IllustrationREAR BRAKE FAILED. YH
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 reportsTHE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: AIR FLOW KNOB FAILED, VALVE COVER GASKETS 3X'S, HEAD GASKET, SQUEAKING BRAKES, CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL FAILURE, SPARK PLUG O-RING, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, REAR SUSPENSION CAME LOOSE, LOUD EXHAUST. SHOW US YOU CAN DO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED YOUR HELP SOME GOOD. GET US SOM…
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THE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: AIR FLOW KNOB FAILED, VALVE COVER GASKETS 3X'S, HEAD GASKET, SQUEAKING BRAKES, CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL FAILURE, SPARK PLUG O-RING, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, REAR SUSPENSION CAME LOOSE, LOUD EXHAUST. SHOW US YOU CAN DO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED YOUR HELP SOME GOOD. GET US SOME ANSWERS!!!!!!
THE 1996 DODGE NEON SHOULD BE RECALLED. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THE WHOLE DASH UNIT ( CIRCUIT BOARD) WHICH CONTROLS THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. MY MECHANIC STATED HE HAS REPLACED A NUMBER OF THEM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHSNIC
THE HORN ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED IN COLD WEATHER, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
WIRING SHORTED OUT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING A MELT DOWN OF OTHER WIRES, THIS CONDITION CAUSED SMOKE TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO WEEKS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, TOLD WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHORT OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO RUBBING OR VIBRATION CAUSING TH…
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WIRING SHORTED OUT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING A MELT DOWN OF OTHER WIRES, THIS CONDITION CAUSED SMOKE TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO WEEKS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, TOLD WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHORT OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO RUBBING OR VIBRATION CAUSING THE WIRE TO BECOME EXPOSED AND OVERHEATED, MELTING THE OTHER WIRES NEAR IT. *AK *ML
THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES NOT TO WORK. *AK
ABS BRAKES WOULD MAKE SQUEALING NOISES FIRST THING IN MORING, BUT LATER SQUEALING NOISES WOULD DISAPPEAR. BRAKE PADS ARE WORN DOWN. PASSENGER'S WINDOW WOULD BE WHISTLING; HAS NO WEATHER STRIPPING. THE SPARK PLUGS KEEPS BLOWING OUT. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHENEVER THE SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN, THE VEHI…
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ABS BRAKES WOULD MAKE SQUEALING NOISES FIRST THING IN MORING, BUT LATER SQUEALING NOISES WOULD DISAPPEAR. BRAKE PADS ARE WORN DOWN. PASSENGER'S WINDOW WOULD BE WHISTLING; HAS NO WEATHER STRIPPING. THE SPARK PLUGS KEEPS BLOWING OUT. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHENEVER THE SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST STOP RUNNING. *AK
OIL LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS EVERY EIGHT MONTHS. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID REPAIRS. PROBLEM STILL EXISITS. ALSO, CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. *AK *ML
VEHICLE HAS HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AND THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ALL BEFORE 60,000 MILES. *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