AI DamagePlymouth Neon: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Plymouth Neon across 9 model years: 1,375 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 41% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 565 complaints (41% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 202 complaints (15% of all), 34 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 159 complaints (12% of all), 108 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 144 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 113 complaints (8% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1995–2001
- automatic, 3-speed 1995–2001
- manual, 5-speed 1995–2001named in 4 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,375 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 565 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 202 | 34 | 0 |
| Air bags | 159 | 108 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 144 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 113 | 12 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 107 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 65 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 61 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 58 | 12 | 0 |
| Suspension | 53 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 46 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 46 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 39 | 12 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Filled gas tank to full, as exiting the gas station hit small bump car dead stopped. Was stopped immediately by the gas tank slamming to the ground lifting the car. The cars engine immediately shut down. Got out and looked at the car. Gas was leaking on ground (small amount) from the return line.
I have to replace the tires every 3 months and a/c went out 3 years after I bought the car. I haven't fixed the a./c compressor the cassette tape player stopped working after I bought the car and it's still broke. The bulbs in the lens of the light are very dim can't drive at night.
Front bumper, grill, hood, driver side front fender, headlight and windshield were damaged quite severely. Damage is approximately $4000. Speed was 45 mph. Deer was large buck, 12 points. Neither air bag deployed.
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.
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 passenger door would not open due to the fender being jammed back into the door. The bumper is dangling about 4-5 inches from where it should be. The passenger and driver injured their knees on the dash when they slid forward from the impact. The seat belts held.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.