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
What owners actually said
49 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash
MVA, MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE ACCIDENT REPORT, SHE WAS TURNING LEFT AND THE OTHER CAR WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES/HOUR. MY MOTHER RECEIVED INJURIES THAT CAUSED HER DEATH A WEEK LATER. IN INSPECTING THE NEON, 2001 IT APPEARED THAT THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK OUT. SHE WENT FORWARD INTO THE AIRBAG. SHE …
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MVA, MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE ACCIDENT REPORT, SHE WAS TURNING LEFT AND THE OTHER CAR WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES/HOUR. MY MOTHER RECEIVED INJURIES THAT CAUSED HER DEATH A WEEK LATER. IN INSPECTING THE NEON, 2001 IT APPEARED THAT THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK OUT. SHE WENT FORWARD INTO THE AIRBAG. SHE HAD A FRACTURED STERNUM AND 4 FRACTURED RIB'S, AND MULTIPLE BRUISES ( SO MANY SHE HAD TO HAVE A TRANSFUSION. HOW CAN THIS BE! SHE WAS HARDLY MOVING AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES/HOUR?*JB
NHTSA ODI #10130510
87,500 miles · Jul 15, 2005
Seat Belts
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT ON THE SAFETY CLIP IN 2001 PLYMOUTH NEON BROKE. THE CHILD SEAT INSPECTOR WAS INSTALLING THE CHILD SEAT AND NOTICED THE CLIP BEING BROKE. THE SEAT BELT CLIP WAS NOTICED TODAY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONSUMER IWASCALLING THE MANUFACTURER TODAY TO SEE WHAT SEE COULD …
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DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT ON THE SAFETY CLIP IN 2001 PLYMOUTH NEON BROKE. THE CHILD SEAT INSPECTOR WAS INSTALLING THE CHILD SEAT AND NOTICED THE CLIP BEING BROKE. THE SEAT BELT CLIP WAS NOTICED TODAY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONSUMER IWASCALLING THE MANUFACTURER TODAY TO SEE WHAT SEE COULD DO ABOUT THE CLIP. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE TODAY. THE BELT WAS IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10128906
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2005
Air BagsCrash
2001 PLYMOUTH NEON AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT.*MR *JB CONSUMER STATED, HIT THE TRACTOR TRAILER HEAD ON AND AIR DID NOT DEPLOY, AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE. *BF
NHTSA ODI #10117424
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
DT CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT COME ON ANY TIME BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10120844
50,000 miles · Mar 11, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY DAUGHTER WAS DIRVING TO WORK, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND THEY COLLIDED. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10113932
95,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
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
NHTSA ODI #10110621
58,000 miles · Oct 13, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
A TRACTOR TRAILER SUDDENLY PULLED OUT IN-FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO STOP BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLE SKIDDED ON A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS 40 MPH BEFORE IT SKIDDED ON THE ICE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO THE TRAILER HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF THE TRAILER BEFORE C…
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A TRACTOR TRAILER SUDDENLY PULLED OUT IN-FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO STOP BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLE SKIDDED ON A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS 40 MPH BEFORE IT SKIDDED ON THE ICE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO THE TRAILER HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF THE TRAILER BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A SUV TRUCK. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIP LASH, CERVICAL STRAIN AND BACK INJURIES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10096721
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Equipment
STOCK RADIO/CASETTE DECK W/3 BAND EQUALIZER FOR MY 2001 PLYMOUTH NEON 4DR SEDAN HAS MALFUNCTION. APPEARS THE ENTIRE WIRING FOR RADIO IS DEFECTIVE. NEED SCHEMATICS FOR WIRING INCLUDING WHAT COLOR WIRE IS FOR WHAT. *AK RADIO WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT CAR IN JANUARY OF 2004. AFTER A MONTH THE DISPLAY LIGHTS FLASH…
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STOCK RADIO/CASETTE DECK W/3 BAND EQUALIZER FOR MY 2001 PLYMOUTH NEON 4DR SEDAN HAS MALFUNCTION. APPEARS THE ENTIRE WIRING FOR RADIO IS DEFECTIVE. NEED SCHEMATICS FOR WIRING INCLUDING WHAT COLOR WIRE IS FOR WHAT. *AK RADIO WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT CAR IN JANUARY OF 2004. AFTER A MONTH THE DISPLAY LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. RADIO AND/OR CASSETTE WILL NOT PLAY BUT THE RADIO STATIONS ARE STILL PROGRAMED AND THE CLOCK IS CORRECT.
NHTSA ODI #10090673
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2004
Equipment
MY AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING AT 36,001 MILES. THAT'S ONE MILE OVER THE WARRANTY. I DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED ANYWAYS. THE COMPRESSOR DOES NOT KICK ON SO I THINK ITS PROBABLY THE COMPRESSOR. I LIVE IN TUCSON ITS 110 ON AVERAGE DURING THE DAY SO THE CAR REACHES A LOVELY 160, GREAT FOR LOOSING WEIGHT. SINCE THE AIR CONDI…
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MY AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING AT 36,001 MILES. THAT'S ONE MILE OVER THE WARRANTY. I DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED ANYWAYS. THE COMPRESSOR DOES NOT KICK ON SO I THINK ITS PROBABLY THE COMPRESSOR. I LIVE IN TUCSON ITS 110 ON AVERAGE DURING THE DAY SO THE CAR REACHES A LOVELY 160, GREAT FOR LOOSING WEIGHT. SINCE THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT THE CAR NO LONGER STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE HAS MANY PROBLEMS AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD. I BOUGHT IT SO I COULD BUILD CREDIT AND THEY FINANCED ME AT 20% INTEREST. I FEEL AS THOUGH I"VE BEEN SERIOUSLY VIOLATED. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY HUMBLED ME. I REFINANCED AND USED THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY I'VE BEEN SAVING TO COVER ANY REPAIRS THAT WILL COST 5X MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ALSO THIS SITE DIDN'T PROVIDE THE AIR CONDITIONING OPTION SO I COULD LIST THIS PROBLEM IN THE PROPER PLACE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082415
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Seat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE TIME OF PURCHASE WHEN IT ONLY HAD 500 MILES & WAS SUPPOSED TO BE "NEW". IT'S THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS HEADACHE TO ANYONE!
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.
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
1
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.
2001 Plymouth Neon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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