2000 Plymouth NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
136 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
74,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 136 complaints (8.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 27.9% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 6 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Air Bags: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 96 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 37 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 19; 2001: 37; 2002: 19; 2003: 15; 2004: 17; 2005: 7; 2006: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013719 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE ALL NHTSA ISSUED SAFETY RECALLS COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE SERVICE REPAIR CENTER MANAGER. STATED THEY ONLY APPLIED TO CERTAIN NEON'S NOT ALL OF THE 2000'S. I HAVE YET AS OF THIS DATE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH NHTSA RECALL ID#99V043000, #99V114000 NOR HAVE I EVER RECEIVED THE ADDENDUM REFERRED TO IN NHTSA RECALL ID #00V366000. IN RECOGNITION OF THE RECENT PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED W/MY VEHICLE, OVERHEATING, INOPERABLE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, HORN & AIRBAG SYSTEM AND MY HAVING ALSO EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS, I FEEL THESE RECALLS ARE E…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046683 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2000 DODGE NEON.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES SQUEAKED WHEN THEY WERE WET. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000839 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROX. 60MPH. STEERING BECAME HARD TO STEER. SWIRVED TO AVOID HITTING SIDE VEHICLES. BREAKS BECAME LOOSE, UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE PLYMOUTH NEON 02, BECAME OUT OF CONTROL. THEREAFTER, SPINNING AROUND TO FLIP ON IT'S DRIVER SIDE COMING TO A REST IN AN EMBAKEMENT. NO AIRBAGS EMPLOYED.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088501 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR BRAKE WORK AND WAS TOLD THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STERRING AND SHOULD CONTACT MY DEALER. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SQUEEZED ME RIGHT IN. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999, IT IS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE GOTTEN NO RECALL NOTICES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SEATBELT RECALL THROUGH THE NEWSPAPER. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TODAY STATING THAT THE POWER STERRING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $820.00. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDERWARRANTY AND WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015542 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 42,000 MILES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041407 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON FELT LIKE IT LOST POWER OR DROPPED OUT OF GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY FOR ABOUT 2 MILES TO LEAVE IT AT A SAFE PLACE. THE HOSE FITTING FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE RADIATOR HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OFF & THE ALUMINUM THREADS STRIPPED- YET THE HOSE/GASKET ATTACHED REMAINED IN PLACE - THE HOSE HAD NO LEAKS & THE GASKET WAS RUSTY. THE SHOP INSTALLED A NEW RADIATOR WITH THE FITTING ATTACHED. ONCE THEY TOPPED UP THE FLUIDS, IT STILL WAS NOT DRIVABLE - AND FURTHER UPON INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION - (THE FILINGS IN THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047528 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)
SINCE JUNE 2003 (AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT) , MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON NEEDS TO BE JUMPED EVERY 2 WEEKS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY, SO I WENT TO AUTO ZONE WHERE THEY USED THEIR TESTER AND I PURCHASED A BATTERY FROM THEM. BUT SINCE THEN, I STILL NEED A JUMP EVERY 2 WEEKS AND SOMETIMES SOONER (WHEN IT'S COLD OR RAINY). I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT, TELLING ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT CHARGED ME ABOUT $150 FOR THE LABOR. I HAD THE CAR JUMPED ON 11/23, DROVE IT AROUND, LEFT IT SIT IDLING FOR ABOUT AN …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071113 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW WHICH WOULD NOT START FOR TEST DRIVE WAS TOLD SOMEONE LEFT DOME LIGHT ON. AFTER JUMP, IT WORKED FINE FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THEN WENT TO CAR AND WOULD NOT START ONE DAY. THERE WAS NO BATTERY LIGHT ON OR ANY WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS FROM REPLACEMENT. DEALER FIXED ONCE AND I HAVE INCURED THE EXPENSE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. I CAN NOT EVEN AFFORD TO DO IT ANYMORE LEAVING ME TO TAKE A RISK OF DRIVING WITH BAD REAR BRAKES. THE MOST RECENT OF EVENTS TO OCCUR THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000425 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
WE HAVE A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON AND HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO DEALERS IN DIFFERENT STATES FOR STALLING. HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP, IT IS INTERMITTENT AND THEY CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO GET ONE OF US KILLED. IT HAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, ON ON-RAMPS, AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114634 · 2005-03-24 (March 24, 2005)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079932 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
PROBLEMS WTIH VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND GAS TANK. *MR THERE WERE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THE GAS TANK HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE ENGINE TO RACE. THE FUEL PUMP SEAL WAS FOUND LEAKING. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107822 · 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
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 S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107822 at NHTSA ↗