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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 →
611Owner complaints

Model-year median: 173

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19939
1994976
1995611
1996390
1997339
1998116
1999
Compare all Neon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
340Electrical System
93Service Brakes, Hydraulic
88Power Train
47Air Bags
44
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
37Steering
24Structure
23Visibility
17Vehicle Speed Control
16Exterior Lighting
15Fuel System, Gasoline
14Equipment
12Seat Belts
10Suspension
7Fuel System, Other
6Seats
6Tires
4Interior Lighting
3Engine
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Air
1Wheels
1

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 reports
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94,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

RECENTLY (IN OCTOBER), THE CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAPPENS IN LOW SPEED AND WHEN I DON'T ADD OIL. THERE IS A OIL WARNING TOGETHER WITH THE STALLING. USUALLY I CAN NOT START THE CAR RIGHT THEN. BUT IF I ADD OIL IMMEDIATELY AND KEEP ADDING OIL WHEN I TURN ON THE KEY, I CAN TURN ON THE CAR. WHEN I RELEASE THE OIL PRESS, THE EN…

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RECENTLY (IN OCTOBER), THE CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAPPENS IN LOW SPEED AND WHEN I DON'T ADD OIL. THERE IS A OIL WARNING TOGETHER WITH THE STALLING. USUALLY I CAN NOT START THE CAR RIGHT THEN. BUT IF I ADD OIL IMMEDIATELY AND KEEP ADDING OIL WHEN I TURN ON THE KEY, I CAN TURN ON THE CAR. WHEN I RELEASE THE OIL PRESS, THE ENGINE STALLS AGAIN. I TRIED TWICE IN THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER. THEY CAN NOT FIX IT AND CAN NOT FIND THE REAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10071098

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

REPLACED HEAD GASKET IN 2000 AND NOW NEED TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET AGAIN IN 2003.

NHTSA ODI #10037296

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, TELLING THE DRIVER TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030114

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019717

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWERSTEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10018173

80,000 miles · Apr 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016045

88,000 miles · Mar 13, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

MY 1996 DODGE NEON HAD TWO HEAD GASKET FAILURES TO DATE NOW. THE FIRST WAS REPAIRED 29,000 MILES AGO, AND NOW, AT 89,000 MILES, I HAD ANOTHER HEAD GASKET FAIL ON ME. THE CAR IS ALSO PEELING PAINT EXCESSIVELY. INSTEAD OF UNDER TEN YEARS OLD, THE CAR LOOKS OVER TWENTY YEARS OLD! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010376

30,320 miles · Feb 27, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAKED FROM FAILED HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, EXHAUST LEAK FROM HEAD OR MANIFOLD. SPEEDOMETER DIAL STOP WORKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 30000 MILES ON IT. MY REPAIR MAN WANTS $500.00 JUST TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO SEE IF IT IS THE GASKET OR A CRACKED HEAD, AND THATS JUST THE LABOR AND NOT INCLUDING PARTS. THIS IS A SAFTY PROBLE…

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OIL LEAKED FROM FAILED HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, EXHAUST LEAK FROM HEAD OR MANIFOLD. SPEEDOMETER DIAL STOP WORKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 30000 MILES ON IT. MY REPAIR MAN WANTS $500.00 JUST TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO SEE IF IT IS THE GASKET OR A CRACKED HEAD, AND THATS JUST THE LABOR AND NOT INCLUDING PARTS. THIS IS A SAFTY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR A RECALL. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS OR LIVES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE NHTSA TAKES ACTION AGANIST THIS CAR MANUFACTURING COMPANY? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008229

63,238 miles · Feb 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL SENDING UNIT ON 1996 DODGE NEON - FLAWED PART CAUSING SEVERE OIL LEAK, BLOWING HEAD GASKET

NHTSA ODI #10005617

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE NEON. THIS CAR IS A COMPLETE LEMON,MY ENGINE SEALENT HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 2 YEARS,IM AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE SEALENT.

NHTSA ODI #10004990

Official recalls

2

96V075000 · 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

2

PE02082 · 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