IllustrationTHE MASTER CYLINDER/ BRAKE PADS AND FUEL TANK SENSOR AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED. PLEASE SEND WORK ORDER. *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 reportsABS BRAKES; BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. OWNER SPOKE W/SPORT CHRYSLER NORRISTOWN, PA., AND THEY TOLD HER BRAKES WERE SELF ADJUSTING. TWO DAYS LATER SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER REP., WISHES TO INSPECT VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
GAS TANK FAILURE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH OWNER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS,OWNER RECEIVED MUTILPLE FACIAL INJURIES. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF UNTIL PRESSING THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. *AK
DRIVING ALONG APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. SEEMS LIKE THE BRAKE IS STUCK, HAVE TO USE EMERGNCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE STALLED.
WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT, WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK STEERING WHEEL REPLACED, IT WAS VIBRATING DUE TO BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, RACK AND PINION AND STEERING RACK WERE ALSO REPLACED. EXCESSIVE SHAKING WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED TIRES, AND BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES, HOWEVER SHAKE S…
Read full complaint
WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT, WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK STEERING WHEEL REPLACED, IT WAS VIBRATING DUE TO BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, RACK AND PINION AND STEERING RACK WERE ALSO REPLACED. EXCESSIVE SHAKING WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED TIRES, AND BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES, HOWEVER SHAKE STILL PRESENT, DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD TORQUE PULL AND COULD NOT BE ALIGNED, ALSO HAD BAD STRUT, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND SHAKES. CONSUMER NOTICED OIL AROUND THE BOLTS ON THE VALVE COVER AT ONLY 265 MILES, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, FRONT MOTOR MOUNT HAD A LOT OF PLAY AND WAS REPLACED, OIL IS VERY DARK IN COLOR, POOR POWER. CV JOINTS BAD. DEALER LUBED AND ADJUSTED FRONT WINDOWS, THEY WERE HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES FAILED. WRONG AIR CLEANER VENT WAS INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS STUCK ON. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF POOR GAS MILEAGE. *SLC
COMPRESSION SPRING LOOSE, CAUSING NOISE.
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THEY MAKE NOISE, THIS HAPPENS IN WET WEATHER MOSTLY . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *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