Best and worst Plymouth Neon years to buy
Every model year, judged against the others.
Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.
Every model year, judged against the others.
Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.
NHTSA did not answer for model years 2001 to 2027, so any with records are missing here. For 1995 to 2000, NHTSA answered only in part, so some counts say “No answer”. The verdicts may change once NHTSA answers. Try again in a minute.
Look for 1998 and 1999. Skip 1996.
Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.
Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.
From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.
Tap a year to open it. Bars are owner complaints filed with NHTSA: unverified, and not adjusted for how many were sold. The three small marks by a year show how sure its verdict is: three for high, one for low. How sure is the verdict?
SourceNHTSA’s complaint and recall datasets. Each year’s page links its own NHTSA record. NHTSA, checked Oct 25, 2026.
The most recent judged years that came out Worthy.
Other Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age. A year with few sales can look the same.
Every Worthy year of the Neon is in the newest ones above.
Judged years with enough more complaints than a typical year to reach Maybe or Pass.
Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.
Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the Neon at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model.
2.7× a typical year
315 vs 115 typical
Most named: Engine
“Do not drive” and “park outside” are NHTSA’s own warnings on a recall, until it is fixed.
Scroll the table sideways to see more.
| Year | Verdict | Owner complaints | Recalls | Top problem area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Not judged | No answer | 6 | No answer |
| 1999 | Worthy | 68 | No answer | Engine |
| 1998 | Worthy | 184 | No answer | Engine |
| 1997 | Not judged | No answer | 1 | No answer |
| 1996 | Pass | 352 | No answer | Engine |
| 1995 | Not judged | No answer | 6 | No answer |
SourceNHTSA’s complaint and recall datasets. Each year’s page links its own NHTSA record. NHTSA, checked Oct 25, 2026.