IllustrationTHE DASH CONTROL'S(SPEED)ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES!THE FRONTEND FEELS LIKE IT IS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, AND THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE TOP AND THE SIDES. I AM TRUELY DISAPPOINTED. PLUS I HAVE HAD IT WORKED ON FOR THE HEADGASKET.PLUS GAS PEDAL STICKS.
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 reportsSMALL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET, HAS ESCALLATED TO ADDING A QUART EVERY 2 WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM IS ONE MENTIONED QUITE OFTEN AND APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACURER PROBLEM, MAYBE NOT CHRYSLER BUT CERTAINLY THE MAKER OF THE GASKET. IS CHRYSLER IN LITIGATION WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE?*AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SUMMARY
BAD HEAD GASKET ,WE HAVE TO PUT ABOUT 2 TO3 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK IN IT. *AK
A 1996 CAR WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE PAINT FLAKING OFF IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES OF THE CAR. RIGHT DOWN TO METAL THE PAINT THAT COMES OFF COMES OFF LIKE PAPER!!VERY DISAPPOINTED IN PLYMOUTH AND HOW THEY HAVE HANDLED THIS PROBLEM WITH US!!ALL THE DEALERS TRY TO PASS US ON TO THE NEXT WITHOUT GIVING US ANY INFORMATION…
Read full complaint
A 1996 CAR WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE PAINT FLAKING OFF IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES OF THE CAR. RIGHT DOWN TO METAL THE PAINT THAT COMES OFF COMES OFF LIKE PAPER!!VERY DISAPPOINTED IN PLYMOUTH AND HOW THEY HAVE HANDLED THIS PROBLEM WITH US!!ALL THE DEALERS TRY TO PASS US ON TO THE NEXT WITHOUT GIVING US ANY INFORMATION OR EXPLAINATION FOR THESE HAPPENING!!!
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL INTO ENGINE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK THE FAILURE OF THE GASKET IS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. THE BATTERY DIED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER REPAIR. *YH
10/11/00-IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF BOTH THE HEADGASKET AND CAM SENSOR ON MY NEON. *AK
NO SUMMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE THE SAFETY LATCH IS NO LONGER WORKING. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY TOOK 3 WEEKS TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE OUT TO ASSESS MY CAR, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO CLAIM THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, BUT "WEAR AND TEAR" ON A CAR. *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