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Plymouth NeonModel year report

2000 Plymouth Neon Problems

Complaints
141filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
74,500miles, 40 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2000 Plymouth Neon (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brakes that squeal, wear quickly or feel hard or ineffective, and about air bags that failed to deploy in frontal crashes. A second cluster of complaints covers front-end and electrical wear: suspension and steering noises, rust in the front structure, and melted wiring in the steering column near the headlight switch, usually reported on higher-mileage cars.

  1. Air bags

    Air bags not deploying in frontal crashes

    Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe frontal and rear-end collisions at moderate speeds in which neither the driver nor passenger air bag inflated, and in some accounts the seat belts also failed to hold occupants. Several complaints link non-working horns, cruise control or an illuminated air bag light to a clock spring in the steering column that had to be replaced, and some say the dealer would not cover it. Mileage is often not stated; where given, reports range from under 45,000 to about 75,000 miles.

    Recall 99V043000

    What to check: Check that the air bag warning light goes out after start-up, confirm the horn and cruise control work, and ask whether the clockspring has ever been replaced; recall 99V043000 concerned passenger-side air bag inflation.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “2000 NEON my air bags and cruise control and horn are not working. I need a clockspring assembly and this has happen to other car same yr and they will not do any thing about it can you help me.”

    NHTSA complaint #10226537, filed 2008-05, 75,000 miles

    “While driving srs light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. This caused t horn to become inoperative. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the clock spring needed to be replaced and replaced it. The consumer was concered about the recall for chrysler mini vans with the same problems he is having since both vehicles use the same parts.”

    NHTSA complaint #10088070, filed 2004-09, 41,500 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brakes: noise, rapid wear, and hard or weak pedal

    Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe squealing under normal braking, rear brakes wearing out within months of replacement, and a pedal that becomes very hard or that lets the car keep rolling. Several owners say they replaced pads or rotors and the noise or stopping problem returned; some report the dealer found loose caliper bolts, a failed brake line, or a booster hose covered by a recall campaign. Others say the dealer declined to help or that parts for the recall were back-ordered. Spread across the mileage range, from cars with no mileage listed to well over 100,000 miles, with many reports under about 75,000 miles.

    Recall 01V154000

    What to check: Ask for brake service records and whether recall 01V154000 (brake booster vacuum hose) was completed; test the pedal for a hard or spongy feel and listen for squealing on a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I bought the car new which would not start for test drive was told someone left dome light on. After jump, it worked fine for a few thousand miles. Then went to car and would not start one day. There was no battery light on or any warning. It has happened 2 more times since then. Rear brakes wear out within a few months from replacement. Dealer fixed once and I have incured the expense several times since. I can not even afford to do it anymore leaving me to take a risk of driving with bad rear brakes. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10071113, filed 2004-01, 25,000 miles

    “I was driving to work and this car pulled out in front of me and I pushed the brakes and I slid into the car causing me to spin around and end up on the wrong side of the road. I have replaced the brakes every year and they still squeak really bad. The transmission has leaked for the entire time I have had the car. I have to replace the tires every 3 months and A/C went out 3 years after I bought the car. I haven't fixed the a./c compressor the cassette tape player stopped working after I bought the car and it's still broke. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10230840, filed 2008-06, 116,982 miles
  3. Vehicle speed control

    Accelerator pedal bracket and cruise control behavior

    Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report the accelerator pedal assembly coming loose from the firewall or shifting to the side, in some cases leaving the pedal hanging by the throttle cable, which they attribute to the mounting bracket. Others describe unintended acceleration or the car downshifting and surging while cruise control is engaged, with one dealer calling it normal. There is also a recall concerning PCV vapors freezing in the throttle body in extreme cold. Pedal and cruise complaints appear mostly between about 35,000 and 175,000 miles, with cruise issues noted on long drives.

    Recall 00V194000

    What to check: Press the pedal firmly and check that the bracket is solidly attached to the firewall with no movement or loose welds, and test cruise control on a highway drive; ask whether recall 00V194000 was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “2000 Plymouth NEON, this vehicle was travel at 65 MPH on I-78 in pa. The gas/ fuel that is attach this vehicle by two bolts snap off cause the gas/fuel get stuck under the dash. This cause the engine to race to a high speed. The driver have to move safely this car shoulder place the car in neutral. And heavy apply the brake. The car have to be tow.”

    NHTSA complaint #10358944, filed 2010-10, 74,000 miles

    “Faulty spot welds on the metal bracket thats holds the accelerator pedal assembly to the firewall broke loose. Spot welds full of air pockets. Showed it to the dealer, but they would not honor the defect. 38000 miles and its real nice to have the gas pedal to hang by the throttle cable. Thank goodness it happened in the driveway and not pulling out into traffic!”

    NHTSA complaint #10064194, filed 2004-03, 38,000 miles
  4. Suspension

    Front suspension and steering noises and loose front end

    Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe cracking or scraping noises from the front end when reversing or turning, steering that becomes heavy or hard to turn, and in one case both front tires spreading apart after ball joints failed; that owner referenced the lower control arm recall. Some reports tie the problem to rusted cradle or frame members, and others to worn wheel bearings or a failing steering rack. Mostly reported above about 75,000 miles, often past 100,000, with rusted components noted on older cars.

