE PRODUCT. THE ENGINE HAS A OIL HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALER TWICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS IN THE INTERNET BY CONSUMERS, COMPLAINING. THIS A COSTLY REPAIR FOR THE CONSUMER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, WITH NO CONCERN FROM CHRYSLER.NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 1 TO FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN PURCHASED. PLEASE WE NEED YOUR HELP. *AK
HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER AND CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH, THE PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING THE CRASH. *SLC
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OVERHEAT. *SLC
SOON AFTER BUYING 1996 NEON USED ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL. AT FIRST LEAKING WAS NOT TOO BAD. AFTER AWHILE IT STARTED TO GET WORSE. AT THIS MOMENT VEHICLE IS LEAKING UP TO TWO QUARTS A WEEK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND COULD NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM.*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