IllustrationNO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185R14 )
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 reportsCONSUMER EXPERIENCING OIL LEAKS FROM ENGINE, UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE IT COMING FROM. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
HEAD GASKET LEAKING.
RECALL 96V026000/626; EXPERIENCING SAME WIRE HARNESS PROBLEMS. VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS ON 11-NOV-98. ALSO WIRE HARNESS PROBLEMS. SECOND INCIDENT CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
RECALL 96V026000/626. EXPERIENCING SAME WIRE HARNESS PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE GRILL AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FLAMES OCCURRED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER CONTACTED BECAUSE THEY WERE SERVICING VEHICLE AT THE TIME. PROBLEM WAS NEVER REME…
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RECALL 96V026000/626. EXPERIENCING SAME WIRE HARNESS PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE GRILL AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FLAMES OCCURRED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER CONTACTED BECAUSE THEY WERE SERVICING VEHICLE AT THE TIME. PROBLEM WAS NEVER REMEDIED AFTER DEALER HAD CAR THREE TIMES. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COSNUMER LOST POWER AND THE VEHILCE WILL DIED OUT AND THEN CME BACK ON. ALSO, WHENEVER THE RADIO OR THE A/C WAS ON THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK
I GET OIL CHANGES REGULARLY SO THAT THE CAR WILL LAST, THEN THE LAST OIL CHANGE I GET, A MONTH LATER OIL STARTS LEAKING SEVERELY OUT FROM UNDER THE CARE. TWO ESTIMATED LATER AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOT ONLY HAS THAT GONE UP BUT THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. I AM ALWA…
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I GET OIL CHANGES REGULARLY SO THAT THE CAR WILL LAST, THEN THE LAST OIL CHANGE I GET, A MONTH LATER OIL STARTS LEAKING SEVERELY OUT FROM UNDER THE CARE. TWO ESTIMATED LATER AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOT ONLY HAS THAT GONE UP BUT THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. I AM ALWAYS REPLACING SOMETHING ON THIS CAR AND IT IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. WILL THESE CARS EVER LAST THE FULL LOAN?
WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PADS AND THE REAR BRAKES HAD BEEN CHANGED. ALSO, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT RADIO SPEAKER. *AK
MY BRAKES SQUEEK ALL THE TIME. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CLEANED TO REMOVE ACCESS DUST AND BUILD UP..AND ALSO HAD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS CHANGED. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I ALSO NOTICE ALL MY REALIVES/FRIENDS EXPERIANCE EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF SQUEEKING THAT MY CAR SUFFERS FROM. IF THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL…
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MY BRAKES SQUEEK ALL THE TIME. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CLEANED TO REMOVE ACCESS DUST AND BUILD UP..AND ALSO HAD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS CHANGED. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I ALSO NOTICE ALL MY REALIVES/FRIENDS EXPERIANCE EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF SQUEEKING THAT MY CAR SUFFERS FROM. IF THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. I DON'T KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS, BUT IT IS AT THE VERY LEAST, ANNOYING AND VERY VERY NOTICABLE. IT HAPPENS IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. WET/DRY, COLD/WARM ETC ETC. ANY FEEDBACK YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. RICH MARTIN
11/10/98 - HEAD GASKET FAILURE - REPLACED. SPARK PLUGS (TUNE UP) PERFORMED SAME DAY AT PERFORMANCE DODGE SERVICE CENTER. 11/25/98 - ENGINE - BEGAN STALLING AND STUTTERING, SIGNIFIGANT LOSS IN POWER, INTERMITTENT "NO-STARTS" SIGNIFIGANT INCREASE IN GAS USAGE.
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