Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 602 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Plymouth Neon, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 128 | 21% |
| Service brakes | 75 | 12% |
| Steering | 64 | 11% |
| Air bags | 57 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 51 | 8% |
| Power train | 33 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 21 | 3% |
| Equipment | 18 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 2% |
| Visibility | 14 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
PRIMARY HOOD LATCH COMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER STATES THAT CABLE CONNECTING LATCH TO INTERIOR HAS STRETCHED OVER TIME LEADING TO THIS FAILURE - THIS IS A SERIOUS MVSS DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO A FATALITY
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES TO OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. SHE INCURRED IMPACT BURNS AND A SPRAIN TO HER LEFT WRIST.*TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY 1995 VOYAGER WAS SUPPOSEDLY SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 99V113000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 818/AIRBAG SYSTEM WIRING ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1999. AT THAT TIME THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM. WHAT WAS DONE AT THAT TIME
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT 1995 PLYMOUTH NEON HAS BEEN RECALLED. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLEWAS NOT PART OF RECALL, CAMPAIGN # 94V033000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
A RECALL IS LISTED ON N.H.T.S.A. (NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION) FOR MY VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, FOR IT'S PCM-(POWER CONTROL MODULE). HOWEVER I DID CALL CHRYSLER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO "VIN FILTERING"
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NUMEROUS HEATING COOLING PROBLEMS. INCORRECT TEMPERATURE GAUGE, OVERHEATING, RADIATOR FANS NOT COMING ON, ERRATIC FAN OPERATION, WATER LEAKING IN FROM FIREWALL POURING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING BLOWN FUSES, FAULTY B
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TRUNK WOULD COME UN-LATCHED ON ITS OWN RESULTING IN THEFT OF PROPERTY FROM VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1995 Plymouth Neon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLER CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES AN UNDERBODY IMPACT.
Risk: LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAN OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLER WITH A COUPLER DESIGN THAT COLLAPSES ON IMPACT.
THE ABS BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL ALLOWS AIR TO ENTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING SPONGY BRAKES OR PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Risk: AIR ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OR PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: MASTER CYLINDERS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR THE SUSPECT BUILD DATE CODE RANGE AND WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
THE REAR BRAKE HOSE MOUNTING BRACKET SCREWS CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE BRAKE HOSES TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION. THE UNRESTRAINED HOSES ARE THEN SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Risk: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL REDUCE THE BRAKING PERFORMANCEOF THE VEHICLE, EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: THE REAR BRAKE LINE HOSE BRACKET SCREWS ON THESE VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED.
MOISTURE CAN GET INTO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAUSING DRIVEABILITY MALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING STALLING.
Risk: SHOULD DRIVE ABILITY MALFUNCTIONS OR STALLING OCCUR WHILETHE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.
Fix: THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULES ON THESE VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED.
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 602 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 128 of them (21%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.