IllustrationTRANSMISSION IS WORN OUT AFTER 70K MILES. *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 reportsWHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, CLIP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL HOSE IN PLACE CAME OFF, ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FUEL FILTER. *AK *ML
ON 6/18/98 THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AGAIN ON 6/15/00. ON 6/17/00 MY A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED TO OPERATE; PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND A BREAK IN WIRING HARNESS. *AK
OIL LEAKAGES WITHIN COOLANT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP AND INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF IT WARRANTY, AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO POVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER PUSHED THE CANCEL BUTTON ON THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SLOW DOWN WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE, AND CAUSING IT TO SMOKE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK AND REPLACE THE GASKETS. *AK
POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO KNOCK/STUMBLE/GEAR LOCK UP, WHILE DRIVING.
THE CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL FROM THE REAR OF THE HEAD. WE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET WITH A "DEALER STOCK ONLY" HEAD GASKET. THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAK EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED FROM TWO DIFFERENT DODGE/PLYMOUTH DEALERS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, BUT THE DOGDE/PLYMOUTH DEALERS REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOU…
Read full complaint
THE CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL FROM THE REAR OF THE HEAD. WE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET WITH A "DEALER STOCK ONLY" HEAD GASKET. THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAK EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED FROM TWO DIFFERENT DODGE/PLYMOUTH DEALERS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, BUT THE DOGDE/PLYMOUTH DEALERS REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE KNOWN DEFECT. I ONLY WANT THE PROBLEM CORRCTED BEFORE IT CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IS THERE. I HAVE NOT PUT MORE THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR IN THE PAST YEAR DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED DUE TO IT BEING INOPPERABLE. THE ONLY TIME IT HAS BEEN MOVED IS WHEN WE MOVED. *AK
I WAS TOLD THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH IT. MINE HAS COLLASPED AND WHILE NOT CREATING A SAFETY PROBLEM AT THIS POINT COULD LATER ON IF I CAN'T GET A PART TO REPLACE IT.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED . *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