IllustrationHEAD GASKET FAILED AT 50K MILES. *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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
340 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKAGES FROM SIDE OF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED OF A HEAH GASKET FAILURE ON THE 2.0L ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAIL…
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VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKAGES FROM SIDE OF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED OF A HEAH GASKET FAILURE ON THE 2.0L ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.
CONSUMER HAD FOUND ENGINE LEAKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, AND HE SAID THAT HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM.*AK
REPLACED HEAD GASKET 3 TIMES AND STILL LEAKS. APPARENTLY I'M SCREWED. I WON'T BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER CAR SINCE THEY DON'T BACK THEIR PRODUCTS. *AK
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWNOUT, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE-----THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM---MY LOCAL MIDUS REPLACED THIS GASKET THE FIRST TIME. BUT NOW IT IS GONE AGAIN. IT SURE LOOKS LIKE A RECALL IS IN ORDER!!!!*AK
VALVE COVER GASKETS HAVE FAILED TWICE SINCE 1998 AND CURRENTLY NEEDING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED JUST AFTER WARRANTY TERM. DODGE KNOWS OF OIL LEAK PROBLEMS AND HAVE MADE NO EFFORTS TO RECTIFY.
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, WITH A COLD ENGINE RADIATOR CAP OFF FLUID WILL BE FORCED OUT LIKE OLD FAITHFUL. OIL LEAKING FROM BACK OF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I FOUND OUT THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE CAR PROBLEM. I HAVE 14 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE 15 SERVICE BULLETINS REPORTING THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS IT SHOU…
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THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, WITH A COLD ENGINE RADIATOR CAP OFF FLUID WILL BE FORCED OUT LIKE OLD FAITHFUL. OIL LEAKING FROM BACK OF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I FOUND OUT THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE CAR PROBLEM. I HAVE 14 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE 15 SERVICE BULLETINS REPORTING THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. PLUS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR ENGINEERING FAULTS.
VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL AT ENGINE BLOCK, HAD TO REPLACE 2 HEAD GASKETS. PROBLEM HAS COME BACK, AND MAY HAVE TO REPLACE A THIRD HEAD GASKET. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING A TERRIBLE OIL LEAK AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. *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