    Recall 99V114000

    What to check: Inspect the front control arms, ball joints and subframe for rust or cracking, listen for clunks when turning at low speed, and confirm whether recall 99V114000 was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I brought my car to midas for brake work and they told me there is something wrong with the power steering. They advised me to call the dealership. I called, and they fit me in right away. I received a call from them today stating the power steering rack needs to be replaced. They advised me it is not under warranty. They canot find any documentation that I purchased the 7 year, 70,000 mile warranty. The price to replace this is $820.00. While I was trying to find my paperwork, I came across a work order from 11/15/00. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10088503, filed 2004-08, 52,476 miles

    “Frame of car was so rusted that the actual engine mounting system broke in half., lost control of steering and movement. My daughter was driving and the car began to shake she lost control of the steering then it stopped moving though the car was still in drive. Car was moving on a city street and turning was nil.”

    NHTSA complaint #10870627, filed 2016-05, 105,000 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Steering column wiring and switch overheating

    • 6 complaints (4%)
    • median 98,500 mi at 11.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2001–2017

    Complaints describe smoke or a burning plastic smell coming from the steering column or dashboard, often after turning on the headlights, with the multi-function switch connector or wiring harness found melted. Some owners report headlights, tail lights or dash lights that stopped working or worked intermittently, and one lost all electrical output; the dealer attributed it to a burned-out headlight switch or harness. Mostly on cars above about 50,000 miles, with several reports past 90,000 miles.

    What to check: Turn on the headlights and dash lights and check all positions of the stalk, look for discolored or melted plastic around the column covers, and ask whether the switch or harness has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I started my car getting ready to leave my house at night, turned on the headlights after starting. Then I smelled a plastic burning smell and shortly smoke began to come out of the area around the instrument cluster and steering wheel. I turned off the lights and the car but smoke still came out. I popped the hood and disconnected the battery, then the smoke eventually stopped. Later I found the multifunction switch connector melted and burned up, this could have caused a serious fire if I had not caught it in time.”

    NHTSA complaint #11045152, filed 2017-11, 265,500 miles

    “Consumer complained about a wiring harness. Problem. Harness overheated and melted the wire, causing the vehicle to lose electrical output/lights, and dashboard resolution. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, and was waiting for final repairs.”

    NHTSA complaint #10097729, filed 2004-12, 56,500 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with these cars is worth it here, focused on brake condition, front subframe and control arm rust, steering column wiring, and whether the listed recalls were completed. Service records showing the clockspring, pedal bracket and cooling system have been addressed make a car easier to live with.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 141 consumer complaints for the 2000 Plymouth Neon. 40 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 74,500 miles. Of all complaints, 29 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 23 an injury, 3 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 11 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Fuel system (7), Seat belts (7), Exterior lighting (5), Equipment (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Tires (2), Engine (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “When it was time to do the brake inspection on the front brakes, so I had my dad a mechanic inspect them. The squeaker on the drivers side just started to make noise about 1 week prior to the inspection. On the day before I took it to my dad to be inspected the brake petal sank to the floor and the brakes locked up causing us to skid & slide to the right almost hitting anothe vehicle,while we had my children in the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #762951, filed 2002-06

Air bags: “The consumer's children were driving 25 MPH when the vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle. None of the air bags deployed . There were three injuries.”

NHTSA complaint #10032054, filed 2003-09, 59,214 miles

Engine cooling: “I have a 2000 Plymouth NEON and I was driving down the road the car stalls and was leaking water from the side of the motor I get out to check it car was in park but the car started rolling and ran over my foot.”

NHTSA complaint #10272500, filed 2009-06, 129,725 miles

Vehicle speed control: “The contacts owns a 2000 Plymouth NEON. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal became detached without warning. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither manufacturer nor the dealer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,550.”

NHTSA complaint #11311409, filed 2020-02, 175,550 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 40 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,672 and 111,111 miles.

3%0–103%10–2520%25–5025%50–7518%75–10020%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (40 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 74,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’0037’03’06’10’14’17’20
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2000 Plymouth Neon. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Neon · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2000 Plymouth Neon version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Neon FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual243127$2,500
Neon FWD2.0L 4-cyl3-speed automatic222824$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2000 Plymouth Neon → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 11 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 11 bulletins →

Other model years of the Plymouth Neon

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20014959,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200014174,5005—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19996252,0000—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199816765,5621—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199716165,0001—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199630883,0002—28Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199548185,0006—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Plymouth Neon model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Plymouth Neon?

Owners of this model year most often write about brakes that squeal, wear quickly or feel hard or ineffective, and about air bags that failed to deploy in frontal crashes. The issues reported most often: Air bags not deploying in frontal crashes; Brakes: noise, rapid wear, and hard or weak pedal; Accelerator pedal bracket and cruise control behavior.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000 Plymouth Neon have?

NHTSA recorded 141 consumer complaints for the 2000 Plymouth Neon as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2000 Plymouth Neon is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 36 complaints (26% of the total), followed by air bags with 23.

Has the 2000 Plymouth Neon been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2000 Plymouth Neon get?

The EPA rates the 2000 Plymouth Neon (Neon, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2000 Plymouth Neon reported?

Among the 40 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 74,500 miles and the middle half falls between 50,672 and 111,111 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.