Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Plymouth Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. The most recent of events to occur this morning my drive belts broke. After taking vehicle to dealer to replace them I was told the belts broke because the tensioner pulley had tilted. I was also informed from service tech that they see lots of them come in like that and that they were surprised that there had not been a recall or at least a TSB. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Plymouth Neon. While attempting to park, the contact changed gears into reverse and the vehicle shut off. She restarted the vehicle and shifted into park; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own. The brakes failed to work when the pedal was depressed. The contact was able to shift into park, but the vehicle shut off a few minutes later. She waited a while before restarting the vehicle and it returned to normal. She will take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The current and failure mileages were 100,000.
While traveling approximately 30 MPH was unable to slow or stop vehicle due to sudden brake failure. She drove vehicle up onto an embankment to stop vehicle. Dealership that examined vehicle found a hose for brake booster caming loose, resulting in brake failure. Note: service for recall 01V154000 had been performed on October 9, 2001. Consumer experienced back pains since this incident. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Daughter indicated at time of accident that vehicle would not slow down when brakes were applied. Figured operator error at time however, May have been wrong especially in light of recall information. Note. Weather was fine the day of the accident, no extreme cold. Vehicle was on dirt road, coming down a hill when she allegedly tried to slow vehicle down.
While parking and applying the brakes pedal would not depress. The accelerator pedal would not move and steering wheel locked up, causing driver to hit a crub and then a parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy in the crash. The vehicle was towed to the dealer's body shop for repairs. Please provide any further information.
While driving 25mph another vehicle cut in front, forcing consumer to brake. Once consumer took foot off brake vehicle accelerated, engine revved, and shot across road to left. Consumer wanted to avoid hitting other vehicles, hit embankment, and rolled once. Consumer was not injured.
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. When my dad took the left tire off to inspect the brakes he discovered that the caliper was stuck and it caused the rotor to be completley damaged (even the cooling fins on the back of the rotor were almost gone.the right side front brake was only about 70% worn the squeaker wasn't even squeaking yet. I have researche the history of calipers and I have found out that the are supposed to last forever unless it is defective. …
We have reported problems with the brakes since we bought the car. It is more noticable after it rains. Whenever you press the brake pedal, they squeal loudly. When we heard about the recall on the news and read it in the paper last month, we immediately called the dealer for repairs. They said they had heard nothing about such a recall and it was probably a rumour. We finally received a notice from daimlerchrysler last Thursday about the recall. We again contacted the dealer and they said they have stlil heard nothing about it and don't even know if they have the parts in stock. This is a serious issue and should have been resolved a long time ago. We are concerned about getting into an accident and this is our only vehicle.
When attempting to have all NHTSA issued safety recalls completed on my vehicle service repair center manager. Stated they only applied to certain Neon's not all of the 2000's. I have yet as of this date been able to accomplish NHTSA recall id#99V043000, #99V114000 nor have I ever received the addendum referred to in NHTSA recall id #00V366000. In recognition of the recent problems experienced w/my vehicle, overheating, inoperable driver side window, horn & airbag system and my having also experienced brake problems, I feel these recalls are essential. However, they are going unrecognized by annapolis tate Dodge.
Water is coming in the trunk somehow seeping inside the spare tire area and leaking into the back of the car soaking the back floor boards. / strong gas smell in my car when operating - so bad that the windows have to cracked for fresh air - cannot find any leaks- my grandchildren are being transported in my car daily- was told that this does not sound like a defect and I will be responsible for any cost - problem since around November 2004 / brakes squeal everytime I brake -had new rotors and brake pads installed December 2003 - noise is so loud sometimes it is embarrassing.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. In the presence of oil and heat, the brake booster vacuum hose could swell and loosen from the intake manifold.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum hose. Owner notification began July 2, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…
Brake complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Plymouth Neon?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Plymouth Neon, 26% of the model year's 141 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Plymouth Neon brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-154 (vacuum, May 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Plymouth Neon brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to brakes 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.