IllustrationVEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUG TUBES. *SLC
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
What owners actually said
611 reportsVEHICLE LEAKING OIL TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THERE WAS AN OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER JEEP'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE BEING RECALLED. THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAID CHRYSLER WON'T PAY FOR NEONS. THIS IS A DEFECT NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACC…
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THERE WAS AN OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER JEEP'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE BEING RECALLED. THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAID CHRYSLER WON'T PAY FOR NEONS. THIS IS A DEFECT NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE THIS HELPS, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT.*AK
WHEN THERE IS A RAIN STORM TWO INCHES OF RAIN COMES INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
HEADGASKET IS BLOWN,
BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY DON'T HOLD PROPERLY, VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKES IT IS DRAGGING. *AK
VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET. CONSUMER WAITING TO HEAR FROM DODGE. *AK THE LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN OIL DRIPPING ON TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FIXED. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
I LEARNED OF MY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, I JUST PAID IT OFF, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK, THAT WAS THE SOONEST I COULD GET. I EXPECT THEM TO COVER IT 100% ESPECIALLY AFTER FINDING …
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I LEARNED OF MY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, I JUST PAID IT OFF, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK, THAT WAS THE SOONEST I COULD GET. I EXPECT THEM TO COVER IT 100% ESPECIALLY AFTER FINDING YOUR WEBSITE AND READING ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM W/ THEIR 1996 NEON. I WAS CURIOUS AS TO IF ANYONE HAS TAKEN LEGAL ACTION IN THIS MATTER?AK
HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 20,901 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION LET GO WITH 35,654 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED A SECOND TIME WITH 46,958 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT DARTMOUTH DODGE, 225 STATE RD., NORTH DARTMOUTH, …
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HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 20,901 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION LET GO WITH 35,654 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED A SECOND TIME WITH 46,958 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT DARTMOUTH DODGE, 225 STATE RD., NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA. 02747, SINCE IT WAS CLOSER TO MY HOME, AND THEY WERE NOT IN BUSINESS AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER GAVE ME A $300.00 CREDIT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME, AND IT BROKE AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 26,000 LATER. APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO FEEL THAT A RECALL CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE INSTITUTED TO REPAIR ALL THESE VEHICLES SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM. *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