IllustrationTHE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN, THEY SEEM TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. *MJS
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
Power Train complaints
47 reportsCONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH WHEN THE THE FORWARD GEARS FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *SLC
THE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEARS MODEL ACCORDING TO LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGED FOR THE NEXT YEARS MODEL.
VEHICLE HAS HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AND THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ALL BEFORE 60,000 MILES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS SPEEDOMETER STARTS ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE NEEDLE WAVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 0 AND THE PRESENT SPEED. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS THE NEEDLE GOES TO ZERO AND REMAINS THERE. IN ADDITION TO HAVING NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED . ON THE MOST RECENT FAILURE TURNING THE CA…
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WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS SPEEDOMETER STARTS ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE NEEDLE WAVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 0 AND THE PRESENT SPEED. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS THE NEEDLE GOES TO ZERO AND REMAINS THERE. IN ADDITION TO HAVING NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED . ON THE MOST RECENT FAILURE TURNING THE CAR OFF ,WHILE IN A RESTURANT FOR 45 MINUTES SEEMED TO CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM. UPON RESUMING OUR TRIP WE HAD THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WORKING. *AK
PIN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL DROPPED, CAUSING A HOLE IN THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGES AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. DEALER CALLING US LIARS WHEN REPORTED.HAVE RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. CONSUMER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK
TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY AMOCO SAID ALMOST ALL PARTS WERE "CHEWED UP" NOW 1 YR LATER SLIPS GOING INTO 1ST AND HAS NO REVERSE THE HEAD HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND HAS GONE AGAIN SPPEDOMETER STAYS ON 0
DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED BY FAILED SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE AS IT WAS SWINGLING WILDLY. DISTRACTION CAUSED ACCIDENT.
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