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Chrysler Neon Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chrysler Neon car check

Is the Chrysler Neon reliable? We analysed 125,009 real MOT tests across 15,659 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 125,009 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.6%
Typical Mileage
66,114mi
Annual Mileage
5,166mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Chrysler Neon is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chrysler Neon.

Chrysler Neon Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Chrysler Neon. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Chrysler Neon MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Chrysler Neon to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

72.2%
2004
71.5%
2003
69.4%
2002
70.1%
2001
70.5%
2000
69.1%
1999
68.4%
1998
67.6%
1997
66.1%
1996

Chrysler Neon Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Chrysler Neon fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 7,414
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,437
Brake pipe excessively corroded 5,612
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 4,708
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 4,272
fog lamp not working 3,850
Stop lamp not working 3,245
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,007
Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 2,089
brake disc excessively pitted 2,043

Chrysler Neon Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Chrysler Neon owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,893 mi/yr
Typical
5,166 mi/yr
Average
6,159 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,153 mi/yr

Chrysler Neon MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Chrysler Neon year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 898 72.2% 33,908 54,594 75,169
2003 10,584 71.5% 34,115 51,114 72,609
2002 15,503 69.4% 40,930 58,175 80,661
2001 24,992 70.1% 44,894 62,827 83,997
2000 31,005 70.5% 49,624 68,496 89,826
1999 11,441 69.1% 52,376 69,282 89,107
1998 11,466 68.4% 54,901 71,218 89,992
1997 12,651 67.6% 56,460 73,964 92,261
1996 6,430 66.1% 57,822 75,875 93,739

How Long Does a Chrysler Neon Last?

Based on 15,659 Chrysler Neon vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.9 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Chrysler Neon Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Chrysler Neon MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
66,114 mi
75th Percentile
87,004 mi
95th Percentile
122,361 mi
Max Recorded
994,438 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chrysler Neon

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2004

72.2% MOT pass rate from 898 tests

Year to avoid
1996

66.1% MOT pass rate from 6,430 tests

The best year to buy a used Chrysler Neon is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.2% across 898 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chrysler Neon Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chrysler Neon THIS CAR 69.6% 125,009 66,114 mi 30 yrs
Chrysler Grand Voyager 69% 387,238 88,976 mi 29 yrs
Chrysler Pt Cruiser 68.6% 279,642 66,345 mi 26 yrs
Chrysler Voyager 67.1% 217,749 91,363 mi 29 yrs
Chevrolet Cruze 74.1% 106,688 55,890 mi 17 yrs

Compared to the Chrysler Grand Voyager (69.0% pass rate) and the Chrysler Pt Cruiser (68.6% pass rate), the Chrysler Neon outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Chrysler Neon?

The Chrysler Neon has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.6% across 125,009 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Chrysler Neon are suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (7,414 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6,437), and brake pipe excessively corroded (5,612). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Chrysler Neon owner drives around 5,166 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Chrysler Neon models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Chrysler Neon — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chrysler Neon reliable?
Based on 125,009 MOT tests, the Chrysler Neon has a 69.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Chrysler Neon?
The most common MOT failures are suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chrysler Neon do per year?
The typical Chrysler Neon does around 5,166 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chrysler Neon last?
Most Chrysler Neon models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 15,659 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chrysler Neon?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Chrysler Neon?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chrysler Neon is 2004 with a 72.2% pass rate across 898 tests.