IllustrationVEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH. HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*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 reportsHEAD GASKET HAS FAILED , CHRYSLER HAS REDESIGNED HEAD GASKET, BUT IS CHARGING OWNERS FOR NEWLY DESIGNED GASKET.*AK
TALKED TO MANY OTHER DODGE NEON OWNERS WITH SAME PAINT PROBLEM. THE BLUE (PERIWINKLE) PAINT CHIPS OFF.NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING NOTICED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKING INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED HEAD GASKET NEED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
VEHICLE LEAKS OIL, AND HEADGASKET IS BLOWEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CHANGED HEAD GASKET. BUT SOON AFTER HEADGASKET BLEWOUT AGAIN.*AK
BEING REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP. THEY DON'T SEEM TO THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM NATION WIDE WITH THE GASKETS. *AK
THIS WAS CONSUMERS FOURTH TIME OF HAVING HEAD GASKETS FIXED. ON 02-25-1998 HEAD GASKETS AND CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED AT 24,194 MILES; ON 04-30-1998, CYLINDER HEAD & SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AT 25,509 MILES; ON 10-5-1998, ENGINE OIL LEAKED, CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL WAS REPLACED AT 28,847MILES; AND ON 0 3-27-2001, GASKETS/ VAL…
Read full complaint
THIS WAS CONSUMERS FOURTH TIME OF HAVING HEAD GASKETS FIXED. ON 02-25-1998 HEAD GASKETS AND CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED AT 24,194 MILES; ON 04-30-1998, CYLINDER HEAD & SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AT 25,509 MILES; ON 10-5-1998, ENGINE OIL LEAKED, CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL WAS REPLACED AT 28,847MILES; AND ON 0 3-27-2001, GASKETS/ VALVE COVER, AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 48,800 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET TO BOTTOM OF PROBLEM, AND FIND OUT WHY THIS KEPT HAPPENING. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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