IllustrationTHE PAINT ON THIS CAR IS COMING OFF IN GOOD SIZE PIECES AROUND THE ENTIRE CAR. IF IT WAS THE HOOD, THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT THE SIDES, ROOF AND TRUNK IS NOT NORMAL. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER REPAINT AUTO. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *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 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND LEAK OIL, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS
VEHICLE LEAKS OIL. CONSUMER FEELS IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE, AND SOMEONE COULD SLIP.*AK
HORN WILL ACTIVATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON,ONCE WHEN CAR WAS PARKED,AND DRAINED BATTERY. *AK.
I TOOK MY CAR TO HORTON'S TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE COMPUTER. THEY CHARGED ME $90.00 TO PUT ON A NEW FUEL FILTER, WHEN IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS.PLEASE SEND ME A RECALL FOR THE PARTS ON MY CAR.
THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED FOR IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. AT 56,000 THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO CHIP/POP OFF THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TRIM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. DEALER CANNOT SEEM TO FIX ANY OF THE CAR'S PROBLEMS PERMANENTLY. HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER GASKEST HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 32,000 AND 50,000 RESPECTIVELY. CAR IS…
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED FOR IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. AT 56,000 THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO CHIP/POP OFF THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TRIM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. DEALER CANNOT SEEM TO FIX ANY OF THE CAR'S PROBLEMS PERMANENTLY. HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER GASKEST HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 32,000 AND 50,000 RESPECTIVELY. CAR IS UNFIT AND ENGINE POORLY DESIGNED AS A WHOLE. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR 4.5 YEARS AND HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TO KEEP IT GOING.
I HAVE HAD NON-STOP PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE. IT IS GETTING TO COSTLY TO KEEP REPAIRING THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE HELP I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN REGARDS TO THE SEVERAL PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
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.
BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN APRIL 2000 COSTING APPROXIMATELY $950 --- REPLACE ENGINE (SHORT BLOCK) IN AUGUST 2000 COSTING APPROXIMATELY $2500. BAD WRIST-PINS AND/OR ROCKER ARMS DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE DESIGN BY CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER SHOULD REIMBURSE ME!
ENGINE HEAD GASKET KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE, AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. DEALER HAS REPLACED GASKET TWICE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. *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