Illustration96 NEON [XXX] HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 18,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 reportsWHEN EVER IT RAINS WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE TRUNK AREA AND ALL OVER THE RUG IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE. IT LEAVES A MILDEW SMELL, AND CAUSES DOOR KNOBS TO RUST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL LEAKS FROM THE HEAD GASKET CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
1996 DODGE NEON WITH A LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. CAR IS LEAKING OIL..ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $700-$800. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IF NOT, IS THERE ANY STEPS I CAN TAKE TO …
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1996 DODGE NEON WITH A LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. CAR IS LEAKING OIL..ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $700-$800. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IF NOT, IS THERE ANY STEPS I CAN TAKE TO HAVE THIS COST PAID BY DODGE? TS
SAME ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 96V026000, BUT MY NEON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE IN MEXICO. AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE.. SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, IN…
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SAME ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 96V026000, BUT MY NEON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE IN MEXICO. AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAN SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE.. SHORTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING ENGINE STALLING.
THE VEHICLE HORN SOUNDED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING WAS TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE. TS HORN CONTINUED TO SOUND AFTER FUSE REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER HAD TO BANG ON HORN SWITCH IN ORDER TO STOP SOUND. HORN SWITCH IS PART OF AIR BAG ASSEMBLY THEREFORE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *T…
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THE VEHICLE HORN SOUNDED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING WAS TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE. TS HORN CONTINUED TO SOUND AFTER FUSE REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER HAD TO BANG ON HORN SWITCH IN ORDER TO STOP SOUND. HORN SWITCH IS PART OF AIR BAG ASSEMBLY THEREFORE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT
CONSUMER NOTICE OIL ON THEIR DRIVEWAY UNDER THEIR VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEIR IS A LEAK INTO THE HEAD GASKET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS TS
THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS, DEVELOP CRACKS OVER TIME. THESE CRACKS OBSTRUCT DRIVERS VISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER STOPPED FOR A LIGHT AND BATTERY DIED. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACED BATTERY, SAME DAY BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. TOOK TO PEP BOYS AND THEY STATED BATTERY CHECKED OUT O.K. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
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