164 of the
711 complaints about the 1995 Plymouth Neon are about the
engine — 23% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
89,000 miles.
NUMEROUS HEATING COOLING PROBLEMS. INCORRECT TEMPERATURE GAUGE, OVERHEATING, RADIATOR FANS NOT COMING ON, ERRATIC FAN OPERATION, WATER LEAKING IN FROM FIREWALL POURING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING BLOWN FUSES, FAULTY BLOWER MOTORS AND SOAKING CARPETS. WIRING PROBLEMS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW WHEN FANS WOULD KICK ON, A/C WAS TURNED ON, OR DASH WOULD EMIT SMOKE WHEN THE PARKING BREAK WAS ENGAGED WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING, ERRATIC GAUGE CLUSTER, OFF AND ON GAUGES, INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10144880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wallington, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET BLEW.*MR THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET .
NHTSA complaint #10089546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Portland, ME
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
POOR DESIGN LEADS TO HEAD GASKET OF PLYMOUTH NEONS TO BLOW FREQUENTLY. CHRYSLER OFFERS NO RE-CALL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10054593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesEL Dorado Hills, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CAR HAS A CRACK IN THE HEAD GASKET I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 1995 NEON'S. I HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT A "SECRET WARRANTY" BUT I CAN NEVER GET ANY HELP! THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THANK YOU. *SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****749199
NHTSA complaint #10006449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING NOISE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,070 milesWoodbridge, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE VALVE COVER. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THIS LEAK CONTINUED, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,400 milesMadison, WI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER THAT I TOOK IT TO FOR REPAIRS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY, BUT THAT I COULD CONTACT CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER HAS DECLINED TO COVER ANY OF THE COST OF PARTS AND SERVICE FOR THIS REPAIR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT HEAD GASKETS ARE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY NEON OWNERS ARE FIGHTING THIS SAME BATTLE. I AM APALLED THAT A RECALL WAS NEVER DONE ON THIS PART. VIEW OTHERS PROBLEMS WITH THE NEON HEAD GASTKET AT THIS WEBSITE. <HTTP://GROUPS.GOOGLE.COM/GROUPS?Q=NEON+HEAD+GASKET&IE=ISO-8859-1&HL=EN> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD GIVE ME ANY ADVICE ON THIS MATTER. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT WARRANTS A RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #10000185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naples, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A/C CLUTCH, SEIZED UP AND STARTED SMOKING CAR IS MAJOR HAZARD. DT
NHTSA complaint #769732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES; LEAKED OIL THROUGHOUT COOLANT SYSTEM, WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL COMPONENT PARTS, SAVE FOR THE RADIATOR, AND THE OXYGEN FLOW SENSOR. CHRYSLER PAID ALL BUT $200 OF THE GASKET REPAIR, AND I AM ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER THE COST OF THE REMAINING REPAIR WORK. DT
NHTSA complaint #769478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Royal OAK, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO COOLANT AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. OVERHEATING OCCURED ON EXPRESSWAY CASUING ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OIL AND COOLANT SPILLED OUT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE. DT
NHTSA complaint #768854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moravian Falls, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET BLEW 2 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #8019297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bridgeton, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #763869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PE 98 012/UNDERHOOD FIRE: WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE HAS STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #8012648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY CAR OVERHEATED ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR. TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC BUT THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY A PROBLEM SO THEY THOUGHT IT WAS LOW ON COOLANT. THEN, MY CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN, STARTED IDLING ROUGH, AND PROCEEDED TO POUR SMOKE OUT BACK. YOU COULD SMELL THE COOLANT BURNING. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL NEONS PRE-99, YET CHRYSLER AND DODGE REFUSE TO RECALL THE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #763207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cotopaxi, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. THERE IS A RECALL BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED.
NHTSA complaint #8007616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Falls Church, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CAR ONLY HAS 84,600 MILES AND THE HEADGASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I JUST LEARNED THIS IS RECCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE NEON.
