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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 →
611Owner complaints

Model-year median: 173

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19939
1994976
1995611
1996390
1997339
1998116
1999
Compare all Neon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
340Electrical System
93Service Brakes, Hydraulic
88Power Train
47Air Bags
44
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
37Steering
24Structure
23Visibility
17Vehicle Speed Control
16Exterior Lighting
15Fuel System, Gasoline
14Equipment
12Seat Belts
10Suspension
7Fuel System, Other
6Seats
6Tires
4Interior Lighting
3Engine
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Air
1Wheels
1

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT NEEDS A NEW HEAD GASKET. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE COST (APPROX $500.) HE SAID THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF 1/2 OF IT. SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED GASKET & THEY REPLACE A LOT-IN FACT ITEM IS ON BACK ORDER

NHTSA ODI #700785

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY WOULD SQUEAK. HAD NOTICED THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & TOLD WOULD NOT REPAIR THE ROTORS DUE TO STATE USING SALT ON THE ROAD. ALSO, THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & STARTED TO LEAK A LOT OF OIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830674

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAKS OIL AND OVERHEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL, AND THE COST WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830051

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

ENGINE GASKETS AND SEALS AND RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #781408

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM HEARING THAT ALL NEONS (INFORMED BY DEALER-COYLE DODGE IN NEW ALBANY, IN) HAVE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAIN GASKET IN THE ENGINE. I HAD A BIG MISFORTUNE IN HAVING MY 96 NEON'S MAIN GASKET FAILED AND SPEWED OUT A LOT OF OIL AND ALMOST HAD MYSELF IN A SERIOUS SMOKE PROBLEM THAT I SMELLED THE OIL BUR…

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I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM HEARING THAT ALL NEONS (INFORMED BY DEALER-COYLE DODGE IN NEW ALBANY, IN) HAVE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAIN GASKET IN THE ENGINE. I HAD A BIG MISFORTUNE IN HAVING MY 96 NEON'S MAIN GASKET FAILED AND SPEWED OUT A LOT OF OIL AND ALMOST HAD MYSELF IN A SERIOUS SMOKE PROBLEM THAT I SMELLED THE OIL BURNING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEAR THE ENGINE AND COULD LEAD TO A FIRE! I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO COYLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A BIG

NHTSA ODI #700063

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/HEAD GASKETS, ETC. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING, DLR CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829276

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET/ INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #781359

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE. ALSO ABS BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE,RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #781291

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 6 TIMES BETWEEN THE 21ST AND 24TH OF AUGUST 1998. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 4…

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WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 6 TIMES BETWEEN THE 21ST AND 24TH OF AUGUST 1998. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, THE VEHICLE JUST CRANKED AND NEVER STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #827704

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE BLOCK HAS BEEN LEAKING ,THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP MORE THEN SIX TIMES FOR SAME THING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827599

Official recalls

2

96V075000 · 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

2

PE02082 · 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