Model year record
The 1996 Plymouth Neon has 2 safety recalls and 308 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (187 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
| City / highway | 24 / 35 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
| City / highway | 22 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 187 | 70,000 mi |
| Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring › Interior/under dash | 51 | 84,200 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 43 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline › Constant velocity joint | 28 | — |
| Unknown or other | 23 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 22 | 87,418 mi |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm | 20 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield; Glass, side/rear | 15 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system; Storage › Tank assembly | 14 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Linkages | 14 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 13 | — |
| StructureBody › Door; Body › Trunk lid | 10 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Dbr2 not working or obd 2 not working when plug in obd reader no sign of workingness on vehicle
I was driving when the instrument cluster gauges started moving up and down like if the instrument cluster was making false contact with the connector to get a calibrated read on the speed, gasoline, temperature gauges
THE CAR WAS RUN FOR 45MINS AT 10MPH FOLLOWING A TRACTOR. THE LAST 2 MILES WERE AT 55MPH. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS HOME AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALL WIRING AND PLASTIC COMPONENTS ARE A COMPLETE LOSS, HOOD IS DAMAGED, AND ALL LIGHT UNITS ARE RUINED. *TR
ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CEASES TO FUNCTION. SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, TACHOMETER GOES TO ZERO, GAS GAUGE STOPS, TEMP GAUGE GOES TO COLD. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH., OR WHATEVER THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR A GIVEN AREA IS. A BIT DISCONCERTING AT TIMES. AFTER A TIME PERIOD, THINGS START TO WORK AGAIN, AND THEN THEY QUIT AGAIN. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WAS OBSERVED TO BE WRAPPED AROUND THE CONTACT'S LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST, NECK AND LEFT LEG. *NM
ON 01/03/06, I PURCHASED 4 NEW DAYTON DAYTONA HR TIRES (SIZE 185/60R14) FROM REEVES TIRE IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI FOR MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON. ON 02/01/06, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES, THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE (APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH). THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BROKEN BEAD, WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. ON 04/12/06, IMMEDIATELY AFTER HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED, REBALANCED, AND MY CAR REALIGNED (AGAIN AT REEVES TIRE), MY DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT TIRE DETONATED, AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE, AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. I HAD TRAVELED, AT MOST, 10 MILES AFTER HAVING THE WORK PERFORMED. AFTER I STOPPED MY CAR, I INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT…
CONSUMER 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON PCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED CAUSING COMER VEHICLE TO FAIL EMISSIONS. *TS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED STATE EMISSION INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S READINESS CODES WERE CLEARED EACH TIME THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONSUMER FOUND A TSB WHICH STATED THAT THE PCM MUST BE REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE CONDITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE WHERE THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED AT NO CHARGE. *NM
ON EVERY PLYMOUTH NEON IN THE COLOR OF BLUE, THE PAINT IS CHIPPING FROM THE HOOD TO THE TRUNK. ALSO, WHEN IT RAINS, THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ON THE FLOORS AND IN THE TRUNK GETS WET AND IN ORDER TO GET THE WATER OUT, IT HAS TO BE VACUUMED. I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. AFTER HAVING TO INVEST A LOT OF MONEY IN SOMETHING THAT YOU EXPECT TO HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING UNLESS IT IS CAUSED BY YOU.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
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.
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