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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1999
Fuel System, OtherStructureVisibility

GAS GAUGE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #543275

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

FIRST, WHEN IT IS COLD, MY BRAKES DO NOT WORK. AT FIRST THEY DO NOT GO TO THE GROUND AND THE CAR TAKES A LONG TIME TO COME TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS ONLY OCCURED WHEN CAR IS STARTED OR WHEN IT IS GOING LESS THAN 5MPH. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOOKING AT IT NOW. HAS REPLACED SOME BRAKES PADS AND SERVICES THE BRAKES. WATER …

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FIRST, WHEN IT IS COLD, MY BRAKES DO NOT WORK. AT FIRST THEY DO NOT GO TO THE GROUND AND THE CAR TAKES A LONG TIME TO COME TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS ONLY OCCURED WHEN CAR IS STARTED OR WHEN IT IS GOING LESS THAN 5MPH. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOOKING AT IT NOW. HAS REPLACED SOME BRAKES PADS AND SERVICES THE BRAKES. WATER WAS FOUND IN A VALVE FOR THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THIS MECHANIC BELIEVES WATER IS GETTING INTO THE BRAKE LINE BUT IS UNSURE AS TO HOW. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT SO JUST WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE OKAY THE BRAKES FAIL AGAIN. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE WINDOWS. EVEN WHEN THE DEFROSTERS AND DEFOGGERS ARE ON, THE SIDE WINDOWS NEVER DEFOG, I NEED TO CONSTANTLY TURN ON REAR REFROST (EVERY 5 MIN OR SO) SO THAT I CAN SEE OUT OF IT. THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM THIS WINTER. I CANNOT SEE OUT PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WHILE DRIVING. A THIRD PROBLEM IS THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM . EVEN WHEN THE WINDOW IS ALL THE WAY UP WIND HOWLS IN THE WINDOW. YOU CAN SEE A GAP AND IF IT IS RAINING WATER COMES IN. FINALLY THE LAST PROBLEM IS ALSO NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE LAST PROBLEM BECAUSE IT OCCURRED LONG BEFORE THAT PROBLEM. AFTER IT RAINS, WATER COLLECTS IN THE WELL BETWEEN THE INSIDE AN OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR (MOSTLY ON PASSENGER SIDE, BUT OCCASIONALLY ON DRIVERS SIDE) CONSEQUENTLY WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR A PUDDLE OF WATER FALLS OUT ON MY FEET. IN THE WINTER THE WATER IN THE WILL FREEZES MAKING IT DIFFICULT OT OPEN THE DOOR. I INFORMED THE DEALER OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT FIRST OCCURED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT OCCURED WITH ALL OF THE CARS AND THAT IT WAS JUST A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I LEFT IT AT THAT ALTHOUGH IT BOTHERED ME. I AM COMPLAINING NOW BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING WRONG WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #701807

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 48750 MILES, PROBLEM REPAIRED. BRAKES ARE NOISY AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE AIR CIRCULATION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP. THE BRAKES AND AIR CIRCULATION PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831090

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1998
VisibilityInjury

UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHILE CLOSING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, DOOR GLASS SHATTERED. PROBLEM OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE SECOND TIME 9-YEAR OLD SON SHUT THE DOOR AND GLASS SHATTERED. THIRDAND FOURTH TIMES WHEN DRIVER SHUT DOOR, THE GLASS SHATTERED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826263

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #531029

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1998
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS/HEADLIGHTS FAILED/ELECTRICAL SHORT DUE TO SEVERED WIRES/WINSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE HAD HOLE IN IT AND INSTALLED HORN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #525184

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

BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKE NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #525730

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