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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

Steering complaints

24 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES IN 3 YRS. FIRST THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD, HAD TO BE REPLACE. SECOND THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER IN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, 4RD THE FUELD SENSOR WENT OUT IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. ASK WARRENTY COMPANY WHAT MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEON WAS THEY SAID THE HEAD…

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I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES IN 3 YRS. FIRST THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD, HAD TO BE REPLACE. SECOND THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER IN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, 4RD THE FUELD SENSOR WENT OUT IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. ASK WARRENTY COMPANY WHAT MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEON WAS THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING, NOW I GUESS IT'S MY TURN FOR THAT I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY FOR OIL LEAK , THEY SAID HEAD GASKET BLOWN, NEED TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO MAKE SURE NOTHING ELSE IS BAD ( CRACKED BLOCK / HEAD) SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT'S NOT THAT OLD AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, VERY DISSAPOINTED IN VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #704575

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

HEAD GASKET LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI #543085

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1998
Steering

WHEN DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMING OFF THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THEVEHICLE TO PULL OVER AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831071

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Steering

GOING 30MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL HAD NO RESPONSE. HAD HEARD A POP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. TOO MANY BROKEN PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830043

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

ENGINE GASKETS AND SEALS AND RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #781408

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1998
Seat BeltsSteering

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REA REND COLLISION, SEAT BELT FAILED TO WOTK PROPERLY AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM2 HERNIATED DISCS. 3 YEAR DAUGHTER WA SINA CAR SEAT IN THE REAR. CAR SEAT MOVED OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS S…

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CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REA REND COLLISION, SEAT BELT FAILED TO WOTK PROPERLY AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM2 HERNIATED DISCS. 3 YEAR DAUGHTER WA SINA CAR SEAT IN THE REAR. CAR SEAT MOVED OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS STEERING COLUMN SOUNDS A SIF IT IS GOING TO POP OUT.

NHTSA ODI #540583

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1997
Steering

STEERING DIFFICULTY CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #525945

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKE NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #525730

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Steering

WHEN IT IS WET OUTSIDE VEHICLE LOSES ALL STEERING. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING AND THE DRIVER HAS TO USE BOTH HANDS TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE ON THE PROBLEM CONCERNING THE STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816191

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1997
Steering

EVERYTIME THAT IT RAINS THE STEERING LOCKS UP, AND DRIVER LOSES STEERING COMPLETELY. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814672

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