Plymouth Neon Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,369 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls on file for the Plymouth Neon, across 7 model years (1995–2001). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (481). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Plymouth Neon years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Neon year: 1995, 1996. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Neon: 481 complaints, 6 recalls
- 1996 Neon: 308 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1998 Neon: 167 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Neon: 49 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1999 Neon: 62 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 Neon: 141 complaints, 5 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Plymouth Neon problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 564 | 7 | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 197 | 7 | 32 |
| Air Bags problems | 158 | 7 | 107 |
| Electrical System problems | 144 | 7 | 3 |
| Steering problems | 111 | 7 | 12 |
| Power Train problems | 107 | 7 | 4 |
| Structure | 65 | 7 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 58 | 6 | 12 |
| Suspension | 53 | 7 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 50 | 7 | 2 |
| Equipment | 48 | 7 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 46 | 6 | 1 |
| Visibility | 46 | 7 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 39 | 7 | 12 |
| Tires | 17 | 5 | 2 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Engine | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Plymouth Neon problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 1998: engine and engine cooling (91)
- 1997: engine and engine cooling (103)
- 1996: engine and engine cooling (167)
- 1995: engine and engine cooling (147) · service brakes, hydraulic (86) · steering (71) · air bags (61) · electrical system (54)
All Plymouth Neon model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Neon | 49 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Neon | 141 | 5 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Neon | 62 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Neon | 167 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1997 Neon | 161 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1996 Neon | 308 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Neon | 481 | 6 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Plymouth: all Plymouth models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Plymouth Neon years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (481), 1996 (308) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Neon year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Plymouth Neon?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 564 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Plymouth Neon have?
14 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.