STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING. HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DIDN'T WORK. DEALER STATES HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNED OUT AND WIRING MELTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *NM
2000 Plymouth Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Plymouth Neon do not stand out strongly from 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
40 reports with mileage · 101 unknown
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
141 reportsLOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT OF CAR. HAD IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIE ROD AND THE CONTROL ARM. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO DAYS PRIOR TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER TAKING HER DRIVER'S THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE …
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO DAYS PRIOR TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER TAKING HER DRIVER'S THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. *NM
THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS IN MY VEHICLE HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT. I DID REPLACE THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT BURNED OUT AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. LATER ON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ALSO BURNED OUT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER WINDOWS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AN…
Read full complaint
THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS IN MY VEHICLE HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT. I DID REPLACE THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT BURNED OUT AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. LATER ON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ALSO BURNED OUT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER WINDOWS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FOR THREE TO FOUR YEARS NOW.
MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON LX LOST POWER AT AN INTERSECTION, I HAD IT TOWED, FOUND OUT THAT A HOSE (THAT I BELIEVE EITHER CONNECTED THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION OR WAS FOR THE RADIATOR ONLY, NOT SURE, WASN'T EXPLAINED VERY WELL TO ME) HAD FALLEN OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING ALL OF THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. WHEN TAKEN TO A D…
Read full complaint
MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON LX LOST POWER AT AN INTERSECTION, I HAD IT TOWED, FOUND OUT THAT A HOSE (THAT I BELIEVE EITHER CONNECTED THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION OR WAS FOR THE RADIATOR ONLY, NOT SURE, WASN'T EXPLAINED VERY WELL TO ME) HAD FALLEN OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING ALL OF THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. WHEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, I HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED, LUCKILY MY TRANSMISSION WAS OK. ABOUT ONE MINUTE BEFORE IT HAPPENED, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD, AND SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO SHIFT WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION. BY THE TIME THE LIGHT TURNED, MOST OF WHATEVER FLUID WAS ALREADY GONE.
INVOICE FOR 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON REGARDING BRAKE WORK COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER ALSO MAILED IN A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE. *JB
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 40,000 MILES. VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 6000 MILES BY FIRST OWNER (MY GRANDFATHER) AND IS NOW AT 40,000 WITH MY MOTHER AS CURRENT OWNER, WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALL MAINTENENCE PERFORMED AS MANDATED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER BY BOTH OWNERS. VEHICLES NOW HAS OIL LEAK, RESULTING FROM THIS DEFECT. REPAIR COST ESTIMATED …
Read full complaint
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 40,000 MILES. VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 6000 MILES BY FIRST OWNER (MY GRANDFATHER) AND IS NOW AT 40,000 WITH MY MOTHER AS CURRENT OWNER, WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALL MAINTENENCE PERFORMED AS MANDATED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER BY BOTH OWNERS. VEHICLES NOW HAS OIL LEAK, RESULTING FROM THIS DEFECT. REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $1000 BY ASE-CERTIFIED KUMLER AUTOMOTIVE IN LANCASTER, OH. MECHANIC STATED THAT ORIGINAL DODGE/PLYMOUTH NEON HEAD GASKETS (GENUINE DAIMLERCHRYSLER PARTS) ARE MADE POORLY AND OFTEN FAIL ON 1995-2000 NEONS. AS THE FIRST GENERATION OF NEON VEHICLES USED THE SAME PART, THIS DEFECT HAS EXISTED SINCE 1995. AS A RESULT OF SUCH, DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS WORDED THE WARRANTY STATEMENT IN SUCH A MANNER TO AVOID CORRECTING BEING REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. NOT ONLY HAVE I HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW. FROM ENGINE LIGHTS GOING OFF TO PCV PROBLEMS TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY NEWEST PROBLEM IS THE CAR STALLING RANDOMLY. I WILL JUST BE DRIVING DOWN THE RO…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. NOT ONLY HAVE I HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW. FROM ENGINE LIGHTS GOING OFF TO PCV PROBLEMS TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY NEWEST PROBLEM IS THE CAR STALLING RANDOMLY. I WILL JUST BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN IT WILL BEGIN TO ACT UP. I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SLOWS DOWN. I LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SPEEDS UP. SOON AFTER THAT IT STALLS, OR DIES. I WOULD THEN PUT SOME FUEL CLEANER IN THE GAS TANK AND IT SEEMS TO HELP FOR A FEW MILES. THEN IT STARTS TO ACT UP ALL OVER AGAIN. USUALLY I CAN GET IT RESTARTED BY SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. SOME DAYS IT WILL BE JUST FINE AND OTHER DAYS I CAN'T GET IT TO START. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO FIND OUT WHEN IT GETS TO MY HOUSE IT STARTS AGAIN. ONE DAY IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES. RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM.
WATER IS COMING IN THE TRUNK SOMEHOW SEEPING INSIDE THE SPARE TIRE AREA AND LEAKING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR SOAKING THE BACK FLOOR BOARDS. / STRONG GAS SMELL IN MY CAR WHEN OPERATING - SO BAD THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE TO CRACKED FOR FRESH AIR - CANNOT FIND ANY LEAKS- MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE BEING TRANSPORTED IN MY CAR DAILY- WAS TOLD…
Read full complaint
WATER IS COMING IN THE TRUNK SOMEHOW SEEPING INSIDE THE SPARE TIRE AREA AND LEAKING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR SOAKING THE BACK FLOOR BOARDS. / STRONG GAS SMELL IN MY CAR WHEN OPERATING - SO BAD THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE TO CRACKED FOR FRESH AIR - CANNOT FIND ANY LEAKS- MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE BEING TRANSPORTED IN MY CAR DAILY- WAS TOLD THAT THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A DEFECT AND I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COST - PROBLEM SINCE AROUND NOVEMBER 2004 / BRAKES SQUEAL EVERYTIME I BRAKE -HAD NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS INSTALLED DECEMBER 2003 - NOISE IS SO LOUD SOMETIMES IT IS EMBARRASSING. *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WIRING HARNESS. PROBLEM. HARNESS OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ELECTRICAL OUTPUT/LIGHTS, AND DASHBOARD RESOLUTION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS WAITING FOR FINAL REPAIRS.*AK *TC
Official recalls
501V154000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
May 8, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IN THE PRESENCE OF OIL AND HEAT, THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE COULD SWELL AND LOOSEN FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 2, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
00V366000 · Child Seat
Nov 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
00V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jul 17, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. VAPORS FROM THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM CAN CONDENSE AND FREEZE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN EXTREMELY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM FULLY RETURNING TO IDLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE AND RELOCATE A PCV SYSTEM TUBE.
99V114000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED BETWEEN THE PIVOT TUBE AND THE ARM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS INADEQUATE WELDING COULD ALLOW THE TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE ARM, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.
99V043000 · Air Bags:frontal
Mar 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONTAL (PASSENGER SIDE) AIR BAGS MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
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.
RQ99010 · Control Arm Welds
Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed Feb 5, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Illustration