WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS NOT PROMPTED A RECALL. I PUT 3-4 QTS OF OIL IN A WEEK. CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET OT FIXED NOW. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO AFTER 27,000 MLS. I'LL NEVER BUY DODGE AGAIN. *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.
What owners actually said
611 reportsCONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH COLLISION, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I NORMALLY TAKE MY CAR TO VALVOLINE FOR OIL CHANGES. THE LAST COUPLE OF TIME I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO VALVOLINE BECAUSE THE "OIL LIGHT" ONTHE DASHBOARD WOULD START FLASHING. THE SERVICE MEN AT VALVOLINE WOULD CHECK AND USUALLY TOP OF THE OIL AND I WOULD HAVE NO MOR PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I TOOK MY C…
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I NORMALLY TAKE MY CAR TO VALVOLINE FOR OIL CHANGES. THE LAST COUPLE OF TIME I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO VALVOLINE BECAUSE THE "OIL LIGHT" ONTHE DASHBOARD WOULD START FLASHING. THE SERVICE MEN AT VALVOLINE WOULD CHECK AND USUALLY TOP OF THE OIL AND I WOULD HAVE NO MOR PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I TOOK MY CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT JUNE OR JULY OF THIS YEAR. ABOUT A WEEK, MAYBE 2 WEEKS AFTER I HAD THE OIL CHANGE, THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND HAD 2 QUARTS PUT IN. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. AGAIN, ABOUT A WEEK LATER , MY OIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER GAS STATION AND HAD MORE OIL PUT IN. I DID THIS ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY TOOK MY CAR BACK TO VALVOLINE TO CHECK. AFTER THEY CHECKED MY CAR, THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE IS A OIL LEAK BEHIND THE MOTOR. THE CAR DEALER WOULD HAVE TO FIX IT. THEY SAID IT NEEDED SOME KIND OF "BRACKET" AND THAT A LOT OF CHRYSLER/DODGE CARS THAT COME INTO THEIR STATION HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MY DEALER, ROSS PARK DODGE, EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM. THEY SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR IN SO THAT THEY CAN CHECK IT OVER. I ASKED FOR MY OWN INFORMATION, WHAT THE COST FOR REPAIR/REPLACE WOULD BE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT IT COULD COST $700 MORE/OR LESS DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE OIL LEAKAGE WAS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE CAR. I ASKED HIM WHY I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, ETC., IF THE DAMAGE WAS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE CAR? HE ASKED IF I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTEY TO WHICH I REPLIED "NO". HE SUGGESED THAT I COULD BRING THE CAR IN FOR A CHECK-UP AND TALK WITH THE SOMEONE ABOUT A 50/50 PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT. I CALLED DAIMLER/CHRYSLER TO SEE ABOUT RECALLS. THERE WERE NONE. A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW WITH NEON'S HAVE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERS FOR AN EST
THE HORN ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED IN COLD WEATHER, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FOUND BLOWN. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEONS WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURES DOING ABOUT IT AND WHAT CAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STUCK WITH THEM DO ABOUT IT?
REPLACED HEAD GASKET EVERY 6 MOS., AS COMMON PROBLEM ON NEON'S AND AT $600 A SERVICE COULD THIS BE INTENTIONAL NEGLIGENCE?
NO SUMMARY
WIRING SHORTED OUT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING A MELT DOWN OF OTHER WIRES, THIS CONDITION CAUSED SMOKE TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO WEEKS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, TOLD WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHORT OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO RUBBING OR VIBRATION CAUSING TH…
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WIRING SHORTED OUT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING A MELT DOWN OF OTHER WIRES, THIS CONDITION CAUSED SMOKE TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO WEEKS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, TOLD WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHORT OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO RUBBING OR VIBRATION CAUSING THE WIRE TO BECOME EXPOSED AND OVERHEATED, MELTING THE OTHER WIRES NEAR IT. *AK *ML
THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES NOT TO WORK. *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
Illustration