IllustrationENGINE GASKETS HAVE GONE BAD. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE GASKETS REPLACED FOUR TIMES WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF OWNING VEHICLE.*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 reportsRECALL 00V026 000/WIRING:HARNESS:UNDERHOOD: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION STILL REOCCURRING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED T CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE …
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RECALL 00V026 000/WIRING:HARNESS:UNDERHOOD: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION STILL REOCCURRING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED T CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
MAJOR OIL LEAK DISCOVERED AT 67K MILES. HEAD GASKET, REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED AND STILL LEAKING. DEALER SERVICE DEPT CLUELESS IN DIAGNOSING AND FIXING PROBLEM.
SUPPOSEDLY THERE ARE A NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF REPORTS ABOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT PLYMOUTH HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION WITH THE CONSUMERS. WE PUT OUR HARD WORKING MONEY INTO THESE CARS AND TRUST THAT WE GET A RELIABLE PRODUCT. PLYMOUTH NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THIS PR…
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SUPPOSEDLY THERE ARE A NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF REPORTS ABOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT PLYMOUTH HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION WITH THE CONSUMERS. WE PUT OUR HARD WORKING MONEY INTO THESE CARS AND TRUST THAT WE GET A RELIABLE PRODUCT. PLYMOUTH NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THIS PROBLEM NOW. *AK
SEATBACK RATCHET FAILED DURING A REAR-END COLLISION. *K
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGUL…
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TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY UNDER QUICK STOPPING ATTEMPTS, EVEN THOUGH THE PADS/SHOES ARE STILL GOOD. THERE IS A GAS LEAK THAT ALLOWS FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. EGR VALVE IS BROKEN AND WON'T BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE ENGINE. PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CAR AND THE PANELS ARE NOW RUSTING. CAR STALLS IN REVERSE. CAR IDLES ROUGHLY EVEN AFTER TUNE-UPS. HEAT/AC KNOBS ARE CRACKED DUE TO IMPROPER DRILLING.
OIL LEAKED ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD , POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD, MAJOR OIL LEAK ON GROUND, ENVIROMENTAL HAZARD.
WHEN THE CAR TURNED OVER 76,000 MILES, WITHIN THREE WEEKS I HAVE SPENT $1,024.00 TO FIX MY CAR. NOW, AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE BEING FIXED, MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. *AK
ANOTHER HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON CHRYSLERS NEON'S. WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE RESOLUTION ON THIS? *AK
AFTER 2 MONTHS OF A SMALL OIL LEAK, THE PROBLEM WORSENED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. RECENTLY ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING.*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