IllustrationTHE PIPES RUPTURED AND OIL AND WATER MIXED TOGETHER CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO COLLECT THICK BROWN MASS. CAR OVERHEATED AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO BREAK AND A LEAK OF OIL OUT OF THE BROKEN PIPE.
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 reportsCAR IS PAST WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD SPLIT THE $800-$1000 REPAIR BILL WITH ME, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THEM LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. THEY REFUSED TO DO THIS. MY MECHANIC, JEFF SOLOMON, AT THE MT HOPE SERVICE CENTER IN ROCHESTER, SAYS "THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ON 1996 NEONS"
VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN LEAKAGE. MJS
HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS
ENGINE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3 TIMES, AND NO SOLUTION FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING. THE CAR IS EXCESSIVELY LEAKING OIL AND WHEN IT IS CHECKED IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD BE $610.70 TO FIX. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO EVEN CHECK FOR RECALLS FOR ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THE AMOINT OF COMPLAINTS , THAT THERE HAS NOT B…
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THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING. THE CAR IS EXCESSIVELY LEAKING OIL AND WHEN IT IS CHECKED IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD BE $610.70 TO FIX. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO EVEN CHECK FOR RECALLS FOR ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THE AMOINT OF COMPLAINTS , THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. MY MECHANIC EVEN MADE ME A COPY OF AN ADVERTISEMENT IN MOTORAGE MAGAZINE FOR FEL-PRO THAT MENTIONS THE "TROUBLESOME AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM ON THEIR '95-'97 2.0L ENGINES. CONVENTIONAL HEAD GASKET DESIGNS CANNOT WITHSTAND THE STRESS AT THE OIL PRESSURE HOLE, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK" IF THIS QUOTE WAS A LIE I THINK CHRYSLER WOULD HAVE PULLED THE AD AND FILED A LAWSUIT. OBVIOUSLY IT IS TRUE, AND THE CONSUMERS ARE PAYING. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST CHRYSLER. I AM GOING BACK TO CHEVY.
VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. ALSO. HEARD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND COULD REMEDY PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK WAS DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NOTICED OIL LEAKING ON DRIVEWAY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED DODGE THEY SAID WE HAD TO GET INSPECTED WHICH IS $120. THEN IF IT IS THE HEAD GASKET THEY WILL ONLY PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE COST AND THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT PERCENTAGE I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT STEPS T…
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NOTICED OIL LEAKING ON DRIVEWAY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED DODGE THEY SAID WE HAD TO GET INSPECTED WHICH IS $120. THEN IF IT IS THE HEAD GASKET THEY WILL ONLY PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE COST AND THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT PERCENTAGE I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OFF. THANK YOU. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE HEAD .CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. NOR RETURN PHONE CALLS. *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