1996 Plymouth Neon Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 6%of 308 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the fuel system of the 1996 Plymouth Neon, 6% of the 308 complaints for this model year. 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 complaint #538272, filed 1998-07“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 complaint #538273, filed 1998-07“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #756302, filed 2002-01“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #703037, filed 1999-02“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.”
NHTSA complaint #865152, filed 2000-07Fuel system: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Plymouth Neon
167 complaintsElectrical system
45 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsAir bags
22 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsSteering
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsEquipment
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Plymouth Neon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology