IllustrationCIRCUIT BOARD WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO TOGGLE. RECALL 96V026000 HAS BEEN ISSUED; HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*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
Electrical System complaints
93 reportsSPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TRIP METER, GAS AND TEMP GAUGES WILL ALL STOP WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY'LL ALL WORK, SOMETIMES THEY'LL ALL QUIT. THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND TRIPMETER WILL ALL GO OUT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AFTER IT'S BEEN RUNNING ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE GAS AND TEMP GAUGES WILL GO OUT OCCASIONALLY.
THIS CAR IS JUNK, THE HEAD GASKETS, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, ELECTRICAL, EVERYTHING IS BAD. IF YOU CALL THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY ACT LIKE ITS A RARE INCIDENT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THIS IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE HELP SQUEEZE THIS LEMON! *AK
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 7599. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT A NEW ENGINE HARNESS IS REQUIRED. *AK
HEAD GASKET WARPED DIAGNOSED AT DEALER WHEN WAS HAVING ANOTHER REPAIR, WIRING HARNESS SHORT CAUSED SMOKE TO FILL CAR WHILE DRIVING HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER.
THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE…
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THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE FROM A METAL THAT RUSTS VERY QUICKLY AND THE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAULTY AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION?? IS 4 TOO MANY FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 50+THOUSAND MILES?? HELP!!!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 1857014 )
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 )
THE VEHICLE STARTS AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
IN COLD WEATHER CONDITITIONS HORN GOES OFF AND SOUNDS UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PARTS OF BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER RAPIDLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODYSHOP, WHERE THE HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE LAYING ON THE TOP OF EXHAUST TUBE, WHICH MELTED THE WIRES AND SHORTED OUT VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.…
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WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER RAPIDLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODYSHOP, WHERE THE HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE LAYING ON THE TOP OF EXHAUST TUBE, WHICH MELTED THE WIRES AND SHORTED OUT VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V026000 CHRYSLER/ELECT. WRING: HARNESS: FRONT UNDERHOOD. DUE TO VIN. *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