IllustrationNO SUMMARY PROVIDED
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 reportsIN SEVERIAL NEON'S THERE HAS BEEN WATER DAMAGE DUE TO IMPROPERLY SEALED TRUNKS AND REAR LIGHTS. WATER COMES IN. SETTLES IN TIRE WELL, THEN SEEPS INTO BACK SEAT AND ONTO FLOOR. TO GET THIS FIXED $720. IN COST. THE BACK AREA FILLS UP WITH WATER. THE RUGS MILDEW AS WELL AS THE REAR SEAT. THE BOLTS ON DRIVERS SEAT RUSTED IN S…
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IN SEVERIAL NEON'S THERE HAS BEEN WATER DAMAGE DUE TO IMPROPERLY SEALED TRUNKS AND REAR LIGHTS. WATER COMES IN. SETTLES IN TIRE WELL, THEN SEEPS INTO BACK SEAT AND ONTO FLOOR. TO GET THIS FIXED $720. IN COST. THE BACK AREA FILLS UP WITH WATER. THE RUGS MILDEW AS WELL AS THE REAR SEAT. THE BOLTS ON DRIVERS SEAT RUSTED IN SHORT TIME.
BOTH 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.
SEVERE OIL LEAK; THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEONS BUT DODGE REFUSES TO FIX. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO CAR ACCIDENT. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED. *AK
THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE…
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THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE FROM A METAL THAT RUSTS VERY QUICKLY AND THE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAULTY AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION?? IS 4 TOO MANY FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 50+THOUSAND MILES?? HELP!!!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 1857014 )
I HAVE CONTACTED YOUR AGENCY ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS WITH NO REPLY OR RESULTS. JUST BY BROWSING THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER NEON OWNERS, IT IS OBVIOUS THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS. IF YOU CANNOT INTERVENE ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS, THEN WHY WASTE OUR TIME. WE MAY AS WELL JUST PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF LAWYERS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE…
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I HAVE CONTACTED YOUR AGENCY ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS WITH NO REPLY OR RESULTS. JUST BY BROWSING THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER NEON OWNERS, IT IS OBVIOUS THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS. IF YOU CANNOT INTERVENE ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS, THEN WHY WASTE OUR TIME. WE MAY AS WELL JUST PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF LAWYERS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
OIL LEAKS, RADITOR SMOKING.
EVERY TIME IT RAINS, WATER COMES IN THROUGH THE AREA WHERE THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR MEETS WITH THE BODY OF THE CAR, CAUSING RAIN TO POOL ON THE FLOOR OF THE BACK SEAT AND THEN THE SEAT GETS WET AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT ALSO. I HAVE MADE SURE THAT WINDOW AND DOOR ARE SECURELY CLOSED. I CAN SEE NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR THE RAIN TO BE …
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EVERY TIME IT RAINS, WATER COMES IN THROUGH THE AREA WHERE THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR MEETS WITH THE BODY OF THE CAR, CAUSING RAIN TO POOL ON THE FLOOR OF THE BACK SEAT AND THEN THE SEAT GETS WET AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT ALSO. I HAVE MADE SURE THAT WINDOW AND DOOR ARE SECURELY CLOSED. I CAN SEE NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR THE RAIN TO BE GETTING INTO THE CAR. IT ONLY DOES IT ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WAYS TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION AND I WOLD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. NOW THE CARPET AND SEAT SMELLS MUSY AND I CAN'T LET MY CHILDREN RIDE IN THE CAR. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION BY MANY NEON AND STRATUS OWNERS, WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? *AK
THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED NOW,THE HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT, I'M TIRED OF OIL FLOWING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, ALL OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH WILL CAUSE A FIRE,, PLEASE HELP. *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