1996 Dodge Neon Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Neon years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 611 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Neon. That ranks 2nd out of 11 Neon model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (340 complaints, 56%), typically at around 75,000 miles. Complaints mention 46 crashes, 5 fires, 32 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 611owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 46complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Dodge Neon problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 340 | 56% | 75,000 | “head gasket” (54%) | $1,200 |
| Electrical System problems | 93 | 15% | 92,000 | “wiring harness” (19%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 88 | 14% | 70,000 | “brakes failed” (11%) | — |
| Power Train | 47 | 8% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 44 | 7% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 37 | 6% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 24 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 23 | 4% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 17 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 2% | 78,663 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 2% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 12 | 2% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 1% | 57,063 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 1% | 97,848 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 0% | 74,561 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 0% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | 83,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Dodge Neon recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: The brake master cylinder can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: An engine wiring harness can short circuit due to contact with the exhaust gas recirculation tube..
Risk: Shorting of the wiring harness can cause various electrical malfunctions, including engine stalling.
Fix: Dealers will reroute the engine wiring harness properly and any wire that has been damaged will be replaced.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Safety belt cinching latch plate (PE02082) — opened Nov 6, 2002, closed Apr 23, 2003.
- Underhood fires (PE98012) — opened Feb 26, 1998, closed Jun 23, 1998.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My headlights are too low. Hard for me to see. Especially when going around a corner, i can't see far enough ahead. Afraid of wrecking. I tried cleaning the outside headlights thinking they may have a film on them, but it didn't help. If their are no reflective markers on the road it is very hard…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 dodge neon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who performed a tune-up however, the failure recurred three times. The dealer replaced the emission coil and…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 dodge neon. The contact was driving 25 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact had to coast to the side of the road and have the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic noticed that a faulty wiring harness was the cause of the vehicle stalling…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 dodge neon. The contact stated that all braking function was lost while driving at an unknown speed. She stated that in order to stop the vehicle she had to engage the emergency brake. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop who diagnosed that the rotors, brake…
Tl* the contact was servicing a 1996 dodge neon. The vehicle was parked out front of an independent repair shop with the engine turned on when the shifter independently shifted out of park and into reverse. The vehicle travelled approximately eight miles onto the highway at a slow speed. The…
Other Dodge Neon years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Neon | 96 | 0 |
| 2004 Neon | 94 | 0 |
| 2003 Neon | 202 | 0 |
| 2002 Neon | 173 | 0 |
| 2001 Neon | 146 | 4 |
| 2000 Neon | 337 | 5 |
| 1999 Neon | 116 | 0 |
| 1998 Neon | 339 | 1 |
| 1997 Neon | 390 | 1 |
| 1996 | 611 | 2 |
| 1995 Neon | 976 | 6 |
See all Dodge Neon problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Dodge Neon?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 340 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Dodge Neon?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Dodge Neon a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Neon model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.