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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.

About this comparison →
611Owner complaints

Model-year median: 173

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19939
1994976
1995611
1996390
1997339
1998116
1999
Compare all Neon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
340Electrical System
93Service Brakes, Hydraulic
88Power Train
47Air Bags
44
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
37Steering
24Structure
23Visibility
17Vehicle Speed Control
16Exterior Lighting
15Fuel System, Gasoline
14Equipment
12Seat Belts
10Suspension
7Fuel System, Other
6Seats
6Tires
4Interior Lighting
3Engine
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Air
1Wheels
1

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

340 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLS OUT SPONTANEOUSLY AS IT IS BEING DRIVEN. SPEED IS NOT AN ISSUE. TIME OF DAY IS NOT AN ISSUE. MOISTURE IS NOT AN ISSUE. DODGE DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT PROBLEM. CONCERNED TO BE DRIVING ON FAST ROADWAY AND HAVE ENGINE FAIL . *AK

NHTSA ODI #723356

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

APPARENTLY, THE HEAD GASKET SITUATION IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. AT 66K MILES, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FAN UNIT BECUASE "IT IS WORN OUT." THE MANUFACTURER'S MAINTENANCE BOOK HAS NO MENTION OF SUCH REPLACEMENT AT 66K--I THINK THAT HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, THER…

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APPARENTLY, THE HEAD GASKET SITUATION IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. AT 66K MILES, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FAN UNIT BECUASE "IT IS WORN OUT." THE MANUFACTURER'S MAINTENANCE BOOK HAS NO MENTION OF SUCH REPLACEMENT AT 66K--I THINK THAT HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN UNNECESSARY INJURIES DUE TO UNEXPECTED "CHEAPLY" MADE PARTS. -- NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A CHRYSLER/DODGE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723219

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURES BEGAN ON THIS VEHICHE AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MI AND CONTINUE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722973

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

I'M VERY UPSET THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS IN THE 1995 AND 96 NEON'S YET THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND MAY HAVE TO LET THE CAR GO. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS. 419-946-4295. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722839

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED FROM OUR REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF CHRYSLER VEHICLES, NEON, CIRRUS,AND. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY.

NHTSA ODI #722646

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

DODGE NEON ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE KNOWN TO LEAK - MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPAIR OF A KNOWN DEFECT. MY COST WAS $1004. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722362

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861518

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

SEVERE OIL LEAK; THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEONS BUT DODGE REFUSES TO FIX. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO CAR ACCIDENT. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722183

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE…

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THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE FROM A METAL THAT RUSTS VERY QUICKLY AND THE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAULTY AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION?? IS 4 TOO MANY FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 50+THOUSAND MILES?? HELP!!!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 1857014 )

NHTSA ODI #722105

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAKS, RADITOR SMOKING.

NHTSA ODI #721871

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