IllustrationTHERE IS OIL LEAKING FROM THE DISTRIBUTER CAP AREA, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT IN A QUART OF OIL IN VEHICLE ONCE EVERY SEVEN DAYS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*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
What owners actually said
611 reportsTHIS USED VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FEW MONTHS BACK AND AFTER READING LOTS ABOUT THIS MODEL , THESE ARE THE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. NO SAFETY DEFECTS MENTIONED. *AK
3RD TIME HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. WHITE SMOKE BURNING FROM UNDER HOOD.*AK
NO SUMMARY15
PAINT TURNS CLOUDY THEN PEELS OFF. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
AT 53000 I NOTICED OIL LEAKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS WORKED ON SEVERAL NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THE FORMER NEON OWNERS TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT FIXED FOR $200 - $250, AS OPPOSED TO A MORE HEFTY CHARGE. I'M N…
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AT 53000 I NOTICED OIL LEAKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS WORKED ON SEVERAL NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THE FORMER NEON OWNERS TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT FIXED FOR $200 - $250, AS OPPOSED TO A MORE HEFTY CHARGE. I'M NOT SURE HOW A HEAD GASKET CAN MALFUNCTION ON A CAR WITH ONLY 53000 MILES......SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS STORY. ALSO, MY REAR BREAK SHOES (LINING) SUDDENLY GAVE OUT...ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THEM. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. LATELY, VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WEEKLY. TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR WIRING HARNESS/ FUEL PUMP, AND COMPUTER TWICE. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
GUAGES DIE AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING OPERATION AND ENGINE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES DURING OPERATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATER ON, CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. TRIED TO LIFT HOOD, BUT NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO CHECK. INDICATED ENGINE LEAK CAUSED FLAMES. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE A…
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WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATER ON, CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. TRIED TO LIFT HOOD, BUT NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO CHECK. INDICATED ENGINE LEAK CAUSED FLAMES. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENT.*AK *YH
AT 62,000 MILES SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT REGISTER SPEED LEVELS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*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