IllustrationCONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER STOPPED FOR A LIGHT AND BATTERY DIED. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACED BATTERY, SAME DAY BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. TOOK TO PEP BOYS AND THEY STATED BATTERY CHECKED OUT O.K. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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 reportsPROBLEM WITH WIRING HARNESS. MR
LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED TWICE RESULTING IN SOME WIRES MELTING TOGETHER INTERACTING WITH ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING INCLUDING THE CONSOLE. THE OWNER SAW SPARKS SEVERAL TIMES AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS*JB
INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS OCCASIONALLY. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST/CAN'T TELL IF GAS IS IN VEHICLE, AND GAUGES INSIDE PANEL WON'T LIGHT UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GASKET FAILED. *YH
VEHICLE WILL STALL OVER 65 MPH, DEALER DETERMINED WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD WOULD SHORT OUT, CAUSING STALLING. WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. AT THIS TIME, VEHICLE IS STALLING AGAIN WHEN OVER 65 MPH.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GUAGE, AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED. DEALER FOUND FAULTY CIRCUIT BOARD. REPLACED PLUGS AND WIRES. *TT
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. PLEASE PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS/ GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ALL GO HAYWIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THIS USED VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FEW MONTHS BACK AND AFTER READING LOTS ABOUT THIS MODEL , THESE ARE THE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. NO SAFETY DEFECTS MENTIONED. *AK
Official recalls
296V075000 · 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
2PE02082 · 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