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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET IN MY 1996 NEON THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP AND HAVE IT REPAIRED COSTING ME $450.BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS UNDER 50,000 MILES. NOW MY CAR HAS 78,000 AND THE GASKET HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT …
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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET IN MY 1996 NEON THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP AND HAVE IT REPAIRED COSTING ME $450.BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS UNDER 50,000 MILES. NOW MY CAR HAS 78,000 AND THE GASKET HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF IT. I HAVE FOUND A WEB SITE, NEONHEADGASKETS.ORG, AND SEEN THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD HELP FROM CHRYSLER, CHRYSLER PAYING $500 AND THE CUSTOMER PAYING $100. BUT THE DECISION IS UP TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE DISTRICT MANAGER. IT REALLY UPSETS ME THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. NOW THEY HAVE EVEN REPLACED THE OLD GASKET WITH AN UPDATED NEW ONE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUT ON MY CAR YET. THEY'RE NOT SURE IF THAT WILL EVEN WORK. PLEASE MAKE CHRYSLER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. IT IS NOT MY FAULT THE GASKET IS BLOWING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732457
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE GOT HOT AND HAS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY SAID IT WAS ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, THAT MAY HAVE DAMAGED ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #871009
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #731796
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DIRECTIONALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. HEAD GASKET IS GONE. EATS UP OIL. DEALER WON'T TRADE IT IN FOR ANOTHER CAR. HEADLIGHTS PULSATE. ENGINE DIES OUT
NHTSA ODI #731766
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN HEAD GASKET, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #731202
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & EXPERIENCED A BAD ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE. HAD NOTICED AN ODOR OF BAD OIL BURNING. TOOK TO MECHANIC FIRST TIME & ENTIRE HEAD GASKETS WAS DEFECTIVE & NEEDED REPLACING. HAD ENGINE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED & THE LEAKAGE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870149
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN MY CAR WENT TO 0 IN LESS THAN 3 SECONDS WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO PATRIOT IN KILLEEN TX THE COULDNT TROUBLESHOOT SO THEY SENT THE CAR TO DODGE COUNTRY. WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING SINCE 8/21/00 I WANT THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE BUT ALL THE PROB…
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I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN MY CAR WENT TO 0 IN LESS THAN 3 SECONDS WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO PATRIOT IN KILLEEN TX THE COULDNT TROUBLESHOOT SO THEY SENT THE CAR TO DODGE COUNTRY. WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING SINCE 8/21/00 I WANT THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE BUT ALL THE PROBLEMS IT HAS THEY ARE SAYING IT DOESNT COVER ALL. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THE WORK WAS DONE ON MY NEON PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ANY INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND ON THIS VEHICLE I'M VERY DISATTISFIED WITH THE NEON AND I'M SORRY I HAVE ONE. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER NEON!!
NHTSA ODI #730929
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED NOT AT ANY SET TIME OR DISTANCE. FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, AND COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED AND WAS SENT TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND TWO WEEKS OF TESTING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT ANY FUEL LEVEL FROM FULL TO AN EIGHTH OF A TANK AND THE SAME GAS STATION WAS USED FOR ALL CARS I OWN SO THE B…
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CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED NOT AT ANY SET TIME OR DISTANCE. FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, AND COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED AND WAS SENT TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND TWO WEEKS OF TESTING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT ANY FUEL LEVEL FROM FULL TO AN EIGHTH OF A TANK AND THE SAME GAS STATION WAS USED FOR ALL CARS I OWN SO THE BAD GAS THEORY IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #730665
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Electrical System
CIRCUIT BOARD WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO TOGGLE. RECALL 96V026000 HAS BEEN ISSUED; HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869507
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN AT ONLY 25,000 MILES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HEAT UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.
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
1996 Dodge Neon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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