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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

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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 · Dec 11, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT 53000 I NOTICED OIL LEAKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS WORKED ON SEVERAL NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THE FORMER NEON OWNERS TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT FIXED FOR $200 - $250, AS OPPOSED TO A MORE HEFTY CHARGE. I'M N…

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AT 53000 I NOTICED OIL LEAKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS WORKED ON SEVERAL NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THE FORMER NEON OWNERS TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT FIXED FOR $200 - $250, AS OPPOSED TO A MORE HEFTY CHARGE. I'M NOT SURE HOW A HEAD GASKET CAN MALFUNCTION ON A CAR WITH ONLY 53000 MILES......SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS STORY. ALSO, MY REAR BREAK SHOES (LINING) SUDDENLY GAVE OUT...ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755514

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE STALLS AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. LATELY, VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WEEKLY. TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR WIRING HARNESS/ FUEL PUMP, AND COMPUTER TWICE. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899901

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATER ON, CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. TRIED TO LIFT HOOD, BUT NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO CHECK. INDICATED ENGINE LEAK CAUSED FLAMES. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE A…

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WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATER ON, CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. TRIED TO LIFT HOOD, BUT NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO CHECK. INDICATED ENGINE LEAK CAUSED FLAMES. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENT.*AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #898984

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPAIR IT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #898424

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY / INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEAT AND LOSE COOLANT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897905

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WITHIN 86,000 MILES HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWNOUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897851

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AT TIMES, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CUSTOMER THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE WORN LOW, FRONT PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINER REAR PISTON SEAL ON VEHICLES WHICH MAY LEAK AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR MASTER CYLINDER RECAL…

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CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AT TIMES, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CUSTOMER THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE WORN LOW, FRONT PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINER REAR PISTON SEAL ON VEHICLES WHICH MAY LEAK AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR MASTER CYLINDER RECALL STATING VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, THEREFORE CUSTOMER DECLINED TO PAY FOR SERVICE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #563793

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #785492

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

MASSIVE OIL LEAK AGAIN FROM LATEST HEAD GASKET VERSION USED ALL NEW CARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750304

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749772

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