IllustrationIN FRONT COLLISION AT 35 MPH SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. DRIVER SUFFERED A SPRAINED SHOULDER AND KNEE INJURY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *YH
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
Seat Belts complaints
10 reportsBOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS HAVE COME UNBOLTED AND FALLEN TO THE "FLOOR" TWICE ON EACH SIDE. THE WINDOW ON THE PASSANGER SIDE HAS SCRATCHES IN THE ACTUAL GLASS. THIS IS CAUSED BY SOMETHING INSIDE THE DOOR. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER NEONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH COLLISION, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REA REND COLLISION, SEAT BELT FAILED TO WOTK PROPERLY AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM2 HERNIATED DISCS. 3 YEAR DAUGHTER WA SINA CAR SEAT IN THE REAR. CAR SEAT MOVED OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS S…
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CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REA REND COLLISION, SEAT BELT FAILED TO WOTK PROPERLY AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM2 HERNIATED DISCS. 3 YEAR DAUGHTER WA SINA CAR SEAT IN THE REAR. CAR SEAT MOVED OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS STEERING COLUMN SOUNDS A SIF IT IS GOING TO POP OUT.
THE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DRIVER, WHILE TURNING THE LEFT SIGNAL, TO HOLD DOWN THE SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO WORK. WHEN OPERATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IT WON'T GO BACK TO ITS POSITION, BUT CONSUMER HAS TO MANUALLY RETURN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO PROPER POSITION. ALSO THE DRIVE…
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THE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DRIVER, WHILE TURNING THE LEFT SIGNAL, TO HOLD DOWN THE SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO WORK. WHEN OPERATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IT WON'T GO BACK TO ITS POSITION, BUT CONSUMER HAS TO MANUALLY RETURN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO PROPER POSITION. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT ADJUSTER STAYS IN ONE POSITION, CAUSING THE ADJUSTER NOT TO WORK IN THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS. WILL BE TAKING TO THE DEALER. *AK
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 20 TO 25MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE. *AK
THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIGHTENS FOR NO APPARENT REASON DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVNG VEHICLE AT 40MPH, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO LAP/SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT. *AK
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT COLLAPSED, CAUSING HIM TO FALL BACK AND RECEIVED A COMPRESSED DISC IN LOWER SPINE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT HIS CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. TA
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