Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Plymouth Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 reversing, the steering column started smoking. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column coupler and steering harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also mentioned that the turn signals and interior lighting failed to operate intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 97V169000 (steering). The failure mileage was 60,000.
Consumer was traveling about 40mph on a city street, she was proceeding through an intersection going straight when another vehicle came into her lane and veered into consumer's vehicle straight on, causing it to jump into the opposite direction, and resulting in a crash. Upon impact, driver's air bag failed to deploy. Vehicle was totaled, and consumer sustained internal injuries.
Consumer called 11-17-97 to make appointment. Dealer said will not fix problem until notified by manufacturer. Consumer than called manufacturer, called on three way conference call, dealer then agreed to fix recal. ,but as soon manufacturer wiould hang up dealer said will not fix problem until received written notification from manufacturer.
While traveling 25 MPH owner saw disfiguration of the road surface and slowed down. After passing over disfiguration driver's air bag deployed along with steering wheel breaking. Someone standing on the roadside stated "this is the third vehicle today that had that occurrence at that same spot". Please provide more details.
Driving in wet conditions power steering will go out for approximately 1-2 seconds. Power steering will come back,but makes hard to control, it makes a loud squeaky noise. Dealer changed power steering belt, problem is still reoccurring. Cannot find problem. This defect can result in an accident.
Whenever it rained and driver started to make either a left r right turn, the steering would freeze, leaving driver unable to control vehicle. This was a continuous problem. The freezing of the steering caused dauhter to run off the road at approximately 35 MPH while on a curve.
Recall # 97V169000 steering column coupling; owner received recall notice on 11/19/98. According to a print out from dealership with a lsit of VIN #s, recall work was completed on 11/4/98. Service department able to see that vehicle has not been serviced for recall work.
Vehicle was repaired under recall 97V169, steering column coupling. After the recall was performed there were three inches of play in the steering column. The dealer told owner that if she were to sign a waiver they will put the old coupling back in the vehicle.
Upon starting out, attempted to manuever steering wheel, found power assist to be inoperative, wheel was hard to steer, required excessive effort to turn steering wheel, basicly had to steer straight to get to dealer, owner paid for repair, no prior warning.
Recall # 97v16900 Chrysler/steering column coupling. Owner states the dealer is not honoring terms as described in recall notice for corrective action. The corrective action calls for replacing of the steering column coupling.
Related recalls
Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering column coupler can become disconnected when the vehicle experiences an underbody impact.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering column coupler with a coupler design that collapses on impact.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of steering control
There is no summary currently available
Loss of steering control
There is no summary currently available
Loss of steering control
There is no summary currently available
Steering column separation
Mr. Larry a. Sackey submitted a petition to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) by letter dated April 18, 2003, requesting that nhtsafurther investigate the defective collapsible steering shaft system on 1987-1995 vehicles manufactured by the daimlerchrysler corporation.in part because of 49 cfr ? 30120(g), NHTSA has decided to limit the scope of the petition vehicles to 1993-1995 models,…
Steering complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1995 Plymouth Neon?
NHTSA has 71 complaints about the steering of the 1995 Plymouth Neon, 15% of the model year's 481 complaints. The component named most often is steering wheel/handle bar (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Plymouth Neon steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 97V-169 (steering wheel/handle bar, Oct 7, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Plymouth Neon steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 3 fires and 6 injuries and 3 deaths to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.