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 reports

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

HAVE PERSISTENT OIL LEAK. WENT TO MECHANIC, STATED SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND DID NOT FIND A RECALL. BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM GOT GASKET FIXED 2001. HAVE SAME PROBLEM NOW AND TWO NEW MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED I NEED A HEAD GASKET.EVERYONE I TALK TO AT CHYRSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW WHAT DO I DO? *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064167

87,418 miles · Mar 8, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

FRONT AIRBAG FAILED TO FUNCTION IN ACCIDENT WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO BUMPER AND HOOD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10060700

134,000 miles · Oct 21, 2003

Electrical System

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044363

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2003

Exterior Lighting

EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSE OF FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10034381

26,000 miles · Jul 31, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

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SINCE 1999 THIS CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL. REPLACED CAM SEAL AND HEAD GASKET ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. 1 MONTH LATER (WHEN WARRANTY RAN OUT) HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF 500.00. 6 MONTHS LATER STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPLACED CAM SEAL AND HEAD GASKET AGAIN. 1 MONTH LATER SAME THING. SAID CHRYSLER HAD A NEW AND "IMPROVED" SEAL. GUESS WHAT WE ARE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN TOMORROW. THIS WILL BE THE 6TH TIME. I HAVE PROBABLY SPENT ON REPAIRS THE SAME AMOUNT I SPENT FOR THE CAR. CHRYSLER WON'T DO A THING FOR THE CONSUMERS. IF THERE IS A LAWSUIT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? *PH

NHTSA ODI #10030551

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003

Power Train

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE IS VERY SLOW, NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER STATED THERE IS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO SHE HAD TO PAY, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 64000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024747

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2003

Exterior Lighting

WHEN IT RAINED THE VEHICLES TAIL LIGHTS BECAME WET AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE LIGHTS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10022282

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2003

Unknown Or Other

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MY NEON HAS A PROBLEM WITH PAINT PEELING. LARGE SPOTS OF PAINT COME OFF ALL OVER THE VEHICLE, BUT PRIMARILY ON THE BACK AND ON THE ROOF. I CAN'T EVEN WASH THE CAR, BECAUSE EACH TIME I DO MORE PATCHES OF PAINT COME OFF. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON EVERY NEON THAT IS THE PURPLISH (PERIWINKLE) COLOR I HAVE SEEN. IS THERE SOME KIND OF PAINT DEFECT WITH THIS PARTICULAR COLOR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PAINT WAS ONLY UNDER WARRENTY FOR 12 MONTHS, AND SINCE IT WAS A 1996 AND I WASN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNER THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER CAR, AND I WOULN'T COMPLAIN IF IT WAS NORMAL WEAR ON A CAR, BUT THIS IS MORE THAN NORMAL AGING.

NHTSA ODI #10016860

70,000 miles · Apr 8, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET ON 1996 NEON FAILED CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE. DESPITE WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF FREQUENTLY FAILING HEAD GASKETS IN 1995-97 PLYMOUTH AND DODGE NEONS WITH LOW MILEAGE, CHRYSLER REFUSES TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND RARELY OFFERS TO FIX THE PRO…

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NHTSA ODI #10014133

54,000 miles · Mar 10, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET LEAK. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO OWN UP TO A FAULTY GASKET. WHY? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010228

Official recalls

96V075000 · 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

PE02082 · 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