FaultScore

1996 Plymouth Neon headlight problems

12 of the 476 complaints about the 1996 Plymouth Neon are about the lighting — 3% of everything reported for this model year.

A

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Turn Signal 3 25.0%
Exterior Lighting 2 16.7%
Interior Lighting 2 16.7%
Tail Lights 2 16.7%
Flasher Unit 2 16.7%
Headlights 1 8.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Rockford, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10113457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mechanicsville, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OUTSIDE I HAVE A LAKE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE BACK AND IN THE TRUNK WHICH IS MOLDING THE CARPET AND ITEMS KEPT INSIDE. 2. THE BACK UP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, DUE TO THE MOISTURE. 3. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKS REALLY FAST, AND STAYS ON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. 4. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS TO BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF AFTER TURNING LEFT. 5. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED ON A STEEP TURN RESULTING ME GOING OFF ROAD, LUCKILY NOT HITTING ANYONE. 6. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR AT NIGHT. 7. RADIO RECEPTION IS GETTING WORSE. STATIONS THAT USED TO COME IN WON'T ANYMORE. 8. CAR SHAKES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND AT A LIGHT. 9. THERE IS GLARE ON THE WINDSHEILD FROM DASH THAT CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY IN THE DAY TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10086924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Owensboro, KY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSE OF FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10034381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albany, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

WHEN IT RAINED THE VEHICLES TAIL LIGHTS BECAME WET AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE LIGHTS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10022282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Itasca, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE DEGRADING THE LIGHT, RESULTING IN DRIVER LIMITING DRIVER'S VIEW OF DISTANCE.*AKI

NHTSA complaint #8015335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corona, CA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

BATTERY CAME ON, AND ALL DASH LIGHTS WENT DIM. THEN CONSUMER HEARD A HOULING NOISE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT HARNESS WIRING HAD MELTED. DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON IN THESE TYPES OF CARS. THERE WAS A RECALL 96V026000 ON UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #878221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knoxville, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

FAILURE#1:1/97-6/97 HORN MADE NO NOISE WHEN PUSHED. SEVERAL VISITS TO TWO DEALERS IN FT.WAYNE AND INDIANAPOLIS, IN AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FINALLY RESOLVED AS BEING A PINCHED WIRE. HAD TO INVOLVE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY. FAILURE#2:1/97-3/97 THE REAR DEFROST SWITCH FAILED ON OCCASSION FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WORKS CONTINUOUSLY NOW. FAILURE#3:8/97-1998 LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, ONLY OCCASSIONALLY AND WHILE IT WAS SLOWING DOWN, NOT AT A STOP. FAILURE#4:6/99-CURRENT POWER LOCKS FAILED. FAILURE#5: 7/99-8/99 POWER STEERING FAILED. POWER SWITCH REPLACED. FAILURE#6: 3/00-7/00 A/C FAILED. 1/2 LB COOLANT LEAKED OUT AND WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #727754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sayre, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT SEAL DID NOT WORK FOR UN KNOWN REASON AND THEREFORE CAUSED A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #721884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jersey City, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #710558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deadwood, SD

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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.

Leicester, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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.

Leicester, NC

INTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

Other 1996 Plymouth Neon problems

← Full 1996 Plymouth Neon report