Problems · by component

1996 Plymouth Neon engine and engine cooling problems

163 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Plymouth Neon cite engine and engine cooling, 53% of all 309 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
163
53% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2007Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10198159
“CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS GETTING HER 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON REGISTERED BECAUSE IT ALLEGEDLY FAILED TO PASS A SMOG CHECK.*MR IN SEPTEMBER 200 THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEST. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ADVISING HER THAT HER MAKE/MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE OBD SELF TEST. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL THEREFORE SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. IN SEPTEMBER 2004 WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE AND OBTAIN A NEW SMOG CERTIFICATE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE FAILED THE MIL/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DUE TO FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ALL OBD SELF TEST. UPON REVIEWING THE VIN THE DMV CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SALVAGED THEREFORE IT DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10124704
“VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN ON THE ROAD. OCCASIONALLY, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT OPERATE, WHICH DID NOT INFORM OTHER DRIVERS WHEN MAKING TURNS. CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT OPERATE, AS WELL PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM INCREASING OR DECREASING SPEED.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 10113457
“WATER PUMP HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 YEARS . ALSO THE TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN 3 TIMES AND TENSIONER WAS BROKEN 2 TIMES ( ALL REPLACED WHEN WATER PUMP WAS BROKEN )-IN PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 1996. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10103004
“OIL LEAKS, DASHBOARD FAILURE, NOISE IN BRAKES, WIND NOISE IN PASSENGERS DOOR. HAVE REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKET TWICE, REPLACED OIL SENDIND UNIT,CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED NOW I HAVE A BIG OIL LEAK, CAR ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10100675
“HAVE PERSISTENT OIL LEAK. WENT TO MECHANIC, STATED SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND DID NOT FIND A RECALL. BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM GOT GASKET FIXED 2001. HAVE SAME PROBLEM NOW AND TWO NEW MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED I NEED A HEAD GASKET.EVERYONE I TALK TO AT CHYRSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW WHAT DO I DO? *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10064167

Showing 6 of 163 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.