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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

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2Investigations

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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

Tires complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
97,848 miles · Jun 7, 2008
Tires

MY CAR WAS DRIVING VERY SHAKY AND THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS LASTED APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS BEFORE MY FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW UP IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENCE WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT FRAME TO POP OUT. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE SUPREME SI P185-65R14 M+S. I ALSO HAVE A RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE SAME TIRE BRAND AND M…

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MY CAR WAS DRIVING VERY SHAKY AND THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS LASTED APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS BEFORE MY FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW UP IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENCE WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT FRAME TO POP OUT. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE SUPREME SI P185-65R14 M+S. I ALSO HAVE A RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE SAME TIRE BRAND AND MODEL THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT TREAD WEAR, WHICH CAUSES ME GREAT CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230220

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingTiresUnknown Or Other

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IN THE FRONT....HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL BADLY...EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION, (180 MILES TO A 12 GALLON TANK) DASHBOARD CLUSTER (ALL GUAGES INCLUDING, SPEEDODMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL AND TEMP GUAGES) DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW...WAS SHORTING OUT AND COMING ON FROM TIME TO TIME BUT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL N…

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EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IN THE FRONT....HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL BADLY...EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION, (180 MILES TO A 12 GALLON TANK) DASHBOARD CLUSTER (ALL GUAGES INCLUDING, SPEEDODMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL AND TEMP GUAGES) DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW...WAS SHORTING OUT AND COMING ON FROM TIME TO TIME BUT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW....( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P165/80R13 )

NHTSA ODI #713355

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineTires

INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASH GAUGES) HAS A SHORT AND DOES NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL &TEMP GAUGES. ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND IS LEAKING OIL BADLY, AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR... CAR IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION... GOES ABOUT 180 MILES TO A FULL 12 GALLON TANK OF…

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INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASH GAUGES) HAS A SHORT AND DOES NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND FUEL &TEMP GAUGES. ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND IS LEAKING OIL BADLY, AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR... CAR IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION... GOES ABOUT 180 MILES TO A FULL 12 GALLON TANK OF GAS...IT PASSES EVERYTHING BUT A GAS STATION... A TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP (RAGLAND DODGE, ANGLETON TEXAS) TOLD ME THAT THESE ARE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE NEON...( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 165/80R/13 )

NHTSA ODI #713352

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

FRONT BRAKES FAILED TWICE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #514676

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