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1996 Dodge Neon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Neon years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge Neon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 173.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 38 of 611 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 340 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports5 fire reports27 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

93 reports
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111,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Electrical System

A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS FRONT UNDERHOOD RECALL 96V026000 CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FRONT UNDERHOOD, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT INTO TRAF…

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A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS FRONT UNDERHOOD RECALL 96V026000 CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FRONT UNDERHOOD, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE FLASHING. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE THE ECM FAILED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10067336

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

ENGINE, WIRE HARNESS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *PH ENGINE AND WIRE HARNESS WERE REPLACED TWO OR THREE TIMES. LEFT FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ENGINE BLEW UP FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID THAT VEHICLE'S ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, INSTRUMENT PANEL NEVER WO…

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ENGINE, WIRE HARNESS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *PH ENGINE AND WIRE HARNESS WERE REPLACED TWO OR THREE TIMES. LEFT FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ENGINE BLEW UP FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID THAT VEHICLE'S ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, INSTRUMENT PANEL NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER (AC) WENT OUT AFTER TWO YEARS OF PURCHASE. AC WAS NEVER REPAIRED. VEHICLE OVERHEAT MOST OF THE TIME. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MAY SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH EGR TUBE FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10062888

92,000 miles · Feb 5, 2004
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE'S WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10057573

63,332 miles · Jan 23, 2004
Electrical System

VEHICLE REJECTED BY AZ DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. OBD NOT READY , DEALER HAS FLASHED COMPUTER , RETEST DONE AGAIN , NOW SAME INFORMATION OBD NOT READY. THEY WILL NOT PASS IT THEY SAY THEY CANT READ IT?? CPU IS FINE BY CHRYSLER... BEEN CHECKED 2 TIMES... HELP *LA

NHTSA ODI #10054750

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10053741

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2003
Electrical System

VEHICLE KEEPS TURNING OFF UPON STARTING AND SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050437

92,000 miles · Sep 9, 2003
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES ENGINE COULD BE STARTED AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM TWELVE TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER'S VE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES ENGINE COULD BE STARTED AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM TWELVE TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10038535

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2003
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #96V026000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10011923

30,320 miles · Feb 27, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAKED FROM FAILED HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, EXHAUST LEAK FROM HEAD OR MANIFOLD. SPEEDOMETER DIAL STOP WORKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 30000 MILES ON IT. MY REPAIR MAN WANTS $500.00 JUST TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO SEE IF IT IS THE GASKET OR A CRACKED HEAD, AND THATS JUST THE LABOR AND NOT INCLUDING PARTS. THIS IS A SAFTY PROBLE…

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OIL LEAKED FROM FAILED HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, EXHAUST LEAK FROM HEAD OR MANIFOLD. SPEEDOMETER DIAL STOP WORKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 30000 MILES ON IT. MY REPAIR MAN WANTS $500.00 JUST TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO SEE IF IT IS THE GASKET OR A CRACKED HEAD, AND THATS JUST THE LABOR AND NOT INCLUDING PARTS. THIS IS A SAFTY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR A RECALL. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS OR LIVES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE NHTSA TAKES ACTION AGANIST THIS CAR MANUFACTURING COMPANY? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008229

85,000 miles · Dec 19, 2002
Electrical System

SAME ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 96V026000, BUT MY NEON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE IN MEXICO. AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE.. SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, IN…

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SAME ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 96V026000, BUT MY NEON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE IN MEXICO. AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE.. SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING ENGINE STALLING.

NHTSA ODI #10000276

Official recalls

2

96V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

May 3, 1996

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.

96V026000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Feb 5, 1996

AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE..

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING ENGINE STALLING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROPERLY AND ANY WIRE THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED WILL BE REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.

PE98012 · Underhood Fires

Opened Feb 26, 1998 · Closed Jun 23, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available