RoadVitals

1996 Plymouth Neon Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
17
Latest Sep 24, 2002
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.
6%
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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 17 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 fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL LEAK FROM FILTER PICK UP CAUSING BIG PUDDLES UNDER HIS CAR. NLM

NHTSA ID
8019330
Incident
Jul 24, 2002
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 2, 2002

MY NEON HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY STALLING OUT WHEN SLOWING FOR STOPS, STARTING THE VEHICLE AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I AM AT IDLE. THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN I AM PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLS, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO STOP IN TIME. NO CRASHES HAVE INCURRED YET, BUT THEY ARE POSSIBLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES NOW TO LEBANON CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH FOR REPAIR. 11-19: FUEL PUMP AND VARIOUS CABLES REPLACED. PROBLEM RETURNED. !2-31: IDLE MEMORY NEEDED TO BE RESET. 1-2-02: THROTTLE BODY AND THERMOSTAT NEED REPLACED...ALL OF THESE ITEMS WERE COMPLETED ON DIFFERENT DATES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT LEBANON CHRYSLER AND HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED COMPLETELY THIS TIME, BUT IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE I DRIVE. I LEAVE SUFFICIENT DISTANCE BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT I CANNOT PREDICT HOW OTHERS WILL DRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP. LISA BRADY. *AK

NHTSA ID
756302
Incident
Nov 19, 2001
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2001

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.*AK SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *SLC

NHTSA ID
881058
Incident
Dec 25, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jul 11, 2000
Fire reported

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, CLIP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL HOSE IN PLACE CAME OFF, ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FUEL FILTER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
865152
Incident
Jul 8, 2000
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 11, 2000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. PUT IN BATTERY/FUEL PUMP AND A STARTER, AND VEHICLE STILL CUT OFF. DEALER DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE WHEN TRAVELING. *AK

NHTSA ID
860079
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Dec 14, 1999

GAS GAUGE INOPERABLE CAUSING DRIVER TO RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL OCCASIONS. YH

NHTSA ID
549970
Incident
Oct 3, 1999
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
715931
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
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
Fuel system
Filed Sep 28, 1999

FUEL GAUGE INACCURATELY READS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
848949
Incident
Aug 17, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Aug 2, 1999
Fire reported

FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL TO RETURN HOSE CONNECTION CAUSED THE FUEL VAPORS TO IGNITE FROM THE SPARKS WHICH WERE CREATED DURING NORMAL OPERATION, RESULTING IN FIRE AND MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC

NHTSA ID
547701
Incident
May 31, 1999
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
Fuel system
Filed Jul 12, 1998
Fire reported2 injuries reported

AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. CAMPAIGN # 96V228000

NHTSA ID
538273
Incident
May 22, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Jul 12, 1998
Fire reported2 injuries reported

AS I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I LOOKED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON THE REAR DECK OF THE BACK SEAT, BY THE REAR WINDOW, FLAMES COULD BE SEEN ABOVE MY SONS HEAD. AFTER WE GOT OUT AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK BURNING AS IT RAN ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. CAMPAIGN # 96V228000

NHTSA ID
538272
Incident
May 22, 1998
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed Apr 22, 1998

TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA ID
534514
Incident
Feb 1, 1997
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 6, 1997

THE MASTER CYLINDER/ BRAKE PADS AND FUEL TANK SENSOR AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED. PLEASE SEND WORK ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
807167
Incident
Mar 4, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Dec 30, 1996

GAS TANK FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
513199
Incident
Sep 9, 1996
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+5 more
Filed Oct 25, 1996

WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT, WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK STEERING WHEEL REPLACED, IT WAS VIBRATING DUE TO BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, RACK AND PINION AND STEERING RACK WERE ALSO REPLACED. EXCESSIVE SHAKING WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED TIRES, AND BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES, HOWEVER SHAKE STILL PRESENT, DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD TORQUE PULL AND COULD NOT BE ALIGNED, ALSO HAD BAD STRUT, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND SHAKES. CONSUMER NOTICED OIL AROUND THE BOLTS ON THE VALVE COVER AT ONLY 265 MILES, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, FRONT MOTOR MOUNT HAD A LOT OF PLAY AND WAS REPLACED, OIL IS VERY DARK IN COLOR, POOR POWER. CV JOINTS BAD. DEALER LUBED AND ADJUSTED FRONT WINDOWS, THEY WERE HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES FAILED. WRONG AIR CLEANER VENT WAS INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS STUCK ON. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF POOR GAS MILEAGE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
804050
Incident
May 2, 1996

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 .