IllustrationBLOWN HEAD GASKET. *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 APPLYING BRAKES, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON FEB 4, 2000. MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHANGED, ALONG WITH NEW PADS AND …
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WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON FEB 4, 2000. MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHANGED, ALONG WITH NEW PADS AND ROTORS. *AK
ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY NEON BEGAN LEAKING SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL A DAY.CURRENTLY IT HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER MAJOR OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO, FOSTERS IN BARTONVILLE IL.TOOLD ME IT IS A DEFECTIVE CAR AND WILL KEEP LEAKING OIL. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HAVE ANY OTHER NEONS HAD MAJOR OIL LEAK PROBLEMS REPORTED?…
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ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY NEON BEGAN LEAKING SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL A DAY.CURRENTLY IT HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER MAJOR OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO, FOSTERS IN BARTONVILLE IL.TOOLD ME IT IS A DEFECTIVE CAR AND WILL KEEP LEAKING OIL. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HAVE ANY OTHER NEONS HAD MAJOR OIL LEAK PROBLEMS REPORTED? *AK
MANUFACTURER KNOWS THE OLD STYLE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED TO SEAL AND THEY CAME UP WITH NEW STYLE GASKET. BUT, OWNERS WHO DO NOT HAVE A WARRANTY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IS THIS RIGHT? *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED LEAKED OIL. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT COVER COSTS FOR REPAIR. VIRTUALY EVERY NEON HAS THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE A RECALL CHRYSLER PAYS FOR SOME CARS BUT NOT MINE, APPARENTLY ENOUGH NOT TO FORCE A RECALL. *AK
SERVICE BULITEN 21-23-95 CHRYSLER PUT THE WRONG PART IN TRANSMISION FOR 3 MONTHS IN 1995 AND WON'T COVER THE CAST OF REPAIR. SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2-3 COULD CAUSE CRASH.
THE HEAD GASKET ON THE PLYMOUTH NEONS IS A MAJOR DEFECT IT ALSO IS A HAZARD TO THE ENVIORNMENT LEAKING OIL. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WILL LEAK AGAIN ON THE HEAD GASKET BECAUSE THE DEFECT IS THE HEAD GASKET AND FIXING IT IS ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD IN WHICH THE HEAD GASKET WILL LEAK AGAIN. WE HAVE REPAIRED THIS FOR A SUM OF $650.00…
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THE HEAD GASKET ON THE PLYMOUTH NEONS IS A MAJOR DEFECT IT ALSO IS A HAZARD TO THE ENVIORNMENT LEAKING OIL. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WILL LEAK AGAIN ON THE HEAD GASKET BECAUSE THE DEFECT IS THE HEAD GASKET AND FIXING IT IS ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD IN WHICH THE HEAD GASKET WILL LEAK AGAIN. WE HAVE REPAIRED THIS FOR A SUM OF $650.00 AND WILL HAVE TO BE DONE AGAIN ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC WHICK SAYS THE PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE DEFECT BEING THE HEAD GASKET. THE MFG. WAS CONTACTED AND WE GAINED NOTHING BUT AGGREVATION. THIS IS A DEFECT IN MY EYES SEEING THAT EVEN WHEN THIS IS FIXED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE OF ITS IMPROPER DESIGN. WE HAVE HEARD OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT YET THE MFG. IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL BECAUSE OF THE MAJOR COST ENVOLVED. EVEN WHEN AFFECTING OUR ENVIORNMENT. WILL NOWHICH WAS $650.00 WHICH WILL HAPPEN WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. *AK
REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER, THEY SAID CARS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, ALTHOUGHT THE CAR WAS ONLY THREE HUNDRED MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, AND NOW AT 90,000 THE CAR NEEDS A HEAD GASKET AGAIN,. THE DEALER SELL A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT KIT, SO THEIR MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THESE NEONS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER. THANK YOU.…
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REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER, THEY SAID CARS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, ALTHOUGHT THE CAR WAS ONLY THREE HUNDRED MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, AND NOW AT 90,000 THE CAR NEEDS A HEAD GASKET AGAIN,. THE DEALER SELL A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT KIT, SO THEIR MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THESE NEONS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER. THANK YOU. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE LOCKING DEVICE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR DOES NOT WORK. THERE HAVE 2 SITUATIONS WHERE THE DEVICE HAS FAILED. I NOW HAVE A PERMANENT AND STABLE BACK INJURY BECAUSE OF THE DEVICE FAILURE. I WAS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR 3 MONTHS.
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