IllustrationREAR SEAL ON ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. *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 reportsNO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185R14 )
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING OIL LEAKS FROM ENGINE, UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE IT COMING FROM. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
HEAD GASKET LEAKING.
RECALL 96V026000/626; EXPERIENCING SAME WIRE HARNESS PROBLEMS. VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS ON 11-NOV-98. ALSO WIRE HARNESS PROBLEMS. SECOND INCIDENT CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I GET OIL CHANGES REGULARLY SO THAT THE CAR WILL LAST, THEN THE LAST OIL CHANGE I GET, A MONTH LATER OIL STARTS LEAKING SEVERELY OUT FROM UNDER THE CARE. TWO ESTIMATED LATER AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOT ONLY HAS THAT GONE UP BUT THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. I AM ALWA…
Read full complaint
I GET OIL CHANGES REGULARLY SO THAT THE CAR WILL LAST, THEN THE LAST OIL CHANGE I GET, A MONTH LATER OIL STARTS LEAKING SEVERELY OUT FROM UNDER THE CARE. TWO ESTIMATED LATER AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOT ONLY HAS THAT GONE UP BUT THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. I AM ALWAYS REPLACING SOMETHING ON THIS CAR AND IT IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. WILL THESE CARS EVER LAST THE FULL LOAN?
11/10/98 - HEAD GASKET FAILURE - REPLACED. SPARK PLUGS (TUNE UP) PERFORMED SAME DAY AT PERFORMANCE DODGE SERVICE CENTER. 11/25/98 - ENGINE - BEGAN STALLING AND STUTTERING, SIGNIFIGANT LOSS IN POWER, INTERMITTENT "NO-STARTS" SIGNIFIGANT INCREASE IN GAS USAGE.
CYLINDER HEAD IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD ,PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. *AK
OWNER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND PROBLEM TO BE WITH THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
AFTER ONLY 70000 MILES THE DODGE NEON HAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET. THROUGH CONVERSTATIONS DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS? THANKS, DAMIEN
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