- The problem
- Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Dodge Neon Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 621 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Neon with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (334) and the brakes (90). Those complaints describe 47 crashes, 5 fires, 33 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 7 recalls, the latest in May 2009 for the headlights. For comparison, the 1995 has 0 and the 1997 has 396.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Neon year, for its age
#8 most complained-about 1996 vehicle
- Complaints
- 621
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes
- 47
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 33
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 1996 Dodge Neon problems
Share of all 621 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1996 Dodge Neon recalls 7
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
- The problem
- Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
- The fix
- Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
- The problem
- Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.
- The problem
- Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
- The problem
- The brake master cylinder can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
- The problem
- An engine wiring harness can short circuit due to contact with the exhaust gas recirculation tube..
- The risk
- Shorting of the wiring harness can cause various electrical malfunctions, including engine stalling.
- The fix
- Dealers will reroute the engine wiring harness properly and any wire that has been damaged will be replaced.
What owners say
Be the first Neon owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
621 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Neon
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 25.
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 to see the white line.
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.
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 and advised that it would need replacing. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 96v026000 ( electrical system:wiring:front underhood). The contact was advised by the manufacturer that there were no recalls. The failure mileage was 120,000.
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...
Read the full complaint
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 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 mechanic chased after the moving vehicle and was eventually able to open the front driver side door and enter the vehicle. The brakes were immediately engaged to stop the vehicle. There were no injuries. The vehicle was driven back to the independent repair shop where the shifter cable was replaced. The failure mileage was 137,537.
My car was driving very shaky and the alignment was off significantly. This lasted approximately two days before my front left tire blew up in front of my residence which caused the left frame to pop out. The front left tire was a firestone supreme si p185-65r14 m+s. I also have a right front tire of the same tire brand and model that has significant tread wear, which causes me great concern. *Tr
I have a 1996 dodge neon that keeps blowing fuel pump fuses when shifting to 3rd gear. It is an electrical short that I found in same vehicle made few months sooner july through november car in 1995 through 1996 I feel this is still happening my car is at risk to catch fire. Would greatly appreciate if this could be resolve and checked out. Thank you. *Tr
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...
Read the full complaint
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. *Tr
My son died in dec 12,2002 in a 1996 dodge stealth two days after he died I received the recall notice. Car lost control on freeway and went off road and rolled. He just put a transmission and replaced clutch, and put in new engine through tracy dodge in tracy, ca. *Tr
Tl* - the contact owns a 1996 dodge neon. The contact stated that the paint on the vehicle was chipping on the trunk of the vehicle. The contact stated that every 1996 white dodge neon that she saw had the same problem with the paint chipping on the trunk of the vehicle. The failure and current mileage were both 132,000 . *Ak
Tl* - the contact stated that she has replaced her brakes lights ten times on her 1996 dodge neon. She has taken the vehicle into the dealership once to have repairs done yet the failure recurred. The vehicle has an odometer reading of 74000. *Nm
1996 Neon speedometer failed and transmission fluid is leaking. *Ts after a sensor and other parts were replaced, the problem continued and it was soon discovered there was a problem with the wiring harness. A recall had been issued for the exact same problem that the consumers son was experiencing. The consumer believed his son's vehicle should be included in the recall.*Jb
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...
Read the full complaint
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.
REPROGRAM (FLASH) PCM. *NM
I have had ongoing problems with my 1996 dodge neon sport, it has been inoperable for the last year or so, due to electrical problems and stalling which I believe stem from the wiring harness. I have had the brakes replaced a few times, the a/c replaced, fuel injection acts up and the fuel gauge fluctuates, my transmission has started slipping, power steering and exhaust are leaking, numerous oil leaks, rear lights/ brake lights have not worked in over a year, driverside window broke along the extending arm...
