IllustrationIN MAY MY STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. IT WAS AGAIN LOOKED AT IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. NOW, MY STEERING COLUMN HAS ONCE AGAIN FAILED. IT TAKES 10 TURNS OF MY WHEEL TO TURN FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER. ALSO, MY HEAD GASKET, AT 45000 MILES STARTED TO LEAK. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A CAR 3 YEARS OLD. *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 reportsBRAKES SQUEAKY FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED AT 39,000 MILES. ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS AT ONLY 42,000 MILES(EST COST OF ALL REPAIRS $800) EGR VALVE ALREADY PAID FOR, WANTING ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER FOR HEAD GASKET. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES IN 3 YRS. FIRST THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD, HAD TO BE REPLACE. SECOND THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER IN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, 4RD THE FUELD SENSOR WENT OUT IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. ASK WARRENTY COMPANY WHAT MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEON WAS THEY SAID THE HEAD…
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I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES IN 3 YRS. FIRST THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD, HAD TO BE REPLACE. SECOND THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER IN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, 4RD THE FUELD SENSOR WENT OUT IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. ASK WARRENTY COMPANY WHAT MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEON WAS THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING, NOW I GUESS IT'S MY TURN FOR THAT I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY FOR OIL LEAK , THEY SAID HEAD GASKET BLOWN, NEED TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO MAKE SURE NOTHING ELSE IS BAD ( CRACKED BLOCK / HEAD) SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT'S NOT THAT OLD AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, VERY DISSAPOINTED IN VEHICLE
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
PLEASE RECALL NEONS TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKETS FIXED.
PLEASE HELP ME WITH CHRYLSER. I HAVE MADE NUMBEROUS CALLS AND THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY A "LEMON."
I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THE DODGE NEONS. AND THAT DODGE HAS REDESIGNED THEM. WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE STUCK WITH THE BAD GASKETS? I HAVE TALKED WITH EVERY DODGE DEALER WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS AS WELL AS A FEW MECHANIC SHOPS. A COUPLE OF THEM TOLD ME THAT DODGE WAS THINKING ABOUT …
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I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THE DODGE NEONS. AND THAT DODGE HAS REDESIGNED THEM. WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE STUCK WITH THE BAD GASKETS? I HAVE TALKED WITH EVERY DODGE DEALER WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS AS WELL AS A FEW MECHANIC SHOPS. A COUPLE OF THEM TOLD ME THAT DODGE WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY 500-800 DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT DODGE NEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. EVERY DEALER I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAS SAID THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALOT OF HEAD GASKETS ON THE NEONS. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF DODGE IS GOING TO DO A RECALL OR NOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET GOES OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAD A 1996 NEON AND TRADED IN FOR 1997 NEON, BUT HAS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *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