Since you've already ruled out the bulbs, they must not be getting power and/or ground.
Could be a wiring problem or corroded socket. Do any lights on the back of the car work (plate, center brake, or back-up)?
On first generation, you can make a visual check of the ground connections for the rear lamps that are screwed to the edge of the trunk opening above each of the tail light housings. Tighten or repair if they are loose or missing. These are illustrated on page 246 (section 8w-90-22) of the '97 manual found at
http://www.neon-owners.org/neon/tech...997/EPL_8W.PDF
I imagine the later generations are similar.
You can check for power by turning on the parking lights and placing a voltmeter or 12V trouble light between the center contacts of the lamp socket and a GOOD ground on the car body - be careful not to short the center contact and the side of the bulb socket with the probe. If there is no power, you'll have to start tracing back through the harness.
Had the problem been in the front, I would have suggested looking for signs of rodent damage. After more than a decade of peacefully coexisting with the dozens of squirrels in our neighborhood, one went psychotic last fall and did several hundred dollars of damage to our Durango over three weeks in four or five 30 to 60 minute feeding frenzies on copper and insulation. It got so bad, I started leaving the Durango parked out front as bait to finally trap the little demon. Of the 11+ cars frequently sitting outside on our block, our Dodge was the only one it bothered..... but then it was also the only Chrysler. Don't think there's anywhere a squirrel could easily get at the rear wiring on a Neon, but suppose mice might managed to get into the trunk or up under the dash - though not likely.
Good luck!
brake lights, back blinkers, hazards
