IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *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 MAKING A LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING VERY SLOWY, CAR CONTINUED TO GO STRIAGHT, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO HIT CURB. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING SPINDLE AND KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERS. *AK
TOOK VEHICLE TO A NEIGHBOR WHO IS MECHANIC, AND TOLD HER THAT THE PART THAT BROKE WAS A BOLT THAT WAS PART OF THE ENGINE MOUNT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TURNED OFF A SIDE ROAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE TIRES WERE FINE. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK IT TO A NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MECHANIC, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE PART THAT BROKE WAS AN ENGINE M…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TURNED OFF A SIDE ROAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE TIRES WERE FINE. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK IT TO A NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MECHANIC, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE PART THAT BROKE WAS AN ENGINE MOUNT BOLT. *AK
WHILE DRIVNING ON THE HIGHWAY, TURNED OFF ON SIDE ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO CHECK TIRES, AND TIRES WERE FINE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
HEAD GASKET CONTINUALLY FAILS CAUSING LEAKAGE. MJS
ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS ON OCCASSION, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1996 DODGE NEON BUT FOR VEHICLES MADE BETWEEN JANUARY 1995 AND NOVEMBER 1995, MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN NOVEMBER 1995. MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BUT I'M TOLD IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE IT WAS MADE DURING NOVEMBER 1995. WOULD LIKE RE…
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ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS ON OCCASSION, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1996 DODGE NEON BUT FOR VEHICLES MADE BETWEEN JANUARY 1995 AND NOVEMBER 1995, MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN NOVEMBER 1995. MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BUT I'M TOLD IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE IT WAS MADE DURING NOVEMBER 1995. WOULD LIKE RECALL DATES RE-EXAMINED SINCE IT APPEARS TO ME MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL.
WHENEVER DRIVINGS VEHICLE UNDER WET CONDITIONS THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING, WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, IT DOESN'T RETURN AS IT SHOULD. AFTER DRYING IT WILL BEGIN WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER; COST TOTALED APPROX. $1,500; CONTACTED CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY COVERED PARTS; ENDED UP PAYING APPROX. $400. SHOULD BE RECALLED -- OUTRAGEOUS VIEWING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME THING.
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