IllustrationBRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY DON'T HOLD PROPERLY, VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKES IT IS DRAGGING. *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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
88 reportsHAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN JULY 1998. CURRENTLY, LEAKING AGAIN. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER FIRST TIME, DEALER HAD TO USE FAULTY PART. DODGE PAID FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY, THEY REFUSE. ALSO, HAD TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONER AND CRUISE CONTROL REPLACED. *AK THE A/C FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. *YH
VAC ASSIST SOURCED THRU EGR VALVE. LEAK IN EGR VALVE ALLOWS EXHAUST CONDENSATE IN VACUUM ASSIST - FREEZES IN COLD WEATHER, BRAKES WON'T STOP CAR
OIL LEAK BY HEAD GASKET LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKET (ROCKER ARM COVER GASKET)& PROBLEM STILL EXISTS - FIRE HAZARD. BASED ON INFO FROM MECHANIC CHRYSLER HAS FAULTY HEAD GASKETS WHICH HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY NEW PROCESS HEAD GASKET. NEED ASSISTANCE WITH FACILITATING REPAIR AT DEALER. I AM ALSO CONSTA…
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OIL LEAK BY HEAD GASKET LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKET (ROCKER ARM COVER GASKET)& PROBLEM STILL EXISTS - FIRE HAZARD. BASED ON INFO FROM MECHANIC CHRYSLER HAS FAULTY HEAD GASKETS WHICH HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY NEW PROCESS HEAD GASKET. NEED ASSISTANCE WITH FACILITATING REPAIR AT DEALER. I AM ALSO CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE BRAKES WITHIN LESS THAN 7 - 8 MOS. LESS THAN EVERYDAY USE OF VEHICLE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE 2 BRAKE JOBS PER YEAR. *AK
THIS CAR IS JUNK, THE HEAD GASKETS, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, ELECTRICAL, EVERYTHING IS BAD. IF YOU CALL THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY ACT LIKE ITS A RARE INCIDENT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THIS IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE HELP SQUEEZE THIS LEMON! *AK
AFTER STOPPING A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND AT THIRD TIME STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED AND SHOOK. *AK FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES DECOMPOSED AND FLAKED OFF INCHUNKS WHICH GET CAUGHT UNDER BRAKE PADS CAUSIGN THE STEERING UNCONTROLABLE. ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. *YH
BRAKES DO NOT CATCH WHEN NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN, THEY SEEM TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. *MJS
CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH WHEN THE THE FORWARD GEARS FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *SLC
BRAKES SQUEAK, ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON/EVENING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE NOISE GOES AWAY BUT IS VERY LOUD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC STATED, THAT MOISTURE GETS IN THROUGH THE HUB CAPS OPENINGS, WHICH MAKES BRAKES SQUEAK. *CJ
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