1996 Plymouth Neon Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Plymouth Neon, and owners have filed 308 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Plymouth Neon
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
The brake master cylinder can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
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Electrical system: front underhood
An engine wiring harness can short circuit due to contact with the exhaust gas recirculation tube..
Remedy: Dealers will reroute the engine wiring harness properly and any wire that has been damaged will be replaced.
308 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Plymouth Neon have filed 308 complaints with NHTSA; 32 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 33 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,774 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 78 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Dbr2 not working or obd 2 not working when plug in obd reader no sign of workingness on vehicle”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 22, 2022 · Electrical system
“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,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 31, 2021 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Plymouth Neon. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–24 / 30–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Plymouth Neon model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Plymouth Neon model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Plymouth Neon | 0 | 3 |
| 1995 Plymouth Neon | 6 | 481 |
| 1996 Plymouth Neon | 2 | 308 |
| 1997 Plymouth Neon | 1 | 161 |
| 1998 Plymouth Neon | 1 | 167 |
| 1999 Plymouth Neon | 0 | 62 |
| 2000 Plymouth Neon | 5 | 141 |
| 2001 Plymouth Neon | 2 | 49 |
Checking a specific 1996 Plymouth Neon
How do I know if my 1996 Plymouth Neon has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Plymouth Neon; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Plymouth dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V026000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Plymouth models
- Voyager5,245 complaints
- Grand Voyager2,440 complaints
- Breeze667 complaints
- Acclaim426 complaints
- Sundance309 complaints
- Colt138 complaints
- Laser117 complaints
- Prowler61 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.