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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

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

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

Power Train complaints

47 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2001
Power Train

WHILE IN PARKING LOT, ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, TRANSMISSION SIEZED AND THE CASING BLEW TO PIECES. PICTURES ARE ONLINE AT WWW.EROLS.COM/LANDSPEEDER FOR A LOOK-SEE. THE DIFF. PIN IS VISIBLE IN ONE PICTURE, IT'S BENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753702

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

OIL LEAK IS DUE TO A GASKET; TRANSMISSION WENT OUT(COULD NOT USE REVERSE UNTIL CAR WAS ON 20 MINUTES OR MORE), PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW, NUMEROUS SETS OF BRAKES REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #749397

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM TWICE. THE FIRST ONE WAS AT 29000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED AND OXYGENE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THEN, AT 64000 MILES THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. TALKED TO EXTENEDED WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT REALATED. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEMS…

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I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM TWICE. THE FIRST ONE WAS AT 29000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED AND OXYGENE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THEN, AT 64000 MILES THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. TALKED TO EXTENEDED WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT REALATED. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE "PECULIAR". CALLED DIAMLER-CHRYSLER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE TWO SYSTEMS WERE NOT RELATED. BUT THE PROBLEMS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME BOTH TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749284

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED VEHICLE HAD 47,000 MILES, AND THE ENGINE WAS REBUILD. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT REBUILD FOR A SECOND TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891945

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #888485

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #744950

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD MOMENTARILY SLIP BEFORE ENGAGING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RVEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886509

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2001
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY , CONSUMER CANNOT DETERMINE CORRECT SPEED ,POSSIBLY DUE TO A LOOSE CONNECTION. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886211

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2001
Power Train

MAIN SEAL WAS REPLACED BY DEALER, BUT IT NEVER STOPPED LEAKING. CONSUMER BELIEVED DEALER NEVER REPLACED SEAL, ONLY HAD VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #883653

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

VEHICLE STALLS/ SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #883401

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