Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
CAR WILL NOT "TURN-OVER" TO START ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN KEY IS ABSENT. WONDERING IF THE 2 MALFUCTIONS ARE RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER!!! PLEASE CONTACT OR E-MAIL ME TO LET ME KNOW THIS FORM WAS RESPONDED TO, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
WE HAVE REPLACED HEAD GASKET TWICE AND ONE WAS W/ THERE REDESIGNED HEAD GASKET. NOW IT IS STARTING TO GO OUT FOR A THIRD TIME. AT 500 DOLLARS A REPAIR THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY. I DO REGUALARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENCE AND SERVICES AND MOST OF MY MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPEIRENCING HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE NEONS AND FOR SOMEONE WHO GETS A LOAN (THAT HE CAN BARLY AFFORD) FOR A NEON, SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET REPAIRS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURES DEFAULT. THE DEALER SHIP THAT REPAIRED MY HEAD GASKET (BOTH OF THEM, THEY REPLACED THEM TWICE) HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE NEONS DO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL HEAD GASKETS. I'M REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THIS. I'M MEAN REALLY, WHAT KIND OF NEW CAR NEEDS THREE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED IN TWO YEARS. I'LL NEVER BY ANOTHER NEON AGAIN, AND I'M NOT RECOMMENDING THEM TO ANYONE EITHER. THANKS... JEREMY
VEHICLE STALLS AND VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE SEALS MALFUNCTIONED IN REAR GASKET TWICE, AND IN HEAD GASKET TWICE WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A REGULAR STOPPING SITUATION, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. DRIVER USED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS BRAKES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *AK
THE NEONS' HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER NEON OWNERS AND MOST HAVE REPLACED A HEAD GASKET ALSO. ALSO, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, I HAVE A PRINTED BILL FROM THE DEALER THAT STATED THE JOB TOTAL WAS $436. NOW THE SAME DEALER SAME CAR SAME PROBLEM IS TELLING ME IT WILL BE OVER $1000 AND THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY????? *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. *AK
CAR IS PAST WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD SPLIT THE $800-$1000 REPAIR BILL WITH ME, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THEM LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. THEY REFUSED TO DO THIS. MY MECHANIC, JEFF SOLOMON, AT THE MT HOPE SERVICE CENTER IN ROCHESTER, SAYS "THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ON 1996 NEONS"
THE PIPES RUPTURED AND OIL AND WATER MIXED TOGETHER CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO COLLECT THICK BROWN MASS. CAR OVERHEATED AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO BREAK AND A LEAK OF OIL OUT OF THE BROKEN PIPE.
NO SUMMARY
HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS
VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN LEAKAGE. MJS
ENGINE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3 TIMES, AND NO SOLUTION FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING. THE CAR IS EXCESSIVELY LEAKING OIL AND WHEN IT IS CHECKED IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD BE $610.70 TO FIX. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO EVEN CHECK FOR RECALLS FOR ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THE AMOINT OF COMPLAINTS , THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. MY MECHANIC EVEN MADE ME A COPY OF AN ADVERTISEMENT IN MOTORAGE MAGAZINE FOR FEL-PRO THAT MENTIONS THE "TROUBLESOME AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM ON THEIR '95-'97 2.0L ENGINES. CONVENTIONAL HEAD GASKET DESIGNS CANNOT WITHSTAND THE STRESS AT THE OIL PRESSURE HOLE, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK" IF THIS QUOTE WAS A LIE I THINK CHRYSLER WOULD HAVE PULLED THE AD AND FILED A LAWSUIT. OBVIOUSLY IT IS TRUE, AND THE CONSUMERS ARE PAYING. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST CHRYSLER. I AM GOING BACK TO CHEVY.
VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. ALSO. HEARD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND COULD REMEDY PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK WAS DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NOTICED OIL LEAKING ON DRIVEWAY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED DODGE THEY SAID WE HAD TO GET INSPECTED WHICH IS $120. THEN IF IT IS THE HEAD GASKET THEY WILL ONLY PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE COST AND THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT PERCENTAGE I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OFF. THANK YOU. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS SPEEDOMETER STARTS ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE NEEDLE WAVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 0 AND THE PRESENT SPEED. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS THE NEEDLE GOES TO ZERO AND REMAINS THERE. IN ADDITION TO HAVING NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED . ON THE MOST RECENT FAILURE TURNING THE CAR OFF ,WHILE IN A RESTURANT FOR 45 MINUTES SEEMED TO CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM. UPON RESUMING OUR TRIP WE HAD THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WORKING. *AK
IN MAY MY STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. IT WAS AGAIN LOOKED AT IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. NOW, MY STEERING COLUMN HAS ONCE AGAIN FAILED. IT TAKES 10 TURNS OF MY WHEEL TO TURN FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER. ALSO, MY HEAD GASKET, AT 45000 MILES STARTED TO LEAK. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A CAR 3 YEARS OLD. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE HEAD .CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. NOR RETURN PHONE CALLS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES SQUEAKY FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED AT 39,000 MILES. ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS AT ONLY 42,000 MILES(EST COST OF ALL REPAIRS $800) EGR VALVE ALREADY PAID FOR, WANTING ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER FOR HEAD GASKET. *AK
NO SUMMARY
I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES IN 3 YRS. FIRST THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD, HAD TO BE REPLACE. SECOND THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER IN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, 4RD THE FUELD SENSOR WENT OUT IN FUEL PUMP HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. ASK WARRENTY COMPANY WHAT MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE NEON WAS THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING, NOW I GUESS IT'S MY TURN FOR THAT I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY FOR OIL LEAK , THEY SAID HEAD GASKET BLOWN, NEED TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO MAKE SURE NOTHING ELSE IS BAD ( CRACKED BLOCK / HEAD) SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT'S NOT THAT OLD AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, VERY DISSAPOINTED IN VEHICLE
NO SUMMARY
PIN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL DROPPED, CAUSING A HOLE IN THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGES AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY
PLEASE RECALL NEONS TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKETS FIXED.
PLEASE HELP ME WITH CHRYLSER. I HAVE MADE NUMBEROUS CALLS AND THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY A "LEMON."
IT HAPPENS PROBABLY 2 TIMES A DAY. WHEN I AM ALMOST STOPPED FROM A SLOW SPEED PULLING IN A DRIVEWAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ABS BRAKES ARE GOING OFF. THEY MAKE A FUNNY VIBRATING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES WACKO. IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, YET I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND SCARED THAT ONE DAY IT REALLY ISN'T GOING TO STOP. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS. THANK YOU!
I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THE DODGE NEONS. AND THAT DODGE HAS REDESIGNED THEM. WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE STUCK WITH THE BAD GASKETS? I HAVE TALKED WITH EVERY DODGE DEALER WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS AS WELL AS A FEW MECHANIC SHOPS. A COUPLE OF THEM TOLD ME THAT DODGE WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY 500-800 DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT DODGE NEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. EVERY DEALER I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAS SAID THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALOT OF HEAD GASKETS ON THE NEONS. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF DODGE IS GOING TO DO A RECALL OR NOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET GOES OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAD A 1996 NEON AND TRADED IN FOR 1997 NEON, BUT HAS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
WIRES HAVE SHORT CIRCUITED, BURNING THE SENSORS TO AIRBAG AND THE HORN, RESULTING IN THE AIRBAG AND HORN BEING INOPERATIVE. *AK
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHNICS THAT THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING ON DODGE NEONS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
CHRYSLER ISSUED AN INTERNAL BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL, SPEED CONTROL IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *AK
CAM SEAL IS DUMPING OIL ONTO HOT ENGINE, CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS, BLOWING OUT THE WINDOWS OF VEHICLE. ALSO INJURING CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
AT 42,000 MILES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED FOUR TIMES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET THERE IS A OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE GASKET AND LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRENT A RECALL. PARTS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO BACKORDERS. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES AND NO SOLUTION FOUND. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. DEALER CALLING US LIARS WHEN REPORTED.HAVE RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
EGR VALVE ALLOWED WATER INTO HYDRAULIC LINE, CAUSING BRAKE POWER ASSIST TO FAIL. THIS MADE BRAKE PEDAL "ROCK-HARD", MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. PROBLEM OCCURRED SPORADICALLY, ONLY UNDER WET DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK
WIRE SHORT CIRCUITED, BURNING THE SENSORS OF THE AIRBAG AND THE HORN CAUSING THE AIRBAG AND HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
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. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY HAVE A BURST OF SPEED, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON ITS OWN,JERKING VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. CONSUMER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK
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. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL BECOMES ROCK HARD, MAKING IT HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. DLR HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Dodge Neon → · Every Neon year → · How the figures are calculated →