IllustrationAN OIL LEAKAGE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE TO ENGINE. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF DEFECT, BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. *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 reportsHEAD GASKET HAS FAILED TWICE, CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAKS! *AK
HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. I SEE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL? THIS SAME ENGINE IS USED IN A NUMBER OF CHRYSLER CARS AND THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO THOSE OWNERS ALSO. HELP US OUT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILING SECOND TIME - LEAKING OIL BADLY - HAVE LOST APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF OIL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH LEAKAGE FOR EACH FAILURE - WHEN WILL AN ENVIRONMENTAL RECALL BE ISSUED FOR THESE CARS - DODGE CLAIMS NO RECORD OF FIRST REPAIR BUT I HAVE RECEIPTS, DO NOT TRUST DODGE'S REPORTING OF THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBL…
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HEAD GASKET FAILING SECOND TIME - LEAKING OIL BADLY - HAVE LOST APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF OIL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH LEAKAGE FOR EACH FAILURE - WHEN WILL AN ENVIRONMENTAL RECALL BE ISSUED FOR THESE CARS - DODGE CLAIMS NO RECORD OF FIRST REPAIR BUT I HAVE RECEIPTS, DO NOT TRUST DODGE'S REPORTING OF THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM - WWW.NEONS.ORG SHOWS UP TO 1/3 OF THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING HEAD GASKET FAILURES. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT 600,000 GALLONS OF OIL HAVE ALREADY BEEN LEAKED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT - WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE TO END IT. *AK
ONGOING OIL LEAKAGE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML
THE HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH IN THE PROCESS IT RUINED THE SHORT BLOCK, CYLINDER THREE, AND THE RADIATOR
ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL. *AK *ML
CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR . THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. CHRYSLER HAD KNOWN OF PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS IN NEONS, AND AGREED TO PAY FOR PARTS ONLY. *AK *ML
HAD AN OIL LEAK, MECHANIC SAID I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *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