Neon
Chrysler · on record 1996 to 2025
The Chrysler Neon was a compact American designed front wheel drive saloon offered in Britain as an inexpensive and unusual alternative to European family cars. Its simple 4 cylinder engine and roomy cabin reflected North American priorities, while the badge sometimes varied between Chrysler and Dodge in different markets. UK sales were modest, so surviving Neons are now relatively rare and appeal mainly to enthusiasts of less common American cars.
Red List classification, from population, five year trajectory and survival against peak. Reviewed each census.
2025 census
0.5% of the peak fleet remains licensed
peak 17,634 in 2003 · −46 vehicles a year, five year trend
Population history
Licensed and SORN vehicles at each census. The filters below apply to the family population, MOT and registration figures. They do not alter the generation history above.
At the average decline recorded over the latest five years, the licensed fleet would reach zero around 2027.
Illustrative projection only; vehicle populations rarely decline linearly. Late fleets typically flatten as surviving examples enter preservation.
Inside the surviving fleet
AutoCensus parses every DVLA variant description, so the fleet can be read by fuel and specification rather than as one number.
First registrations by year
When surviving examples first joined the British fleet.
Recent UK first registrations
This family is no longer sold new. These figures are imports and historic vehicles joining the British register for the first time.
MOT reliability
DVSA test results for this family, 2005 to 2025.
| Failure reason | Failures | Share of all tests |
|---|---|---|
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 184 | 4.8% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 126 | 3.3% |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 119 | 3.1% |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 113 | 2.9% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 103 | 2.7% |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 98 | 2.5% |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 96 | 2.5% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 92 | 2.4% |
Counted across every recorded test, 2005 to 2025. Advisories are excluded.
Where the Neon remains
Based on MOT test locations, 2025. Test location is a proxy: a vehicle is counted where it was last tested, not where it is kept.
| Postcode area | Vehicles tested | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| MK | 5 | 40% |
| N | 5 | 80% |
| LE | 4 | 75% |
| WV | 4 | 50% |
| S | 4 | 100% |
| CR | 4 | 75% |
| NN | 4 | 100% |
| GU | 3 | 67% |
| ME | 3 | 100% |
| DA | 3 | 100% |
| TN | 3 | 67% |
| UB | 3 | 100% |
| AL | 2 | 50% |
| LA | 2 | 50% |
| EX | 2 | 50% |
| LS | 2 | 100% |
| DE | 2 | 50% |
| PO | 2 | 100% |
| BN | 2 | 100% |
| LL | 2 | 100% |
| SN | 2 | 100% |
| M | 2 | 100% |
| NR | 2 | 100% |
| CT | 2 | 50% |
| WF | 2 | 100% |
| CF | 2 | 50% |
| EH | 2 | 50% |
| WA | 1 | 100% |
| SR | 1 | 0% |
| SE | 1 | 100% |
| SP | 1 | 100% |
| WN | 1 | 100% |
| TW | 1 | 100% |
| CB | 1 | 100% |
| SO | 1 | 100% |
| BR | 1 | 100% |
| SK | 1 | 100% |
| TQ | 1 | 100% |
| SG | 1 | 100% |
| IG | 1 | 100% |
| PA | 1 | 100% |
| BH | 1 | 100% |
| B | 1 | 100% |
| CW | 1 | 100% |
| NG | 1 | 100% |
| IP | 1 | 0% |
| NW | 1 | 100% |
| PE | 1 | 100% |
| SL | 1 | 100% |
| BA | 1 | 100% |
| SA | 1 | 100% |
| NE | 1 | 100% |
How this record was calculated
Full methodology
Population history combines DVLA VEH0120 Q4 census observations through 2013 with the annual VEH0220 census from 2014 onward. Figures before 2014 cover Great Britain only. Historical VEH0120 is used only when its overlapping UK observations reconcile to the current canonical family definition. Vehicles are grouped into this family using the DVLA GenModel together with durable routing rules for known inconsistencies.
Variant figures are parsed from raw DVLA model descriptions and the original string is always retained. Configuration is only assigned where the model description explicitly identifies it; a blank configuration is not treated as a two door Wrangler. Blank transmission fields are shown as manual because DVLA records the field for automatic vehicles.
MOT figures count tests, not vehicles, and geographic figures count each vehicle at its most recent test location. The decline projection is a straight line fitted to the latest five years and is illustrative only.