IllustrationENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION BY MANY NEON AND STRATUS OWNERS, WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? *AK
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
340 reportsTHESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED NOW,THE HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT, I'M TIRED OF OIL FLOWING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, ALL OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH WILL CAUSE A FIRE,, PLEASE HELP. *AK
I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS "HEAD GASKET" PROBLEM THROUGH DODGE NEON MESSAGE BOARDS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAVING THE GASKET REPLACED FOR $500.55 PARTS AND LABOR. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T OCCUR AS OFTEN AS ALL THE INQUIRIES SUGGESTED. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD RECALL THE LINE OF VEHICLES, RIGHT THE WRONGS, OR REIMBURSE B…
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I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS "HEAD GASKET" PROBLEM THROUGH DODGE NEON MESSAGE BOARDS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAVING THE GASKET REPLACED FOR $500.55 PARTS AND LABOR. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T OCCUR AS OFTEN AS ALL THE INQUIRIES SUGGESTED. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD RECALL THE LINE OF VEHICLES, RIGHT THE WRONGS, OR REIMBURSE BUYERS OF YOUR PRODUCTS THE EXPENCES THAT OCCUR BUT SHOULDN'T. PLEASE CONTACT ME BY PHONE OR MAIL TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
CHRONIC OIL LEAK DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CHRONIC CLUNKING IN RIGHT FRONT EITHER STEERING OR SUSPENSION PROBLEM WHICH AFTER MULTIPLE TRIPS FOR SERVICE REMAINS UNCORRECTED. *AK
WWW.CARPOINT.COM STATED THERE IS OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE BLOCK FOR THIS MODEL. *AK
WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES CAR SHUTS DOWN. NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET ON MY DODGE NEON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME AT ONLY 76,000 MILES.(CONVENIENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY). I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. DODGE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BUT NO REPLY HAS BEEN GIVEN.
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL, SO HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHAT I AM ANGRY ABOUT IS CHRYSLER KNEW THAT THE ORGINAL PART WAS FAULTY, HENCE THEY RE-DESIGNED THE PLACEMENT PART. HOWEVER, THEY ARE MAKING THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE, WHICH I THINK IS WRONG. I HAVE RECENTLY SEEN WHERE FORD IS REIMBURSING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THE S…
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THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL, SO HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHAT I AM ANGRY ABOUT IS CHRYSLER KNEW THAT THE ORGINAL PART WAS FAULTY, HENCE THEY RE-DESIGNED THE PLACEMENT PART. HOWEVER, THEY ARE MAKING THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE, WHICH I THINK IS WRONG. I HAVE RECENTLY SEEN WHERE FORD IS REIMBURSING THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM (FAULTY HEAD GASKET). WHY WOULDN'T CHRYSLER DO THE SAME THING TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS HAPPY?*AK
I OWN A 1996 DODGE NEON AND RECENTLY MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND CHECKED MY OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE AND NOTICED THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR. HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS GONE. WE WENT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE A HEAD GASKET AND THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT NEON'S WERE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT THE OR…
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I OWN A 1996 DODGE NEON AND RECENTLY MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND CHECKED MY OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE AND NOTICED THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR. HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS GONE. WE WENT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE A HEAD GASKET AND THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT NEON'S WERE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET THAT WERE INSTALLED AT THE PLANT WEREN'T THINK ENOUGH. MY HUSBAND ASKED HIM WHY WE SHOULD REPLACE THIS AND NOT THE DEALER. OUR AREA PART STORES CAN'T KEEP UP WITH STOCKING HEAD GASKETS FOR THESE CARS. WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR THIS? *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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