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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

340 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURING ON A DAILY BASIS ARE: THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK,THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE MILEAGE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING.SOMETIMES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE LIGHTS(SEAT BELT,ETC.)WILL POP ON MAKING THE DINGING NOISE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT …

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THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURING ON A DAILY BASIS ARE: THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK,THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE MILEAGE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING.SOMETIMES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE LIGHTS(SEAT BELT,ETC.)WILL POP ON MAKING THE DINGING NOISE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS ON(LIKE WHEN YOU 1ST START UP THE CAR)BUT NOTHING STARTS WORKING THEN BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE.WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE PUT IN OUR CAR,HOW FAST WE ARE GOING,OR IF THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT OR COLD.AT ONE POINT WE WERE HAVING TO GET JUMP STARTS ALL OF THE TIME. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT I NOTICED YOU HAVE HAD A RECALL ON BUT THIS VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED.SINCE IT IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE.THIS IS REDICULOUS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE,SAME YEAR AND EVERYTHING BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY 15,000 CARS DONE AND OUR CAR COULD HAVE BEEN THE 15,001 CAR ON THE ASSEMBLY AT THE TIME WE HAVE TO SUFFER AND PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS MISTAKES.

NHTSA ODI #741386

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE NEEDS TO HAVE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880854

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL LEAKING PROBLEM WENT WORSE WND WORSE, EVEN AFTER CHANGING SOME POTENTIAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740729

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED AT LESS THAN 36,000 MILES; COVERED ON WARRANTY. DODGE REFUSES TO COVER SECOND FAILURE AND CLAIMS "NO KNOWN PROBLEMS" WITH HEAD GASKET LONGEVITY WHEN CALLED. GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD ON VEHICLE; AV. 15-16K MILES/YEAR USE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740318

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUG TUBES. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #785247

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE LEAKING OIL TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #879186

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER JEEP'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE BEING RECALLED. THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAID CHRYSLER WON'T PAY FOR NEONS. THIS IS A DEFECT NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACC…

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THERE WAS AN OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER JEEP'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE BEING RECALLED. THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAID CHRYSLER WON'T PAY FOR NEONS. THIS IS A DEFECT NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE THIS HELPS, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740019

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEADGASKET IS BLOWN,

NHTSA ODI #878731

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET. CONSUMER WAITING TO HEAR FROM DODGE. *AK THE LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN OIL DRIPPING ON TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FIXED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878602

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

I LEARNED OF MY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, I JUST PAID IT OFF, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK, THAT WAS THE SOONEST I COULD GET. I EXPECT THEM TO COVER IT 100% ESPECIALLY AFTER FINDING …

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I LEARNED OF MY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, I JUST PAID IT OFF, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK, THAT WAS THE SOONEST I COULD GET. I EXPECT THEM TO COVER IT 100% ESPECIALLY AFTER FINDING YOUR WEBSITE AND READING ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM W/ THEIR 1996 NEON. I WAS CURIOUS AS TO IF ANYONE HAS TAKEN LEGAL ACTION IN THIS MATTER?AK

NHTSA ODI #739404

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