IllustrationMASTER CYLINDER FAILED/REPLACED. HOWEVER PROBLEM PERSISTS. *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 reportsWHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GRIND. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT CALIPER WAS STICKING, NOT ALLOWING THE BRAKE PADS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.OWNER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
DRIVING 55-60MPH ON HIGHWAY; WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE; NEON HIT RETAINER WALL DUE TO FAILURE OF BRAKES. UPON IMPACT WITH WALL, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS AT DEALER PRIOR TO ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT BRAKES. *AK
UPON APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL PULSATES. ROTORS AND PADS GRAB THEN RELEASE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR TO PADS AND WARPAGE OF ROTORS. ALSO, DURING PANIC STOP, ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES. DEALER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK
WHILE MAKING LANE CHANGE, RIGHT TO LEFT, LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP, VEHICLE SKIDDED, HIT CURVE, NO WARNING, VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHILE GOING (25) MPH ON SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, WENT INTO A DITCH, HITTING A TREE HEAD-ON AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. INSURANCE ADJUSTOR IS LOOKING AT VEHICLE. *AK
CUSTOMER SAID THAT SHE HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM/ SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT SHE SHOULD PICK ANOTHER CAR FROM THE LOT. SHE WOULD LIKE HER MONEY BACK AND THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED HER REQUEST. *AK
FRONT BRAKES FAILED TWICE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES.
ONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, BRAKES FADED, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT AND TRAVELING 25 MPH , THE VEHICLE SKIDED TO A STOP. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON 4 OCCASIONS. *AK
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