IllustrationODOMETER FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE, THE LAST TIME WAS IN FEB OF 99. *AK
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 reportsIN COLD WEATHER CONDITITIONS HORN GOES OFF AND SOUNDS UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PARTS OF BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER RAPIDLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODYSHOP, WHERE THE HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE LAYING ON THE TOP OF EXHAUST TUBE, WHICH MELTED THE WIRES AND SHORTED OUT VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.…
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WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER RAPIDLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODYSHOP, WHERE THE HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE LAYING ON THE TOP OF EXHAUST TUBE, WHICH MELTED THE WIRES AND SHORTED OUT VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V026000 CHRYSLER/ELECT. WRING: HARNESS: FRONT UNDERHOOD. DUE TO VIN. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN, THEY SEEM TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. *MJS
CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH WHEN THE THE FORWARD GEARS FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *SLC
AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND RAN IT OFF THE ROAD INTO SHOULDER. CONSUMER HIT THE MEDIAN RAIL. NO INJURIES. *AK
WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY (NOW) 2 EXPERIENCES TO THE MIX OF MANY, IN REGARDS TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 DODGE NEON LINE OF VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO EASE THE COSTS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET (UNDER EXTENDED…
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WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY (NOW) 2 EXPERIENCES TO THE MIX OF MANY, IN REGARDS TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 DODGE NEON LINE OF VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO EASE THE COSTS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. AS I WAS WRITING THIS, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE 5-STAR CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP/SERVICE SHOP WHO IS DOING THE WORK FOR A SECOND TIME NOW (THE CAR WAS ALSO PURCHASED THERE), AND FOUND OUT I WILL BE WITHOUT THE CAR FOR ANOTHER WEEK BECAUSE THIS TIME THE DAMAGE IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE DUE TO WARPING. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY $100 ABOUT EVERY 20,000 MILES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I AM TOLD CHRYSLER IS ON THEIR 6TH REVISION OF THIS GASKET, BUT NO RECALL OR CONSUMER WARNING HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC. SEARCHING THROUGH THE INTERNET, IT IS STAGGERINGLY EASY TO FIND MANY OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS COSTS ME MONEY AND THE INCONVENIENCE OF BEING WITHOUT ONE OF MY VEHICLES FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
SUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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