IllustrationI HAD THE CAR FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AND I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE AND THE ROTORS REPLACED ONCE. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITHIN ABOUT 9 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE 2 ND PAIR OF BRAKES NOW FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THEY ALREADY NEED CHANGED. *NLM
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
88 reportsWHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED. CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THAT BRAKE LINE RUSTED, CAUSING THE PROBLEM.*AK *TT
THIS IS AN USED AUTO BUT IT HAS MANY PROBLEMS ,SOME WERE TOLD TO ME BY A MECHANIC THAT WERE RECALLS,THERE ARE MANY THINGS WRONG SUCH AS THE FLOORS FILL UP WITH WATER WHEN IT RAINS,THE DOOR HINGES HAVE RUSTED AND BROKE,THE BRAKES SQUEAL,THE MOTOR LEAKS OIL AROUND THE SEALSTHE FAN DOESN'T KICK ON TO COOL THE MOTOR NOR DOES THE GA…
Read full complaint
THIS IS AN USED AUTO BUT IT HAS MANY PROBLEMS ,SOME WERE TOLD TO ME BY A MECHANIC THAT WERE RECALLS,THERE ARE MANY THINGS WRONG SUCH AS THE FLOORS FILL UP WITH WATER WHEN IT RAINS,THE DOOR HINGES HAVE RUSTED AND BROKE,THE BRAKES SQUEAL,THE MOTOR LEAKS OIL AROUND THE SEALSTHE FAN DOESN'T KICK ON TO COOL THE MOTOR NOR DOES THE GAUGE REGISTER WHEN IT IS HOT. ARE THESE THINGS THAT THE RECALLS TAKE CARE OF?*AK
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…
Read full complaint
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
CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE.*JB
OIL LEAK IS DUE TO A GASKET; TRANSMISSION WENT OUT(COULD NOT USE REVERSE UNTIL CAR WAS ON 20 MINUTES OR MORE), PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW, NUMEROUS SETS OF BRAKES REPLACED
WHEN STARTING OUT WHEN CAR HAS SAT LONG ENOUGH THE BRAKES MAKE A HUGE HOWLING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS STUCK IN THE BRAKES. TAKEN TO SHOP AND THEY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BREAKS. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE SQUEALS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. TWICE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 35,000 AND 80,000 MILES. SQUEALING STOPPED FOR 1 WEEK. STARTED SQUEALING AGAIN. CONSUMER'S MECHANIC REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT RECALL#96V075000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 687, AND DEALER SAID PARTS WILL NOT BE IN FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. *AK
BRAKES AND HAVE REPLACED TWICE AND STILL CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE BRAKES, AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED WITHIN 5 YEARS.
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