IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*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
Air Bags complaints
44 reportsWAS DRIVING 35MPH WHEN A TRUCK RAN STOP SIGN. NEON "T" BONED TRUCK. FRONT END LIFTED UP. FRONT END OF DRIVER'S SIDE WAS CRUSHED. DOOR WAS BENT OUTWARD. UPON IMPACT WITH TRUCK, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME INJURIES ,BUT NO HOSPITAL TREATMENT. *AK
DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HIT COW ON THE HIGHWAY HEAD-ON, HITTING WHINDSHIELD AND ROLLED OVER, SMASHING REAR WINDOWS. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK
IT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE EACH PROBLEM. ALL PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE COMPLETELY TRUE. I CAN SAY WITH COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AFTER THE 75000 MILE WARANTY I BOUGHT WAS OVER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EGR VALVE WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED JUST TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. ALSO THE DEALER REP…
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IT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE EACH PROBLEM. ALL PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE COMPLETELY TRUE. I CAN SAY WITH COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AFTER THE 75000 MILE WARANTY I BOUGHT WAS OVER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EGR VALVE WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED JUST TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. ALSO THE DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR WHICH AGAIN IS FAILING AGAIN. THE HORN/AIRBAG SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL REPAIRES BY THE DEALER WAS (A) BEFORE THE WARANTY HAD EXPIRED, AND (B) I HAD TO CALL CHRYSLER AND COMPLAIN JUST TO HAVE THOSE THINGS FIXED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SO I KNOW THESE PROBLEMS TO EXIST. THE DEALER, INSTEAD OF FIXING MY CAR, WHICH THEY WON'T DO, THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I COULD NOT BE MORE DISSATISFIED WITH A "NEW CAR" THAN WE ARE WITH THIS ONE. BELIEVE ME, IF WE WERE TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS CAR'S TRACK RECORD, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT. I GUESS THATS ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU.R *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P1856014 )
AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND RAN IT OFF THE ROAD INTO SHOULDER. CONSUMER HIT THE MEDIAN RAIL. NO INJURIES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH COLLISION, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS, BLOWING OUT THE WINDOWS OF VEHICLE. ALSO INJURING CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
HEAVY COLLISION DAMAGE TO RIGHTT FRONT. DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, RT SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCIDENT WAS HEAVY IMPACT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED 2/2/99, SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH ME 2/3. AS OF 2/3 5:00 PM THEY ARE IGNORING THE CLAIM. I AM A BODY SHOP MANAGER AND AM REPORTING THIS AS A FAVOR TO THE OWNER. VEHICLE IS CU…
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HEAVY COLLISION DAMAGE TO RIGHTT FRONT. DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, RT SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCIDENT WAS HEAVY IMPACT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED 2/2/99, SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH ME 2/3. AS OF 2/3 5:00 PM THEY ARE IGNORING THE CLAIM. I AM A BODY SHOP MANAGER AND AM REPORTING THIS AS A FAVOR TO THE OWNER. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE TOWED TO A SALVAGE VEHICLE SALE LOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE A.S.A.P. *AK
THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON WET PAVEMENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD CROSSED CENTER LINE & BRAKES WERE APPLIED QUICKLY. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES. HAS POLICE REPORT. *AK
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL BLINK ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR ALSO HAS AN OIL LEAK.
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