IllustrationVEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL EXCESSIVELY. CONTACTED DEALER AND WILL EVALUATE. REPAIRWORK AT OWNERS EXPENSE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT, CAUSING LEAKING OF OIL,ETC. / DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD CUT THIER LABOR RATE DOWN FROM $63.00 TO $43.00. *AK
OIL LEAKS FROM THE HEAD GASKET AT REAR OF ENGINE. APROX. 1 QUART OF OIL LEAKS IN 1-2 DAYS.
THERE IS A OIL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET, AND THE OIL IS DRIPPING OUT ONTO THE GROUND. IF KEEP ON DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. ALSO, IF THE OIL GETS ONTO THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE CAN CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
HEAD GASKET LEAKING. BREAKS SQUEAL.
ENGINE STALLS/ LOOSES POWER AT RANDOM TIMES.
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT. VEHICLE STARTED ,WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETHING HIT UNDERNEATH THE CAR, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDOWS ON THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDES. *AK
INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DASH BOARD IS NOT WORKING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ACROSS UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND A SMALL POTHOLE, AND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE CURVE, AND THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT 25MPH DUE TO CONSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD. CHRYSLER CONTACTED AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 40MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE BROADSIDED THE VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *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