RoadVitals

1996 Plymouth Neon Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
38
Latest Nov 28, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 308 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Plymouth Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

BrakesEngineInterior & seats
Filed Nov 28, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10100675
Incident
Nov 19, 2004
Mileage
45,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 15, 2003
Crash reported

DRIVING TO WORK AND REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. TIRE WOULD NOT SPIN. PH

NHTSA ID
10007546
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 27, 2002

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 ID
567221
Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2002

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
763409
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 17, 2002

ALL GAUGES WILL GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WITH IN THE NEXT TEN MINUTES OR WHEN TURNING ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON THEY MAY COME BACK ON. *JG

NHTSA ID
563992
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
754625
Incident
Apr 5, 2000
BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 14, 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
894312
Incident
May 1, 2001
BrakesEngine
Filed Jun 9, 2001

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 ID
746624
Incident
Jan 12, 2001
Brakes
Filed Mar 7, 2001

ALL FOUR ORIGINAL ROTORS EXPERIENCING "PITTING" RELATED TO RECALL OF 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V136000. *AK

NHTSA ID
742071
Incident
Mar 7, 2001
AirbagsBrakesInterior & seats
Filed Dec 6, 2000
2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER AND CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH, THE PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING THE CRASH. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557905
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Jul 25, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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 ID
725978
Incident
Dec 15, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2000

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 . *AK

NHTSA ID
723539
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 3, 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
719627
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Feb 7, 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
856351
Incident
Jan 17, 2000
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 8, 1999

WHILE DRIVING FRONT AXEL BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
853848
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Nov 3, 1999

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 ID
714302
Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 1999

BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE. MJS

NHTSA ID
547581
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Apr 3, 1999

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
705240
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Mar 8, 1999

RIGHT SIDE BRAKES FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
782005
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 2, 1999

FRONT BRAKES SQUEEL/CHATTER AT LOW SPEEDS, FRONT END NOISEY ON ROUGH ROADS

NHTSA ID
703949
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
BrakesElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Feb 8, 1999

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
703037
Incident
Feb 7, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 1998

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 ID
539071
Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
826011
Incident
Feb 1, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed May 27, 1998

AIR/WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID
535993
Incident
Oct 22, 1996
Brakes
Filed May 3, 1998

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 ID
535086
Incident
Aug 18, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .