IllustrationHEAD GASKET FAILED AFTER I OWNED THE CAR 1 YEAR, WHY HASN'T CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM - I HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM DISCOVERING THIS ON THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL!
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 reportsNOTICED THIS PROBLEM SEEMS COMMON FOR '96 NEON - SHOULD BE RECALLED!!
ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 27843 MILES AND WAS REPLACED ON WARRANTY. GASKET NUMBER 2 FAILED AT 38,000 MILES, NOW ON GASKET NUMBER 3. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED YEARLY HEAD GASKET MAINTENANCE! PAID $600 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR, DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOW WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES F…
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ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 27843 MILES AND WAS REPLACED ON WARRANTY. GASKET NUMBER 2 FAILED AT 38,000 MILES, NOW ON GASKET NUMBER 3. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED YEARLY HEAD GASKET MAINTENANCE! PAID $600 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR, DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOW WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. IS THIS PROBLEM UNDER INVESTIGATION? KEEP ME POSTED!
ON SEP 97 ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACE. UNDER WARRANTY; OCT 99, ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK
EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IN THE FRONT....HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL BADLY...EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION, (180 MILES TO A 12 GALLON TANK) DASHBOARD CLUSTER (ALL GUAGES INCLUDING, SPEEDODMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL AND TEMP GUAGES) DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW...WAS SHORTING OUT AND COMING ON FROM TIME TO TIME BUT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL N…
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EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IN THE FRONT....HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL BADLY...EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION, (180 MILES TO A 12 GALLON TANK) DASHBOARD CLUSTER (ALL GUAGES INCLUDING, SPEEDODMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL AND TEMP GUAGES) DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW...WAS SHORTING OUT AND COMING ON FROM TIME TO TIME BUT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW....( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P165/80R13 )
INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASH GAUGES) HAS A SHORT AND DOES NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL &TEMP GAUGES. ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND IS LEAKING OIL BADLY, AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR... CAR IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION... GOES ABOUT 180 MILES TO A FULL 12 GALLON TANK OF…
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INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASH GAUGES) HAS A SHORT AND DOES NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL &TEMP GAUGES. ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND IS LEAKING OIL BADLY, AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR... CAR IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION... GOES ABOUT 180 MILES TO A FULL 12 GALLON TANK OF GAS...IT PASSES EVERYTHING BUT A GAS STATION... A TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP (RAGLAND DODGE, ANGLETON TEXAS) TOLD ME THAT THESE ARE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE NEON...( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 165/80R/13 )
VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. HAD NOTICED ENGINE OIL LEAK. TOOK TO MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN OUT. NEEDED TO CONTACT DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HAD NO WARNING REGARDING HEAD GASKETS. *AK
EVERY 18000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE...BRAKES FAILED ONE TIME HAD MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED...ACCIDENT, BRAKES BEING INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED...AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONTAL COLLISION AT SPEED OF 15 MPH...SEAT BELT FAILED IN FRONTAL COLLISION AT 15 MPH
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY HEAD GASKET.
HEAD GASKETS HAVE PREMATURALLY BLOWN. OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *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