Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
In August of 1999, due to a health problem (unknown to me), I fell asleep at the wheel of my 1996 Neon. I awoke in time to force the car over to a grassy median between two parts of a four lane highway. The car flew twenty or so feet in the air, making impact with the grass, and continuing without power steering, etc., for approximately. 300 feet. While in the air, my left arm broke the driver side window. When the car landed dead on to the grass, the air bags burst, but "wilted" down, they did not come straight out at me as normal, but down, after exploding. My mechanic informed me that this was not normal for a car in this kind of accident, and that the car May have been in a prior accident, or the air bags May have been improperly installed. I received chemical burns on the inner parts of the arms, and developed a lung problem due to the inhaled chemicals. …
Heavy collision damage to rightt front. Driver side airbag deployed, rt side airbag did not deploy. Accident was heavy impact. Manufacturer contacted 2/2/99, said they would get back with me 2/3. As of 2/3 5:00 pm they are ignoring the claim. I am a body shop manager and am reporting this as a favor to the owner. Vehicle is currently waiting to be towed to a salvage vehicle sale lot. Please investigate a.s.a.p.
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.
Consumer was driving approx. 60 MPH when vehicle in front of her slowed down, allowing vehicle a to crash front end into the other vehicle's rear end. Consumer's air bag did not deploy, driver hit the steering wheel with her upper body. Consumer was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
The ABS brakes locked up while traveling approximately 30mph on wet pavement. Another vehicle had crossed center line & brakes were applied quickly. The other vehicle was broadsided. At the time of impact, the air bags did not deploy. No injuries. Has police report.
Was driving 35mph when a truck ran stop sign. Neon "t" boned truck. Front end lifted up. Front end of driver's side was crushed. Door was bent outward. Upon impact with truck, neither air bags deployed. Driver suffered some injuries ,but no hospital treatment.
While going (25) MPH on slick road conditions, when applying the brakes, the vehicle went off the road, went into a ditch, hitting a tree head-on and there was no deployment of the air bags. Insurance adjustor is looking at vehicle.
Driving 55-60mph on highway; was cut off by another vehicle; Neon hit retainer wall due to failure of brakes. Upon impact with wall, air bags did not deploy. Was at dealer prior to accident several times about brakes.
Driver was driving at approximately 40 MPH hit cow on the highway head-on, hitting whindshield and rolled over, smashing rear windows. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy which could have caused injuries.
Owner has ABS brakes. When brakes were applied pedal went to the floor of vehicle, resulting in an accident. Also driver's and passenger's side airbags did not deploy. Cause unknown at 15 to 20 MPH crash.
Airbag complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Dodge Neon?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Dodge Neon, 7% of the model year's 611 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (37 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Neon airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Dodge Neon, though it has 2 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 1996 Dodge Neon airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 32 crashes, 1 fire and 22 injuries to air bags 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.