Plymouth NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
922 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 152 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 271 of 922 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 120 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 59 | 6.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 45 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 45 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 43 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 22 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 271 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 91 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 73 |
| Unknown Or Other | 55 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 34 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 32 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 29 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 25 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 271; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 91; Air Bags:Frontal: 73; Unknown Or Other: 55; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 34; Engine And Engine Cooling: 32; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 29; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 47 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 47; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 770 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 57 |
| 1996 | 51 |
| 2000 | 211 |
| 2001 | 216 |
| 2002 | 144 |
| 2003 | 85 |
| 2004 | 69 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1995: 57; 1996: 51; 2000: 211; 2001: 216; 2002: 144; 2003: 85; 2004: 69; 2005: 31; 2006: 14; 2007: 3; 2008: 8; 2009: 7; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 120 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 59 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 45 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 10011750 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE GAS MILEAGE WAS VERY POOR, THE SEAT BELT COVERS, TIRE TREAD, FOG LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE AND THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065808 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
THIS CAR IS SQEAKING BRAKES...DON'T SEEM VERY SAFE....AND NOISES UNDER THE CAR??*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071032 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
BRAKES FAILED TO WORK RIGHT WHEN MY BOYFRIEND WRECKED THE CAR WHICH THEN MADE HIM HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T COME OUT. WE CONTACTED THE PLACE WE GOT THE CAR FROM BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL US ANYTHING. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF IT ON OCTOBER 1, 2003. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED. WE WERE TOLD THE PLACE WE BOUGHT IT FROM DID NOT PUT IN NEW CLUTCH AND PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARINGS IN WHEN WE HAD JUST BOUGHT IT. WE HAD TOLD THEM THE CLUTCH WAS MAKING NOISE. THEY WOULD NOT FIXED IT. THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING WHEN I TOO…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117201 · 2005-03-31 (March 31, 2005)
POWER CONTROL MODULE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE STALLED AND SHIFTED IMPROPERLY. RECALL 94V033000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144880 · 2005-12-10 (December 10, 2005)
NUMEROUS HEATING COOLING PROBLEMS. INCORRECT TEMPERATURE GAUGE, OVERHEATING, RADIATOR FANS NOT COMING ON, ERRATIC FAN OPERATION, WATER LEAKING IN FROM FIREWALL POURING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING BLOWN FUSES, FAULTY BLOWER MOTORS AND SOAKING CARPETS. WIRING PROBLEMS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW WHEN FANS WOULD KICK ON, A/C WAS TURNED ON, OR DASH WOULD EMIT SMOKE WHEN THE PARKING BREAK WAS ENGAGED WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING, ERRATIC GAUGE CLUSTER, OFF AND ON GAUGES, INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILURE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502401 · 1996-03-15 (March 15, 1996)
WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD CUT BY TRANSMISSION HOUSING, CAUSING CAR TO STALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10767353 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLER AND STEERING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484662 · 1995-05-05 (May 5, 1995)
PIECE OF METAL FROM STEERING SHAFT PARTIALLY BLOCKED BRAKE PEDAL, NOT ALLOWING BRAKING IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045929 · 2003-11-10 (November 10, 2003)
THE CAR'S COMPUTER, OR ECU MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. NO POWER WAS REACHING THE COIL, HENCE THERE WAS NO SPARK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AT FIRST THE AUTO SHUTOFF DELAY WAS REPLACED. BUT THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED, IT ONCE AGAIN STALLED. IT TOOK ONE WEEK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM: BAD COMPUTER IN THE CAR. THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 59,535 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000076 · 2002-12-12 (December 12, 2002)
FUEL PUMP DRAIN PLUG LEAK. THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP OF MY 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON. I HAD AN INCIDENT AND BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT CHRYSLER DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS ON IT AND THEY DO NOT SELL THE PLUG BY ITSELF. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW FUEL PUMP. YOU SEE THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FUEL PUMP ITSELF HAS A DRAIN PLUG AND THAT DETERIORATED AND FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK. I THINK THIS NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATING. I WAS LUCKY THAT I CAUGHT IT ON TIME. THINK OF THOSE FAMILIES WHO WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001939 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
THE WIRES THAT RUN THROUGH THE GAS TANK ONE OF THOSE WIRES CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT A HOLE IN TANK. CONSUMER FEELS LUCKY THE CAR DIDN'T BLOW UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001939 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 2 |
1994: 0; 1995: 6; 1996: 2; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 5; 2001: 2