Plymouth Neon Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Neon should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 1995 Plymouth Neon has the most documented problems with a problem score of 532 — driven by 2 recalls, 411 complaints, and 3 reported deaths.

Q: What is the best year Neon to buy?

The 2001 Plymouth Neon is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 50, meaning 2 recalls and 42 complaints on record.

Q: Which Neon has the fewest problems?

The 2001, 1999, 1998 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Plymouth Neon model year (1995–2001) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

1119

Total Complaints

113

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Plymouth Neon Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1995

2 recalls · 411 complaints

50 reported injuries

3 reported deaths

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 532

#2 WORST

1996

0 recalls · 262 complaints

28 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 318

#3 WORST

1997

1 recall · 132 complaints

11 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 157

Best Plymouth Neon Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2001

2 recalls · 42 complaints

Main area: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

Problem score: 50

#2 BEST

1999

0 recalls · 54 complaints

Main area: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 58

#3 BEST

1998

0 recalls · 118 complaints

Main area: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 130

Found the right year? Verify that specific Neon with a free VIN report.

Plymouth Neon — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2001	2	42	1	—	50	Excellent
2000	5	100	15	2	155	Good
1999	0	54	2	—	58	Good
1998	0	118	6	—	130	Good
1997	1	132	11	—	157	Good
1996	0	262	28	—	318	Caution
1995	2	411	50	3	532	Avoid

All 7 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Plymouth Neon Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Neon models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Neon should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1995 Plymouth Neon if possible. It has 2 recalls, 411 owner complaints, and 3 reported deaths. The overall problem score is 532 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Neon to buy?+

The 2001 Plymouth Neon is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 50. It has only 2 recalls and 42 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Neon has the fewest problems?+

The 2001, 1999, 1998 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Plymouth Neon Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Plymouth Neon.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Plymouth Neon.

Check a Specific Plymouth Neon VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →