IllustrationBROKEN TIE ROD ENDS BOTH SIDES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, HEAD GASKET FAILURE, READ DOOR DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL, TRUNK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY, BRAKES WEAR EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS, HIGH RATE OF OIL BURN OFF. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
2001 Plymouth Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
Limited mileage data: 14 of 49 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
6 reportsCONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIR DONE ON THEIR 2001 PLYMOUTH NEON. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL PROBLEM BEFORE THE RECALL WAS RECEIVED AND WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT. *KB THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. *JB
2001 PLYMOUTH NEON PURCHASED NEW. WHILE DRIVING,ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING LOUDLY.CONTINUED HOME FOR ABOUT 3 MORE MILES. ENGINE STILL KNOCKING,VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER,AND DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. 95,000 MILES. NO ADVANCE WARNING OF ENGINE FAILURE, OIL CLEAN AND FULL,OIL CHANGED EVERY 4-5000 MILES.*AK
THE TIMING CHAIN AND VALVES WERE BROKEN ON A 2001 PLYMOUTH NEON WITH 45000 MILES ON IT. THE PLYMOUTH DEALER STATES THIS DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO THIS CAR THIS YOUNG. THE CAR ONLY HAD .09 AT PURCHASE (1 OWNER CAR). *NLM
ON 4/21/2003 THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER PUT OIL IN THE VEHICLE WHICH LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
WHEN BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN AN IMPACT IN REVERSE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATED PROBLEM. BOTH DEALERSHIP AND INSURANCE COMPANY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.*JB
Official recalls
201V154000 · 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.
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
1PE02082 · 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.