IllustrationHEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN OIL LEAKING.
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 reportsBRAKE PROBLEM; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL IS EQUAL TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS ON REGULAR ROAD CONDTIONS, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE CONDITION, ATTEMPTED TO FIX 6 TIMES. CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCES RANDOM BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF PADS AND SHOES, WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE NOT TO STOP PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER INFOMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. THIS INCIDENT IS ONE OF THE FACTORS WHICH CAUSES A VEHICLE TO BE TOT…
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CONSUMER EXPERIENCES RANDOM BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF PADS AND SHOES, WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE NOT TO STOP PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER INFOMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. THIS INCIDENT IS ONE OF THE FACTORS WHICH CAUSES A VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED DURING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES VEHICLE ABOUT 20 MPH AND STEPS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, THE BRAKES START MAKING NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. SOMETIMES SHE LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE VEHICLE IT IS PULLING TO THE LEFT SIDE. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRED THE BRAKES BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
E98012; DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET HAD A LEAK, CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK, RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BROKE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS.
THE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DRIVER, WHILE TURNING THE LEFT SIGNAL, TO HOLD DOWN THE SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO WORK. WHEN OPERATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IT WON'T GO BACK TO ITS POSITION, BUT CONSUMER HAS TO MANUALLY RETURN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO PROPER POSITION. ALSO THE DRIVE…
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THE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DRIVER, WHILE TURNING THE LEFT SIGNAL, TO HOLD DOWN THE SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO WORK. WHEN OPERATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IT WON'T GO BACK TO ITS POSITION, BUT CONSUMER HAS TO MANUALLY RETURN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO PROPER POSITION. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT ADJUSTER STAYS IN ONE POSITION, CAUSING THE ADJUSTER NOT TO WORK IN THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS. WILL BE TAKING TO THE DEALER. *AK
THE DEFECTIVE RIGHT BRAKE CALIPER "STICKING, " CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO WEAR OUT AND VEHICLE TO SWAY TO RIGHT SIDE. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE GROUND. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
CRACKED ENGINE HEAD GASKET.
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