46 of the 476 complaints about the 1996 Plymouth Neon are about the braking system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,000 miles.
46
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #10100675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:DRUM
DRIVING TO WORK AND REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. TIRE WOULD NOT SPIN. PH
NHTSA complaint #10007546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE VEHICLE NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE BRAKES. *YH THE CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED TWICE, THE POWER STEERING BELTS FAILED WHILE TRAVELING DURING TRAFFIC, AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS BRAKES ON THE CAR HAVE FAILED ABOUT 8 TIMES IN THE 5 YEARS WE'VE OWNED THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WON'T STOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #763409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHILE DRIVING, FRONT DISC BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE ALL THE WAY CAUSING THEM TO WEAR EASILY BECAUSE OF CONSTANT DRIVING WITH THEM ENGAGED, ALL BRAKES FAILED LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT BRAKES AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #563992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #754625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AIR CONDITION BLOWS OUT HOT AIR AND MAKES A NOISE. ALSO, WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #894312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO REMAIN ON. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR DOWN INTO THE ROTORS. HEAD GASKET AT THE DRIVERS SIDE, REAR, TOWARDS TOP LEAKS OIL DOWN OVER THE ENGINE. CAM SENSOR GASKET LEAKS OIL DOWN OVER THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #746624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ALL FOUR ORIGINAL ROTORS EXPERIENCING "PITTING" RELATED TO RECALL OF 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V136000.
NHTSA complaint #742071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
THE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP AROUND. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
RIGHT SIDE BRAKES FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #782005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO SLIP. HEADGASKET HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ADMIT TO. ENGINE BLOCK OR OTHER PART IS CRACKED, LEAKING OIL INTO CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED LAST TIME IN SHOP. BRAKES FAIL REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY UNDER QUICK STOPPING ATTEMPTS, EVEN THOUGH THE PADS/SHOES ARE STILL GOOD. THERE IS A GAS LEAK THAT ALLOWS FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. EGR VALVE IS BROKEN AND WON'T BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE ENGINE. PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CAR AND THE PANELS ARE NOW RUSTING. CAR STALLS IN REVERSE. CAR IDLES ROUGHLY EVEN AFTER TUNE-UPS. HEAT/AC KNOBS ARE CRACKED DUE TO IMPROPER DRILLING.
NHTSA complaint #725978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I WAS TOLD THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH IT. MINE HAS COLLASPED AND WHILE NOT CREATING A SAFETY PROBLEM AT THIS POINT COULD LATER ON IF I CAN'T GET A PART TO REPLACE IT.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED .
NHTSA complaint #723539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS TOLD THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH IT. MINE HAS COLLASPED AND WHILE NOT CREATING A SAFETY PROBLEM AT THIS POINT COULD LATER ON IF I CAN'T GET A PART TO REPLACE IT.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED .
NHTSA complaint #723539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND CAR REQUIRES NEW ROTORS AT 38,500 MILES. OBVIOUS DEFECT. I CALLED CHRYSLERS 800 NUMBER FOR RECALL AND WARRANTIES AND WAS ADVISED THAT "CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS". IN ORDER FOR CHRYSLER TO EVEN CONSIDER PAYING FOR THE REPAIR, I HAVE TO SEE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WILL DETERMINE WHAT IF ANYTHING CHRYSLER WILL PAY FOR. I HAVE TO WAIT 4 DAYS BEFORE I CAN EVEN GET INTO SEE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEN IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 2-3 DAYS TO REPAIR. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND I HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. I CALL THIS VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I WOULD LIKE CHRYSLER TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS TO MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #719627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON FEB 4, 2000. MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHANGED, ALONG WITH NEW PADS AND ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #856351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON FEB 4, 2000. MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHANGED, ALONG WITH NEW PADS AND ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #856351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING FRONT AXEL BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #853848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH CAR FROM ENGINE TO WIRING. NOT HAPPY WITH CAR CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM CAR!
