IllustrationBAD DEFECT OF HEAD GASKET SEAL AND DOOR PANEL/CONTROL PANEL. *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 HAD SKIPPING IN ENGINE AND IT WOULD JERK AS IN LOSING POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS PLUGGED TO COMPUTER, AND READING SHOWED CRANK SENSOR OR CAM SENSOR PROBLEMS. 15 MILES LATER, IT CUT SO SMOOTH THAT CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL ACCELERATING UP A HILL, IT HAD NO POWER. VEHICLE WOULD START UP…
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VEHICLE HAD SKIPPING IN ENGINE AND IT WOULD JERK AS IN LOSING POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS PLUGGED TO COMPUTER, AND READING SHOWED CRANK SENSOR OR CAM SENSOR PROBLEMS. 15 MILES LATER, IT CUT SO SMOOTH THAT CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL ACCELERATING UP A HILL, IT HAD NO POWER. VEHICLE WOULD START UP, BUT WOULDN'T KICK OVER TO RUN. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND SENSORS TO RECTIFY PROBLEM.*AK
LOSS OF OIL AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS CHECKED WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED. *JB
HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. A PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, AND STATED THAT ENGINE WAS GOING TO BE REPLACED. A CAUSE FOR THIS DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
FAULTY HEAD AND GASKET CAUSING MAJOR OIL LOSS, LEFT TURN SIGNAL TURN ON WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED. BACK UP LIGHTS DON'T WORK. *AK
CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED IN MY CASE AND CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF A NEON THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADGASKET AND THE SPEEDOMETER. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THEM.*AK
BRAKES AND HAVE REPLACED TWICE AND STILL CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE BRAKES, AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED WITHIN 5 YEARS.
WIRING HARNESS SHORT CIRCUITED DUE TO CONTACT WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE.*AK *JB
THE C/S OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED A LEAKING FRONT CAMSHAFT SEAL. THE DEALER'S REPAIR INVOICE LISTED THE PROBLEM AS "FRONT CAM SEAL FELL OUT". THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVEWAY. CAMSHAFT SEALS DON'T 'FALL OUT' OF PROPERLY DESIGNED ENGINES. THERE IS O…
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THE C/S OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED A LEAKING FRONT CAMSHAFT SEAL. THE DEALER'S REPAIR INVOICE LISTED THE PROBLEM AS "FRONT CAM SEAL FELL OUT". THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVEWAY. CAMSHAFT SEALS DON'T 'FALL OUT' OF PROPERLY DESIGNED ENGINES. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ENGINE DESIGN DEFECT HERE.
BLOWN HEAD GASKET, CAUSES OIL AND COOLANT LEAKS AND OVERHEATING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF IT WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *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