U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Plymouth NEON problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

49 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

59,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 49 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	11	22.4%
Steering behavior	3	6.1%
Engine operation	2	4.1%
Electrical and battery issues	2	4.1%
Transmission and shifting	1	2.0%
Fuel system concerns	1	2.0%

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.

Air Bags:Frontal

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum

Structure

Air Bags

Suspension

Tires

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 7; Structure: 4; Air Bags: 3; Suspension: 3; Tires: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 35 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.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2008

2010

2014

2017

2001: 13; 2002: 7; 2003: 9; 2004: 4; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10031813 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)

WHEN THE DRIVER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE ROTORS WARPED. *AK *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031813 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10171091 · 2006-10-17 (October 17, 2006)

I HAD HIT THE SIDE OF A VAN WITH THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS BRAKING WHEN I HIT HIM SO I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10113932 · 2005-03-11 (March 11, 2005)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113932 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8006240 · 2002-03-22 (March 22, 2002)

UPON TURNING IGNITION TO START VEHICLE WIRING MELTED AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME THROUGH STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006240 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10082415 · 2004-07-22 (July 22, 2004)

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 B…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 562244 · 2001-07-31 (July 31, 2001)

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL (01V-154) NOTICE ABOUT BRAKE VACUUM HOSE,BUT HAD TO MAKE THREE TRIPS FOR GETTING IT FIXED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING NOISE AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND FOUND IT THE PREVIOUS DEALER HAD NOT STALLED THE RECALL PARTS.*YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562244 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10090673 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090673 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10242269 · 2008-09-15 (September 15, 2008)

BROKEN 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

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242269 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10984946 · 2017-05-11 (May 11, 2017)

SAGGING GAS TANK DUE TO BROKEN STRAP. DRIVE TRAIN SHUDDER AND CLUNK DUE TO STRETCHED DRIVE/ENGINE MOUNTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 215,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984946 at NHTSA ↗