Read the full complaint
inside of the door frame, trunk release is broken and my cruise control is broken! For the last 4months my car has been sitting at atlanta dodge llc! Just after leaving it with their service department, I received a call saying I needed a new battery and until it was replaced for $180 they could not do a diagnostic check for any other problems!! The battery was not even a year old and worked fine when I left the car at the dealership!! But in hopes of any decent service I bought another battery from advanced auto parts $40 and took it in myself. During this visit I reminded them that my make and model car was under a recall, they informed me that it was not!! I gave them the nhtsa recall documentation and was told that it didn't apply to my car, only to the neons from the plant in new mexico!! Just after thanksgiving I decided to call them to find out what has been going on. I spoke with brian the cs rep. And he informed me that the mechanics could not figure out what was wrong with my car and refused to research any further unless I agreed to spend no less than $250 towards the repairs!! It's not a coincidence that the same parts are in need of repairs as 15,000 other neons -- regardless of which plant the vehicles were assemblied, the defects lie in the placement and/or manufacturing of the faulty parts and should be covered under any relating recalls! *Nm updated 12/1505. *Jb
This problem has been continuous. The problem I am having with my 1996 dodge neon has also been identified within this same year and model car and a recall was issued, however my car did not come from the same plant as the recalled neons. This does not change the fact that the same problem has been identified in the same product!! The dodge dealership said they would not honor the recall for my neon. Is there anything I can do about this? *Nm
N/A. *JB
Riding down I 85 my engine just stopped due to a timing belt breakage. *Ak
Purchased in july of 1996 only put on 26,345 miles motor mount repaired twice,brakes front replaced they were completly gone ,back brakes are no good need to be replaced, high pitch squealing comes from them ,oil gasgets had to be replaced, stearing to a hard right or left you get a grinding noise, transmission is know leaking constantly having to put transsmission fluid in all the time have a list of papers from the car being serviced at daimler on andover st in peabody were I purchased car also wrote to main...
Read the full complaint
office to see if they would replace the vehicle after purchasing with cash and just got the run around know I am afraid to drive her that is why she only has 26,345 miles on her in 10 years I am not a rich person so I can not afford another car if there is a recall on any of these problems I would like to know so they can be fixed so I can drive her without worrying what will happen next also dampness and mildew smell and other problems.Tires also were replaced they wore to quickly.*Ak
Both sides of fuel rail leaking that could have started a fire under the hood or a explosen of my car.*Ak
Serious transmission problems, 4 months after I bought the mini van it had to be serviced, which was covered under the 24 months/24000 mile extended warranty that I purchased with the vehicle for $1495. 2Nd visit on 9/24/01 trans slipping in 3rd gear. Per mechanic the snap ring snapped and needed to be replaced. Again the transmission went on 8/26/02. It needed a rebuilt & reconditioned 6710 transmission & rebuilt/reconditioned torque converter also a filter totaling $1588.99. On 2/26/03 returned back to the...
Read the full complaint
shop for a blew rear differential & passenger side axle totaling $609.50. I was told that this wouldn't be covered under the lifetime warranty that I have on the van because the van got stuck in the snow and I caused it to blow, which is ridicules. Now the shop that I got the work done at is out of business and now at a new location under a new name with the same person there. I was told that my lifetime warranty wouldn't be covered at the new location and that I would have to pay for any repairs needed on the transmission. The company that did the work where I received the lifetime warranty on the transmission is moje, inc. Goodeal motors & transmissions located at 1730 macdade blvd., Folsom, pa 19033; (610) 583-1101. The new name is motors & transmissions. Location is at 2500 washington ave., Phila. Pa 16146; (610) 583-1101. *Ak
The vehicle was stalling and the instrument panel did not work at all . The manufacturer stated the vehicle was not included in the nhtsa recalls 96v026000 96v075000. *Jb
The consumer stated while approaching a stop vehicle idled/slowed down, and died. The consumer had to restart it. This happened continuously. The consumer had taken the vehicle to several dealers, and they could not resolve the problem. The consumer stated that one dealer charged him $700.00 For repairs, but it did not fix the problem. *Ak *sc
After rear ending the vehicle in dead center the frontal air bags did not deploy.*Ak
Consumer was concerned that vehicle would stall when braking. None of the instrument gauges were operating, and the interior light would intermittently coming on while driving. Dealer informed consumer that none of the above issues were covered under recall due to vin. *Ak
Dodge Neon: every year compared
All Neon years1996 Dodge Neon vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Dodge Neon | 621 | 7 | F | |
| 1996 Dodge Caravan | 1,402 | 18 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan | 1,167 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Intrepid | 515 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Dakota | 199 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Avenger | 167 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Dodge Truck | 35 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge B Series | 6 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Mini Ram Van | 5 | 0 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Dodge Neon
Does the 1996 Dodge Neon have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 1996 Dodge Neon: headlights (May 2009); exterior lighting (April 2009); exterior lighting (June 2006); exterior lighting (May 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Dodge Neon?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (334), brakes (90), electrical system (90).
How many complaints has the 1996 Dodge Neon had?
621 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 25, 1995 and the latest on June 27, 2015. Of these, 47 describe a crash and 5 a fire, and together they report 33 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 1996 Dodge Neon a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 21 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Dodge Neon year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Dodge Neon years have the most complaints?
1996 (621), 1997 (396), 2000 (361). See every Dodge Neon year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Dodge Neon has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data