1996 Plymouth NEON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
83,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 75 of 188 complaints (39.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 9.6% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 6.9% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 6.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.1% |
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 | 75 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 9 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 75; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 25; Unknown Or Other: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 9; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 169 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 78 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 26 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1996: 6; 2000: 78; 2001: 42; 2002: 26; 2003: 14; 2004: 11; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005990 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
3 HEAD GASKETS FAILURED IN 6 YEARS RESULTING IN ENGINE STALLING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAILURES WERE AT 30K, 45K, AND 70K MILES RESPECTIVELY. MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON 01/29/02. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURES. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007542 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
HEAD GASKET FAILED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007544 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
DASHBOARD INDICATORS STOP WORKING. I COULD HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS AND THE FUEL INDICATOR WILL READ EMPTY. THE CAR COULD BE RUNNING FOR AN HOUR AND THE TEMPERATURE STILL READS COLD. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007546 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
DRIVING TO WORK AND REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. TIRE WOULD NOT SPIN. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007782 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
HEAD GASKET LEAK...WAS REPLACED TWICE...FINALLY A DIFFERENT STYLE THAT WAS NOT FAULTY WAS RELEASED...FIBROUS GASKET LEAKED, WHEREAS THE MULTILAYER METAL GASKET DIDN'T.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008220 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
I HAVE A 1996 NEON WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN AUGUST OF 2001 WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I TOOK IT IN FOR MY MONTHLY OIL CHANGE/LUBE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO GET IT REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE A $1200 REPAIR. I BEGAN TO CALL AROUND AND EACH PLACE, WHEN I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM AND THE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL OF MY CAR, TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD HAVE GUESSED WHAT THE REPAIR WAS THAT I NEEDED JUST BY ME GIVING THEM THE TYPE OF CAR I DRIVE. I'VE CALLED 5 PLACES NOW TO GET A QUOTE ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010228 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
HEAD GASKET LEAK. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO OWN UP TO A FAULTY GASKET. WHY? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014133 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
HEAD GASKET ON 1996 NEON FAILED CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE. DESPITE WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF FREQUENTLY FAILING HEAD GASKETS IN 1995-97 PLYMOUTH AND DODGE NEONS WITH LOW MILEAGE, CHRYSLER REFUSES TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND RARELY OFFERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014133 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V026000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 1996-02-05 (February 5, 1996)
AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE..
Consequence: SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROPERLY AND ANY WIRE THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1996-05-03 (May 3, 1996)
THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