NHTSA complaint #758910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CAFire1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECTIVE HEADGASKET CAUSED EROSION AND DAMAGE TO THE HEAD, CHRYSLER DENIES TO COVER COST OF $2500. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF BROKEN HEADGASKETS IN THE NEONS AND CHRYSLER ADMITS TO THE DEFECT AND PAYS TO REPAIR SOME, BUT SAYS VEHICLE HAS TOO MANY MILES AND CONSUMER IS A THIRD OWNER SO THEY WON'T COVER IT. *AK ON 22-FEB-2002 CONSUMERS SON WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON IMPACT, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, CONSUMER HAD TO CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOWS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #758154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CAFire1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DEFECTIVE HEADGASKET CAUSED EROSION AND DAMAGE TO THE HEAD, CHRYSLER DENIES TO COVER COST OF $2500. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF BROKEN HEADGASKETS IN THE NEONS AND CHRYSLER ADMITS TO THE DEFECT AND PAYS TO REPAIR SOME, BUT SAYS VEHICLE HAS TOO MANY MILES AND CONSUMER IS A THIRD OWNER SO THEY WON'T COVER IT. *AK ON 22-FEB-2002 CONSUMERS SON WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON IMPACT, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, CONSUMER HAD TO CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOWS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #758154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED NEEDED HEAD GASKETS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8003526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE EXPIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #6900656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Appleton, WI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT A "10 MINUTUE" OIL CHANGE PLACE THE SERVICE PERSON NOTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. AFTER BRINGING IT TO A DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. AFTER CHECKING AROUND AT OTHER LOCAL GARAGES, WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHER CASES OF THIS SAME INCIDENT WITH THE NEON VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM , WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE - BUT AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS AND LONG DISCUSSIONS, THEY OFFERED TO PAY FOR PARTS, WHICH WAS HELPFUL BUT NOT ENOUGH SINCE THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE CAR DEALER HAD SAID THE PART WAS OBVIOUSLY MACHINED WRONG AND WAS DEFECTIVE- BUT THEY WERE ALSO NOT GOING TO HELP US WITH THE COST.THIS LEFT ME WITH A $ 534.26 BILL TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE - WHICH WAS ALOT OF MONEY TO SPEND WHEN THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I N MAY OF '98 I TRADED THE CAR IN- DIDN'T NEED THE HASSLES ANY MORE OR TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT. NOW I SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM- I'M VERY FRUSTRATED- I'VE CALLED CHRYSLER AGAIN AFTER FINDING THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD ONLY $100 OR $200 DEDUCTIBLES TO PAY & I PAYED OVER $500.00 FOR THIS. NOT FAIR FOR ANYONE. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO RECALL THIS-I KNOW IT'S NOT THE LAW TO HAVE TO REIM BURSE YOU , BUT THE NOT-SO-HELPFUL CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE- SAID THAT THEY WILL REIMBURSE IF A RECALL IS DONE. TOO MANY UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE HAVE PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T AFFORD, AND MANY MORE WILL TOO IF THIS MATTER IS NOT RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #755130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milford, CT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF OIL AT 55,000 MILES, TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #899203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bend, OR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SINCE MY ENGINE WENT OUT, I HAVE TALKED TO 17 MECHANICS AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE IN THE NEON IS CONSIDERED A THROW AWAY ENGINE AND THAT THEY ARE ONLY EXPECTED TO AVERAGE AROUND 100,000 MILES, A FACT THAT ISNT TOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A LOW INCOME AND THE MONEY I PUT OUT ON THAT CAR WAS A FORTUNE FOR ME. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE BE PROTECTED FROM BEING MISLEAD INTO BUYING A CAR THAT IS GOING TO GO OUT ON THEM SHORTLY AFTER THEY BUY IT ALSO. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT BAD CRAFTSMANSHIP AND DEALERS MISLEADING PEOPLE WHEN SELLING USED CARS LIKE THIS. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE "THESE LITTLE CARS GO FOREVER" WHEN INDEED IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG THE DEALERS AND THE COMPANY THAT BUILDS THESE CARS THAT MY CAR, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, ONLY HAD AN ESTIMATED 5,000 MILES LEFT ON THE ENGINE AND THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIRS ARE ALMOST AS MUCH AS I PAID FOR THE CAR. ALSO IN MY TALKING WITH DIFFERENT MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THAT CHANGING THE HEAD ON THE ENGINE, WHICH IS WHAT THE DEALER WANTS TO DO TO MY CAR TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 1500 DOLLARS, WILL CAUSE THE RINGS IN THE LOWER SECTION OF THE ENGINE TO FAIL IN ABOUT 2 TO 3 MONTHS LATER, WHICH WILL COST ME AROUND ANOTHER 1500 DOLLARS. THE DEALER WAS QUITE EMBARRASSED WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THEM. CONSUMERS NEED SOME KIND OF PROTECTION FROM THIS.
NHTSA complaint #751631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glem Allen, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #751495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHRYSLER HAS A SECRET ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ABOUT THIS PART. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMBEROUS OF FAILURES REPORTED TO CHRYSLER ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET. WHEN I CALLED THE CHRYSLER HOT LINE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 10 YEAR / 100,000 MILES BUT BECAUSE I HAVE 97,000 MILES THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. IF IT HAD FAILED AT 50,000 THEY WOULD HELP ME. THEY FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS AT THE END OF IT LIFE SO THEY DO NOT WANT TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. I GUESS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE VERY MUCH FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCT TO LAST VERY LONG. SO I AM BEING PUNISHED BECAUSE I WAS LUCKY AND MY HEAD GASKET DID NOT FAIL AT 50,000 MILES SO CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP.
NHTSA complaint #750435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clovis, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CAR OVERHEATING, LEAKING OIL ON ENGINE, RUNING HORRIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #749584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milford, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #892654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyattsville, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1995 NEONS, HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM, MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX (EST. $1100), I THINK THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES SINCE IT'S A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #747858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Desmoines, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING, AND SHUTDOWN . HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND OUT ENGINE HEAD HAD BLOWN.
NHTSA complaint #891727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Desmoines, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING, AND SHUTDOWN . HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND OUT ENGINE HEAD HAD BLOWN.
NHTSA complaint #891727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.