IllustrationDRIVER WAS DISTRACTED BY FAILED SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE AS IT WAS SWINGLING WILDLY. DISTRACTION CAUSED ACCIDENT.
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 reportsWHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 6 TIMES BETWEEN THE 21ST AND 24TH OF AUGUST 1998. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 4…
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WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 6 TIMES BETWEEN THE 21ST AND 24TH OF AUGUST 1998. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, THE VEHICLE JUST CRANKED AND NEVER STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.
WATER LEAK IN FRONT OF DRIVER'S SIDE CABIN.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REA REND COLLISION, SEAT BELT FAILED TO WOTK PROPERLY AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM2 HERNIATED DISCS. 3 YEAR DAUGHTER WA SINA CAR SEAT IN THE REAR. CAR SEAT MOVED OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS S…
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CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REA REND COLLISION, SEAT BELT FAILED TO WOTK PROPERLY AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM2 HERNIATED DISCS. 3 YEAR DAUGHTER WA SINA CAR SEAT IN THE REAR. CAR SEAT MOVED OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS STEERING COLUMN SOUNDS A SIF IT IS GOING TO POP OUT.
ENGINE BLOCK HAS BEEN LEAKING ,THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP MORE THEN SIX TIMES FOR SAME THING. *AK
HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL BLINK ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR ALSO HAS AN OIL LEAK.
THE CAMSHAFT SYSTEM BROKE, CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT A FIRE IF THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHILE CLOSING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, DOOR GLASS SHATTERED. PROBLEM OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE SECOND TIME 9-YEAR OLD SON SHUT THE DOOR AND GLASS SHATTERED. THIRDAND FOURTH TIMES WHEN DRIVER SHUT DOOR, THE GLASS SHATTERED. *AK
SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996 OWNER HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 4 NEW TIRES IN NOV 1997, BECAUSE OF FRONT END PROBLEMS - ALL 4 TIRES WERE BADLY WORN. 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, AND SEVERAL WHEEL BALANCES. FRONT BRAKE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF SQUEALING SINCE PURCHASE DATE. OIL LEAK. PROBLEMS SHIFTING TO REVERSE. REAR SEATBELT…
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SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996 OWNER HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 4 NEW TIRES IN NOV 1997, BECAUSE OF FRONT END PROBLEMS - ALL 4 TIRES WERE BADLY WORN. 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, AND SEVERAL WHEEL BALANCES. FRONT BRAKE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF SQUEALING SINCE PURCHASE DATE. OIL LEAK. PROBLEMS SHIFTING TO REVERSE. REAR SEATBELT IS LOCKED. PLUS ADDITIONAL PROBLEM.
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