IllustrationVALVE COVER GASKETS HAVE FAILED TWICE SINCE 1998 AND CURRENTLY NEEDING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED JUST AFTER WARRANTY TERM. DODGE KNOWS OF OIL LEAK PROBLEMS AND HAVE MADE NO EFFORTS TO RECTIFY.
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 reportsTHE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, WITH A COLD ENGINE RADIATOR CAP OFF FLUID WILL BE FORCED OUT LIKE OLD FAITHFUL. OIL LEAKING FROM BACK OF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I FOUND OUT THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE CAR PROBLEM. I HAVE 14 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE 15 SERVICE BULLETINS REPORTING THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS IT SHOU…
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THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, WITH A COLD ENGINE RADIATOR CAP OFF FLUID WILL BE FORCED OUT LIKE OLD FAITHFUL. OIL LEAKING FROM BACK OF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I FOUND OUT THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE CAR PROBLEM. I HAVE 14 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE 15 SERVICE BULLETINS REPORTING THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. PLUS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR ENGINEERING FAULTS.
DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HIT COW ON THE HIGHWAY HEAD-ON, HITTING WHINDSHIELD AND ROLLED OVER, SMASHING REAR WINDOWS. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK
VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL AT ENGINE BLOCK, HAD TO REPLACE 2 HEAD GASKETS. PROBLEM HAS COME BACK, AND MAY HAVE TO REPLACE A THIRD HEAD GASKET. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING A TERRIBLE OIL LEAK AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. *AK
DODGE NEON MANUFACTURED IN 1996/AS FAR AS I KNOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES/ ORIGINALLY WHEN BUILT (UNLESS PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM) AND TWICE BY ME (9/3/97 AND 10/18/2000) NOW DON'T YOU FIND THAT ABSURD....I FORMALLY OWNED A DODGE DAYTONA FOR TEN YEARS...HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS BUT IT NEVER BLEW…
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DODGE NEON MANUFACTURED IN 1996/AS FAR AS I KNOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES/ ORIGINALLY WHEN BUILT (UNLESS PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM) AND TWICE BY ME (9/3/97 AND 10/18/2000) NOW DON'T YOU FIND THAT ABSURD....I FORMALLY OWNED A DODGE DAYTONA FOR TEN YEARS...HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS BUT IT NEVER BLEW A HEAD GASKET.. IHAVE AN OLDSMOBLILE THAT HAS 1400000 MILES ON IT..NEVER NEEDED A HEAD GASKET....HAD THIS HEAD GASKET BLOWN OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY NEXT WEEK ON THE WAY TO MARYLAND, THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS RESULTS ..NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF REPAIRING A "CRACKED BLOCK" THIS HEAD GASKET IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS FAR A DRIVING IS CONCERNED AND I FIND IT UNBELIEVABLE THAT CRYSLER IS ALLOWING THIS SERIOUS MATTER TO CONTINUE//I FEEL THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE TWO HEAD GASKETS SHOULD BE SENT TO ME IMMEDIATELY...CRYSLER HAD MY BUSINESS FOR LONG ENOUGH...I FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP ALL OF THE NEON OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT CAN NOT GET ANYONE TO LISTEN OR AS USUAL ...THE SMALL GUY IS OUT OF LUCK...THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN IS JUST TOO MUCH AT THIS TIME...THANK GOD MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS NOT IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS PROBLEM OCCURRED....CRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE NOW AND TO ALL DODGE NEON OWNERS....PICKETING DEALERSHIPS COMES TO MIND....
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF 1996-WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO RECALL IT( DOT NUMBER: )
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ALLOWS OIL TO COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED AND IT WAS USING 5 QUARTS OF OIL A DAY, AND OIL IN THE RADIATOR THAT CAME OUT LIKE COTTAGE CHEESE.*AK
I HAVE TAKEN ME NEON IN THREE TIMES THIS MONTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND AS TO WHY THE FUSE FOR THE FULE PUMP BLEW BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITHTHE CAR. THE DEALER DID TELL ME THAT IT IS HARD TO LOCATE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT HAPPEN AGAIN TWO TIMES …
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I HAVE TAKEN ME NEON IN THREE TIMES THIS MONTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND AS TO WHY THE FUSE FOR THE FULE PUMP BLEW BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITHTHE CAR. THE DEALER DID TELL ME THAT IT IS HARD TO LOCATE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT HAPPEN AGAIN TWO TIMES IN ONE DAY. I AGAIN TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THAT THE ONLY THING ON THIS FUSE IS THE FUEL PUMP AND SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS GOING BAD. SO, WE REPLACED IT AND THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I JOB COACH AND DRIVE MY CAR ALL DAY TO AND FROM DIFFERENT CLIENTS JOB SITES AS WELL AS TRANSPORT THEM TO AND FROM WORK. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY DU TO THE FACT THAT WITH SOME OF THEM I MUST DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY AND WITH THE CARS FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOWING AT ANY TIME FOR WHAT EVER REASON THIS FRIGHTENS ME WIHT THE WAY PEOPLE DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY THE LAST THING I OR THEY NEED IS A CAR THAT JUST STOPS IN IT'S TRACKS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THREE DAYS AND THEY STILL CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. IT IS AT THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE DRIVING MY CAR AROUND TO SEE AS TO WHY OR AS TO WHAT IS WRONG. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WRITE TO ME OR E-MAIL ME SO THAT I CAN LET THEM KNOW. IN REGARDS TO WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. IT WAS AT A DEALER SHIP IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA FOUR YEARS AGO AND I NOW LIVE IN WISCONSIN. IT MAY BE POSSABLE TO LOCATE THE DEALER WITH MY VIN NUMBER. THANK YOU DEBORA BREY. *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