IllustrationIF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEONS WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURES DOING ABOUT IT AND WHAT CAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STUCK WITH THEM DO ABOUT IT?
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
37 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES AND NO SOLUTION FOUND. *AK
ALL INSTRUMENTS, SPEEDOMETRE/ODOMETER, FUEL GUAGE, AND TEMPERATURE GUAGE FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COSNUMER LOST POWER AND THE VEHILCE WILL DIED OUT AND THEN CME BACK ON. ALSO, WHENEVER THE RADIO OR THE A/C WAS ON THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK
CYLINDER HEAD WAS PITTED AND CRACKED,HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED CAN'T GET REPLACEMENT PARTS,BECAUSE OF NATIONAL BACK ORDER.MAYBE WE COULD DRIVE 250 MILES TO COLUMBIA MO. THEY MIGHT HAVE PART; HAD TO GO TO JUNK YARD FOR CYLINDAR HEAD STILL NO GASKET...NEW PARTS NOT IN PARTS BOOKS THEY HAVE UP TO 96,BUT NOT 96...AL'S MACH…
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CYLINDER HEAD WAS PITTED AND CRACKED,HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED CAN'T GET REPLACEMENT PARTS,BECAUSE OF NATIONAL BACK ORDER.MAYBE WE COULD DRIVE 250 MILES TO COLUMBIA MO. THEY MIGHT HAVE PART; HAD TO GO TO JUNK YARD FOR CYLINDAR HEAD STILL NO GASKET...NEW PARTS NOT IN PARTS BOOKS THEY HAVE UP TO 96,BUT NOT 96...AL'S MACHINE SHOP IN BELLEVILLE, IL. STATED THERE HAD BEEN AT LEAST 60 HEADS REPLACED IN THE AREA.CONSEQUENTLY WE HAVE A CAR THAT HASN'T BEEN IN OPERATIO SINCE OCTOBER, THIS IS 11/12/98
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS FAULTY PART. THE NEON IS ONLY 2 TO 3 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET! REGUARLY GIVE TUNE UPS, SO NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHY THE CAR ALREADY HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996 OWNER HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 4 NEW TIRES IN NOV 1997, BECAUSE OF FRONT END PROBLEMS - ALL 4 TIRES WERE BADLY WORN. 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, AND SEVERAL WHEEL BALANCES. FRONT BRAKE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF SQUEALING SINCE PURCHASE DATE. OIL LEAK. PROBLEMS SHIFTING TO REVERSE. REAR SEATBELT…
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SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996 OWNER HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 4 NEW TIRES IN NOV 1997, BECAUSE OF FRONT END PROBLEMS - ALL 4 TIRES WERE BADLY WORN. 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, AND SEVERAL WHEEL BALANCES. FRONT BRAKE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF SQUEALING SINCE PURCHASE DATE. OIL LEAK. PROBLEMS SHIFTING TO REVERSE. REAR SEATBELT IS LOCKED. PLUS ADDITIONAL PROBLEM.
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