1996 PLYMOUTH NEON Recalls, Complaints & Safety

Dbr2 not working or obd 2 not working when plug in obd reader no sign of workingness on vehicle

I was driving when the instrument cluster gauges started moving up and down like if the instrument cluster was making false contact with the connector to get a calibrated read on the speed, gasoline, temperature gauges

THE CAR WAS RUN FOR 45MINS AT 10MPH FOLLOWING A TRACTOR. THE LAST 2 MILES WERE AT 55MPH. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS HOME AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALL WIRING AND PLASTIC COMPONENTS ARE A COMPLETE LOSS, HOOD IS DAMAGED, AND ALL LIGHT UNITS ARE RUINED. *TR

Fire

ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CEASES TO FUNCTION. SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, TACHOMETER GOES TO ZERO, GAS GAUGE STOPS, TEMP GAUGE GOES TO COLD. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH., OR WHATEVER THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR A GIVEN AREA IS. A BIT DISCONCERTING AT TIMES. AFTER A TIME PERIOD, THINGS START TO WORK AGAIN, AND THEN THEY QUIT AGAIN. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WAS OBSERVED TO BE WRAPPED AROUND THE CONTACT'S LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST, NECK AND LEFT LEG. *NM

Crash 1 injured

ON 01/03/06, I PURCHASED 4 NEW DAYTON DAYTONA HR TIRES (SIZE 185/60R14) FROM REEVES TIRE IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI FOR MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON. ON 02/01/06, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES, THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE (APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH). THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BROKEN BEAD, WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. ON 04/12/06, IMMEDIATELY AFTER HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED, REBALANCED, AND MY CAR REALIGNED (AGAIN AT REEVES TIRE), MY DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT TIRE DETONATED, AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE, AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. I HAD TRAVELED, AT MOST, 10 MILES AFTER HAVING THE WORK PERFORMED. AFTER I STOPPED MY CAR, I INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT APPROXIMATELY 6-8 INCHES OF THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THERE WERE NO CORDS OR FIBERS HANGING FROM THE TIRE. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE SIDE WALL HAD BEEN CUT FROM THE TIRE. THE BEAD WAS STILL INTACT, BUT THERE WAS NO RUBBER ANYWHERE ON IT. IT WAS JUST BARE STEEL CORDS. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AFTER THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION. AGAIN, THERE WAS NO OTHER INDICATION OF DAMAGE. I AM A FACTORY-TRAINED MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN, AND I AM VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING MY VEHICLES. I TYPICALLY INSPECT THE CONDITION AND TIRE PRESSURE OF MY CAR TIRES ONCE A WEEK, AND HAVE NEVER ABUSED THEM OR HIT ANY ROAD-DEBRIS, POTHOLES, ETC. THE FORCE OF THE TIRE EXPLOSION PUSHED THE REAR OF THE FRONT FENDER INTO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DOOR AND MODERATELY DENTED THE FENDER. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SECOND TIRE WENT OUT. *NM

CONSUMER 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON PCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED CAUSING COMER VEHICLE TO FAIL EMISSIONS. *TS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED STATE EMISSION INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S READINESS CODES WERE CLEARED EACH TIME THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONSUMER FOUND A TSB WHICH STATED THAT THE PCM MUST BE REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE CONDITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE WHERE THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED AT NO CHARGE. *NM

ON EVERY PLYMOUTH NEON IN THE COLOR OF BLUE, THE PAINT IS CHIPPING FROM THE HOOD TO THE TRUNK. ALSO, WHEN IT RAINS, THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ON THE FLOORS AND IN THE TRUNK GETS WET AND IN ORDER TO GET THE WATER OUT, IT HAS TO BE VACUUMED. I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. AFTER HAVING TO INVEST A LOT OF MONEY IN SOMETHING THAT YOU EXPECT TO HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING UNLESS IT IS CAUSED BY YOU.

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS GETTING HER 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON REGISTERED BECAUSE IT ALLEGEDLY FAILED TO PASS A SMOG CHECK.*MR IN SEPTEMBER 200 THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEST. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ADVISING HER THAT HER MAKE/MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE OBD SELF TEST. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL THEREFORE SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. IN SEPTEMBER 2004 WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE AND OBTAIN A NEW SMOG CERTIFICATE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE FAILED THE MIL/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DUE TO FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ALL OBD SELF TEST. UPON REVIEWING THE VIN THE DMV CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SALVAGED THEREFORE IT DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

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.*AK

PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR

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

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB

Crash 1 injured

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY PAINT ON MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON PEELING OFF. ITS NOT LIKE IT ON THE ROOF OR HOOD ITS ALL OVER THE CAR THE TRUNK, THE DOORS, THE HOOD AND THE ROOF ARE ALL PEELING. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM EITHER.*JB

WHILE DRIVING, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SURFACE ALL THE GAUGES ON MY 1996 NEON FAILED. SOMETIMES IF YOU TAP THE DASHBOARD GLASS THAT COVERS THE GAUGES THEY COME BACK ON OR IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THEY COME BACK ON, BUT THIS ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD STARTING IN MAY, 2004. *AK

WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THEY CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE CHEST. *AK *TC

Fire 1 injured

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.*AK

PAINT IS PEELING OFF MY 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON. IS THIS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS GLUED TO THE PEELING PAINT? THE DEALER SAYS CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAINT IT. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON A 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON SPORT SOHC 2.0. HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT $500.00 REPAIR BILL THROUGH MECHANIC ALONG WITH $200.00 IN PARTS

