Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Dodge Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
There was an electrical fire in my steering wheel column caused by the wiring I had my 3 week old son in the car and had to call the fire department to get it out I have not found out yet how badly the vehicle has been damaged.
1)instrument gauges work sporadically: speedometer fails most not reporting any speed, or sticking at last location. Tachometer fails same way, and on occasion all gauges stick at current position. 2) exterior brake lights: brakes lights remain on/do not shut off while driving and even after car has been shut off completly. I've found them still on after several hours (no other lights on) 3) left turn signal: from time to time when you hit the brakes the left turn signal switches on. 4) car stereo: stereo/tape player stopped working. Clock does not come on, nothing. It does light up with interior lights but does not work at all. 5) was rear-ended in mva and airbags did not deploy.
Smoke is coming from steering column due to parts of ignition switch and dash wiring harness melting. Mileage 123000. The dealer informed consumer that the ignition switch shorted the brake warning light ground wire. The wire is located between the ignition switch and the instrument cluster. The smoke emitted once the key was turned in the ignition. There was an investigation concerning steering column fires pe97-007, but the defect was in the malfuction switch and not the ignition. The switch was set in the intermediate position instead of the run position. Consumer thinks this May have been related.
Parked car in a parking lot. Turned car off. Lights were off. Went inside and 30 minutes later someone said, "your car is on fire." went outside and found the car engulfed in flames. Fire department came and put the fire out. Witnesses said that the fire was coming from the dash area on the drivers side. Insurance company totaled the car. Reported it to Dodge. They sent an inspector who took a few minutes to inspect and a few pictures. Receive letter from Dodge stating that, "fires can and do occur and we are not at fault."
Fuel pump (20a) fuse randomly blows. 30a fuses used and also randomly blow causing vehicle to stall. No indication of problem with fuel pump itself. O2 sensor and EGR valve has been replaced. Mechanics have been unable to isolate the cause but have found different variations of circuit/wiring diagrams for this '95 Neon sport model vehicle. Mechanics have also received varying advice from Dodge dealerships on the cause and remedy. Result is safety hazard to vehicle driver and occupants if the system fails in traffic.
While driving at 35 MPH smelled smoke, and then saw the fire within the steering column. Consumer pulled over, and the fire department came out and put out the fire. Also, brakes operate intermittently, and there is a loud noise coming from the brakes. Brakes fail to operate properly especially on wet days. Brakes supposedly repaired under recall, now they are worse than before.
When operated turn signal to turn right smoke started coming from left side of steering column. Smoke stopped when turn signal returned to neutral. Will be taking to pompey Dodge in kingston, pa for repairs. I am fearful of operating the vehicle for a long period of time for fear of a fire. I can be contacted at my work number [phone]) from 8:00 to 4:00).utral.
Consumer was smelling rubber burning. Dealer replaced a sensor, 2-3 days later vehicle would skip. Mechanic changed the spark plugs, and noticed the spark plug wires laying against the motor and were melting because there was nothing there to support the wires. There is an open investigation at this time of underhood fires, id#ie-98-006.
After turning ignition switch to the off position, steering column started smoking and caught on fire, consumer had to disconnect battery for fire to go out. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, dealer told that short crcuit was caused by something other than recalled part (coupler) but they do not know .
Smoke poured out from steeringcolumn, dealership said wiring under dash were burned. Dealer replace harness. Air conditioner did not work after the fire, vehicle has been repaired four times for both problems. Also vehicle surged forward whenever foot was taken off the brakes.
NHTSA investigations
Underhood fires
There is no summary currently available
Alleged fires in steering column area
The apparent cause of the problem is the accumulation of brass powder, that wears off the electrical contacts inside the turn signal switch.this powder collects in small trails of grease that track from one contact to another.when the concentration of brass in the grease gets high enough, it can cause a high resistance short.this short, in turn can ignite the grease and cause smoke to be emitted from the steering…
Electrical complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1995 Dodge Neon?
NHTSA has 98 complaints about the electrical system of the 1995 Dodge Neon, 10% of the model year's 976 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Dodge Neon electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1995 Dodge Neon, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Dodge Neon electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 24 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.