Most common 1996 Dodge Neon problems
Share of the 611 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Neon complaints by model year
Best Neon years: 2005, 2004, 1999. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
1996 Dodge Neon recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
The brake master cylinder can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
An engine wiring harness can short circuit due to contact with the exhaust gas recirculation tube..
Remedy: Dealers will reroute the engine wiring harness properly and any wire that has been damaged will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Dodge Neon:
Underhood fires
There is no summary currently available
Safety belt cinching latch plate
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.
What 1996 Dodge Neon owners say
Engine & cooling all 341 →
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 pads, shoes, rear brake drums, and two rear flex lines needed to be replaced. In addition, she stated that the vehicle stalled sporadically and without warning. She took the vehicle back to the local repair shop who diagnosed that the crankshaft sensor, wiring harness, speed sensor, coil, valve cover gaskets and timing belt all needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 17,000 and the current mileage was 32,000.
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 alternator belt as a repair. The contact was later driving 40 MPH when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the timing belt needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
Electrical system all 93 →
Dt*: the contact stated there were two problems with the vehicle. There were intermittent problems with all the electrical warning lights on the dash board and intermittent stalling. The vehicle was inspected by a friend who determined the wiring harness was too close to the exhaust and the wiring was melted. Additionally, while attempting to apply brake pressure at 60mph, the rear of the vehicle skidded. Upon inspection, the contact discovered fluid leaking from the driver side rear wheel. The vehicle was never inspected by a service dealer, however the manufacturer was alerted. There is a recall 96V026000, concerning the electrical system and a recall 96V075000, concerning the service brakes. However, the VIN is not included in the recalls.
Wiring harness burned and short circuited some fuses. The fuel pump box shorted out. Manufacturer issued a recall, but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. The service dealer found no electrical communication from the camshaft or crankshaft sensors, found engine oil in the spark plug tube holes due to a leaking valve cover gasket, found electrical wire leading to the ECM module, camshaft and crankshaft sensors fused together, caused both sensors and ECM to fail. The engine displayed a rough idle. The consumer requested reimbursement.
Brakes all 89 →
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 pads, shoes, rear brake drums, and two rear flex lines needed to be replaced. In addition, she stated that the vehicle stalled sporadically and without warning. She took the vehicle back to the local repair shop who diagnosed that the crankshaft sensor, wiring harness, speed sensor, coil, valve cover gaskets and timing belt all needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 17,000 and the current mileage was 32,000.
I own a 1996 Dodge Neon. I took my car in to have the speed sensor fixed on it due to that is the code that came up on the check engine light. After the sensor was replaced the wiring harness under the hood fried 3 feet of it. The mechanic fixed the three feet of wiring and every thing was in working order. I took my car to moses lake which is approximately 100 miles from my house upon arriving. My Neon stopped working. I had to have it towed from moses lake to altons tire shop in air way heights because I could not afford to tow it to dishman Dodge on srpauge. I have pulled up the recall information on my car and because my VIN was not included in the mass numbers it is not under warranty. I truly feel t hat it should be because the harness is fired due to the same reasons.
1996 Dodge Neon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 35 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Dodge Neon a good car?
Based on 611 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Neon rates avoid: 3.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Neon at the same age. It is one of the Neon years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Neon?
The engine & cooling — 341 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (93) and brakes (89).
How many recalls does the 1996 Dodge Neon have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Dodge Neon, the most recent from May 3, 1996 (master cylinder). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Neon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000. See the full Dodge Neon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Neon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 83,000 miles; 11% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.