IllustrationREPLACED HEAD GASKET IN 2000 AND NOW NEED TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET AGAIN IN 2003.
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, TELLING THE DRIVER TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK
SERIOUS GAS LEAK FROM END OF FUEL MODULE WHERE GAS SEAL HAS WORN AWAY AND LEAKED OUT TOO MUCH GAS. DAIMLERCHRYLSER WILL NOT DO A RECALL.*AK
THE PAINT PEELED OFF THE ENTIRE ROOF IN A PERIOD OF ONE OR TWO DAYS. THE WEATHER WAS FAIR AND THE CAR WAS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY SUBSTANCES THAT MIGHT BE DAMAGING TO THE PAINT. NOW THE SIDES OF THE CAR ARE BEGINNING TO PEEL AS WELL (7/2003). I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER NEON'S OF THE SAME COLOR (BRIGHT PURPLE-BLUE) WITH PAINT PEELING O…
Read full complaint
THE PAINT PEELED OFF THE ENTIRE ROOF IN A PERIOD OF ONE OR TWO DAYS. THE WEATHER WAS FAIR AND THE CAR WAS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY SUBSTANCES THAT MIGHT BE DAMAGING TO THE PAINT. NOW THE SIDES OF THE CAR ARE BEGINNING TO PEEL AS WELL (7/2003). I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER NEON'S OF THE SAME COLOR (BRIGHT PURPLE-BLUE) WITH PAINT PEELING OFF IN HUGE CHUNKS.*AK
OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. *NLM
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, WHEN DRIVING MY 1996 DODGE NEON, THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER DO NOT WORK. THE SPEEDOMETER USUALLY STAYS AT ZERO, HOWEVER, IT SOMETIMES FLUCTUATES BETWEEN ZERO AND FIFTEEN MPH EVEN WHEN TRAVELING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC BETWEEN 40-55 MPH. *JB
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWERSTEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL. *JB
THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION, THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS INSPECTED AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE ADEQUATE. *JB
THE CONSUMER NOTICED PAINT PEELING OFF OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE AND SAW A FEW OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME COLOR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MR SCC *NLM
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