IllustrationCYLINDER HEAD IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD ,PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. *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 reportsOWNER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND PROBLEM TO BE WITH THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
AFTER ONLY 70000 MILES THE DODGE NEON HAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET. THROUGH CONVERSTATIONS DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS? THANKS, DAMIEN
ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT NEEDS A NEW HEAD GASKET. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE COST (APPROX $500.) HE SAID THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF 1/2 OF IT. SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED GASKET & THEY REPLACE A LOT-IN FACT ITEM IS ON BACK ORDER
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 48750 MILES, PROBLEM REPAIRED. BRAKES ARE NOISY AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE AIR CIRCULATION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP. THE BRAKES AND AIR CIRCULATION PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE FIXED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMING OFF THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THEVEHICLE TO PULL OVER AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK
WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY WOULD SQUEAK. HAD NOTICED THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & TOLD WOULD NOT REPAIR THE ROTORS DUE TO STATE USING SALT ON THE ROAD. ALSO, THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & STARTED TO LEAK A LOT OF OIL. *AK
CYLINDER HEAD WAS PITTED AND CRACKED,HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED CAN'T GET REPLACEMENT PARTS,BECAUSE OF NATIONAL BACK ORDER.MAYBE WE COULD DRIVE 250 MILES TO COLUMBIA MO. THEY MIGHT HAVE PART; HAD TO GO TO JUNK YARD FOR CYLINDAR HEAD STILL NO GASKET...NEW PARTS NOT IN PARTS BOOKS THEY HAVE UP TO 96,BUT NOT 96...AL'S MACH…
Read full complaint
CYLINDER HEAD WAS PITTED AND CRACKED,HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED CAN'T GET REPLACEMENT PARTS,BECAUSE OF NATIONAL BACK ORDER.MAYBE WE COULD DRIVE 250 MILES TO COLUMBIA MO. THEY MIGHT HAVE PART; HAD TO GO TO JUNK YARD FOR CYLINDAR HEAD STILL NO GASKET...NEW PARTS NOT IN PARTS BOOKS THEY HAVE UP TO 96,BUT NOT 96...AL'S MACHINE SHOP IN BELLEVILLE, IL. STATED THERE HAD BEEN AT LEAST 60 HEADS REPLACED IN THE AREA.CONSEQUENTLY WE HAVE A CAR THAT HASN'T BEEN IN OPERATIO SINCE OCTOBER, THIS IS 11/12/98
THE REAR BUMPER IS CRACKED AND CROOKED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
THE COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT WORK, LEAVING THE CONSUMER NOT KNOWING HOW MAUCH GAS, OR WHAT SPEED HE IS TRAVELING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *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