IllustrationENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *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 reportsABS BRAKES WOULD MAKE SQUEALING NOISES FIRST THING IN MORING, BUT LATER SQUEALING NOISES WOULD DISAPPEAR. BRAKE PADS ARE WORN DOWN. PASSENGER'S WINDOW WOULD BE WHISTLING; HAS NO WEATHER STRIPPING. THE SPARK PLUGS KEEPS BLOWING OUT. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHENEVER THE SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN, THE VEHI…
Read full complaint
ABS BRAKES WOULD MAKE SQUEALING NOISES FIRST THING IN MORING, BUT LATER SQUEALING NOISES WOULD DISAPPEAR. BRAKE PADS ARE WORN DOWN. PASSENGER'S WINDOW WOULD BE WHISTLING; HAS NO WEATHER STRIPPING. THE SPARK PLUGS KEEPS BLOWING OUT. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHENEVER THE SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST STOP RUNNING. *AK
OIL LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS EVERY EIGHT MONTHS. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID REPAIRS. PROBLEM STILL EXISITS. ALSO, CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. *AK *ML
MY 1996 DODGE NEON HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE BY ALLOWING THE OIL TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER NEONS. IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY CHRYSLER. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK. MULTIPLE GARAGEMEN INDICATE MAJORITY OF NEONS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE HAS HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AND THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ALL BEFORE 60,000 MILES. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED AND DAMAGED ENGINE BLOCK. NEEDS NEW ENGINE. ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORDS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. PLEASE .RECALL. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
BOTH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK
IN JANUARY 1998 WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAD AN OIL LEAK. MY RECEIPT STATES THEY FIXED THE FRONT ENGINE SEAL. NOW IN JUNE 1999 I NEED A NEW FRONT ENGINE SEAL AND MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *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