NHTSA complaint #714302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ON THE ENGINE FAILURES, BOTH THE HEAD GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AT SEPARATE TIMES, RESULTING IN ALL OF THE OIL RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS. REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OFTEN COMES ON WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. IT WILL GO OFF IF I TOUCH THE TURN SIGNAL HANDLE ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS GONE ON EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. REGARDING THE WHEEL PROBLEM, THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE STEERING/HANDLING HAS FELT LOOSE AND WOBBLY DESPITE HAVING THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, A FULL ALIGNMENT AND HAVING THE TIRES BALANCED. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. AND, WATER LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK AND SOAKED ITEMS IN BOTH THE TRUNK AND ON THE REAR FLOOR. THIS, I THINK, HAS BEEN FIXED BY RESEALING THE REAR LIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #705240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES SQUEAK.
NHTSA complaint #535993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
RIGHT SIDE BRAKES FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #782005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
FRONT BRAKES SQUEEL/CHATTER AT LOW SPEEDS, FRONT END NOISEY ON ROUGH ROADS
NHTSA complaint #703949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR REGULARLY, BUT I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. FIRST OF ALL, I'VE ALWAYS HAD BRAKE TROUBLE, SECOND: MY TURN SIGNALS WILL SOMETIMES COME ON WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES (OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL), MY DEFROST KEEPS BREAKING (ONLY VENT AND BI-LEVEL WILL WORK); MY HORN DIED FOR NO REASON A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND TODAY MY CAR WON'T START (I DROVE TO CHURCH, AND IT WORKED FINE, BUT WHEN I LATER TRIED STARTING MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD <EVEN THOUGH I DIN'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON. SO A FRIEND JUMP-STARTED MY CAR. IT STARTED, BUT ON MY WAY HOME, THE ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND HOT-COLD GAUGES WERE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN, AND THE RADIO KEPT RESETTING CHANNELS. THE SEATBELT AND BATTERY LIGHTS KEPT FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AS DID THE CHIMES. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHARGED MY CAR, ALTHOUGH I FELT CERTAIN IT WAS NOT ONLY THE BATTERY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NOW, MY CAR WON'T START AT ALL, AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE (IF ANYTHING) WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION. THE GAUGES ON MY DASH MOVE UP AND DOWN (EVEN THE SPEDOMETER) AND YET MY CAR REMAINS STILL. THE DOME AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, AND THE RADIO CHANGES STATIONS, YET RECEIVES NOTHING. IT SEEMS LIKE SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY CAR WORKED FINE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BROKEN HORN AND USUAL PROBLEMS, UNTIL TODAY. ALSO, AT MY 36000 CHECK-UP, THE " ENGINE" CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THE MECHANICS SAID IT WAS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE TELL ME IF OTHER PERSONS ARE HAVING SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES. COULD MY DEAD HORN HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY WHATEVER IS MALFUNCTIONING NOW? ALSO, I HEAR WIERD CLUNKING NOISES MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING, ESPEC WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR AROUND CURVES. MY CAR MAKES SQUEAKING NOISES LIKE A BIRD CHIRPING ALSO. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, WHICH IS WHY NOW I AM CONVINCED THAT THESE MUST BE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. I HAVE EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIPS. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #703037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #819988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
23% OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I'VE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES FIRST TIME THE REAR BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED, REPLACE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, REPLACE PADS, SCUFF ROTORS AND DRUMS, ADJUST REARS. 2 TIME NOTHING WAS TOLD BRAKES ARE BRAKING AS DESIGNED. NEXT TIME AIR BUBBLE WAS FOUND. NOW HCU UNIT NEED REPLACING.
NHTSA complaint #539071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES ARE CONTINUALLY MAKING SQUEAKY NOISES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #826011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
I WANT TO GET RID OF THIS CAR, I CALLED THE DEALER, HE SAID HE HAD A LOT FULL OF NEONS, I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THE CAR WAS ALMOST NEW BECAUSE SO MANY PARTS HAVEN BEEN REPLACED ON IT, IT ALSO TOLD HIM THAT MY CAR SPENT MORE TIME IN THEIR GARAGE THEN MINE. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SELL THE CAR OUT RIGHT. I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS, I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER TWICE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM, MISSED 4 DAYS OF WORK BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM, SPENT 35.00 ON A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LOOSE MONEY BECAUSE I NOLONGER WISH TO OWN THIS CAR. THANKS FOR LISTENING
NHTSA complaint #535086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #604347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.