HAVE PERSISTENT OIL LEAK. WENT TO MECHANIC, STATED SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND DID NOT FIND A RECALL. BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM GOT GASKET FIXED 2001. HAVE SAME PROBLEM NOW AND TWO NEW MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED I NEED A HEAD GASKET.EVERYONE I TALK TO AT CHYRSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW WHAT DO I DO? *AK

FRONT AIRBAG FAILED TO FUNCTION IN ACCIDENT WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO BUMPER AND HOOD.*AK

Crash 1 injured

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 96V026000 CONCERNING THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, BUT CHRYSLER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT EXIST. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HORN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THE ENGINE MISFIRING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND SPUTTER AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. *SC *JB

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

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

SINCE 1999 THIS CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL. REPLACED CAM SEAL AND HEAD GASKET ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. 1 MONTH LATER (WHEN WARRANTY RAN OUT) HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF 500.00. 6 MONTHS LATER STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPLACED CAM SEAL AND HEAD GASKET AGAIN. 1 MONTH LATER SAME THING. SAID CHRYSLER HAD A NEW AND "IMPROVED" SEAL. GUESS WHAT WE ARE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN TOMORROW. THIS WILL BE THE 6TH TIME. I HAVE PROBABLY SPENT ON REPAIRS THE SAME AMOUNT I SPENT FOR THE CAR. CHRYSLER WON'T DO A THING FOR THE CONSUMERS. IF THERE IS A LAWSUIT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? *PH

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE IS VERY SLOW, NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER STATED THERE IS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO SHE HAD TO PAY, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 64000 MILES.*AK

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

MY NEON HAS A PROBLEM WITH PAINT PEELING. LARGE SPOTS OF PAINT COME OFF ALL OVER THE VEHICLE, BUT PRIMARILY ON THE BACK AND ON THE ROOF. I CAN'T EVEN WASH THE CAR, BECAUSE EACH TIME I DO MORE PATCHES OF PAINT COME OFF. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON EVERY NEON THAT IS THE PURPLISH (PERIWINKLE) COLOR I HAVE SEEN. IS THERE SOME KIND OF PAINT DEFECT WITH THIS PARTICULAR COLOR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PAINT WAS ONLY UNDER WARRENTY FOR 12 MONTHS, AND SINCE IT WAS A 1996 AND I WASN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNER THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER CAR, AND I WOULN'T COMPLAIN IF IT WAS NORMAL WEAR ON A CAR, BUT THIS IS MORE THAN NORMAL AGING.

HEAD GASKET ON 1996 NEON FAILED CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE. DESPITE WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF FREQUENTLY FAILING HEAD GASKETS IN 1995-97 PLYMOUTH AND DODGE NEONS WITH LOW MILEAGE, CHRYSLER REFUSES TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND RARELY OFFERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM

HEAD GASKET LEAK. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO OWN UP TO A FAULTY GASKET. WHY? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.*JB

I HAVE A 1996 NEON WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN AUGUST OF 2001 WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I TOOK IT IN FOR MY MONTHLY OIL CHANGE/LUBE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO GET IT REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE A $1200 REPAIR. I BEGAN TO CALL AROUND AND EACH PLACE, WHEN I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM AND THE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL OF MY CAR, TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD HAVE GUESSED WHAT THE REPAIR WAS THAT I NEEDED JUST BY ME GIVING THEM THE TYPE OF CAR I DRIVE. I'VE CALLED 5 PLACES NOW TO GET A QUOTE ON THIS REPAIR AND PRICES RANGE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $700 - $1200, DEPENDING ON THE SHOP I USE. BY THE WAY - I LOSE ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. I WANTED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH TO SEE HOW COMMON OF A PROBLEM THIS IS, SO I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS THAT IT BLEW MY MIND! I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET DESIGN IN PRE-99 MODELS AND CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT IT. IT WAS NEVER RECALLED, BUT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IT IS A HUGE CONSUMER FRAUD ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT 32% OF NEON OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART - WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY HIGH. IT REALLY IS TOO BAD THAT CHRYSLER DID NOT STAND UP FOR THEIR PRODUCT RIGHT AWAY BY VOLUNTARILY ISSUING A RECALL OR BY AT LEAST FIXING THE CARS THAT WERE AFFECTED BEFORE THE PART WAS REDESIGNED. I CANNOT AFFORD A REPAIR LIKE THIS ON MY CAR - I BOUGHT A NEON BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE RELIABLE CARS WITH GREAT GAS MILEAGE, WHICH I NEED FOR MY LONG COMMUTE TO WORK EVERY DAY. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT, I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. WHAT CAN I DO?! *JB

HEAD GASKET LEAK...WAS REPLACED TWICE...FINALLY A DIFFERENT STYLE THAT WAS NOT FAULTY WAS RELEASED...FIBROUS GASKET LEAKED, WHEREAS THE MULTILAYER METAL GASKET DIDN'T.

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

Crash

HEAD GASKET FAILED. PH

DASHBOARD INDICATORS STOP WORKING. I COULD HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS AND THE FUEL INDICATOR WILL READ EMPTY. THE CAR COULD BE RUNNING FOR AN HOUR AND THE TEMPERATURE STILL READS COLD. PH

Crash

3 HEAD GASKETS FAILURED IN 6 YEARS RESULTING IN ENGINE STALLING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAILURES WERE AT 30K, 45K, AND 70K MILES RESPECTIVELY. MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON 01/29/02. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURES. TS

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

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

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING BELT FAILED. *YH

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

THE HEAD GASKET AND CAMSHAFT SEAL HAVE SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. *YH