IllustrationPREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPAIR IT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*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 reportsWHILE 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
HEATER WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. HEAT BLEW ONLY ON HIGH. ALSO, CONNECTOR WIRING IN DASH WAS BURNED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WIRING CONNECTOR WAS NOT AVILABLE BY MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY / INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEAT AND LOSE COOLANT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WITHIN 86,000 MILES HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWNOUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NO ONE SHOULD OWN A DODGE NEON CUTE, CHEAP, BUT A PEICE OF - - - - ! YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR . NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
RECALL 96 V 026 000/ELECTRICAL: HARNESS FRONT UNDERHOOD WIRING. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS/ GAUGES/ HORN, AND TURN SIGNAL WOULD GO OUT, AND VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATIO…
Read full complaint
RECALL 96 V 026 000/ELECTRICAL: HARNESS FRONT UNDERHOOD WIRING. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS/ GAUGES/ HORN, AND TURN SIGNAL WOULD GO OUT, AND VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AT TIMES, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CUSTOMER THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE WORN LOW, FRONT PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINER REAR PISTON SEAL ON VEHICLES WHICH MAY LEAK AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR MASTER CYLINDER RECAL…
Read full complaint
CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AT TIMES, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CUSTOMER THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE WORN LOW, FRONT PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINER REAR PISTON SEAL ON VEHICLES WHICH MAY LEAK AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR MASTER CYLINDER RECALL STATING VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, THEREFORE CUSTOMER DECLINED TO PAY FOR SERVICE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *TT
CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE.*JB
MASSIVE OIL LEAK AGAIN FROM LATEST HEAD GASKET VERSION USED ALL NEW CARS. *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