Problems · by component

1996 Dodge Neon engine and engine cooling problems

334 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Neon cite engine and engine cooling, 54% of all 621 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
334
54% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10404329
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Power train, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10212385
“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 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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2005Steering, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Vehicle speed control, EquipmentODI 10143833
“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 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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, TiresODI 10113995
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10091991
“CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH VEHICLE BUCKLED, THEN SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE. HE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES BEFORE VEHICLE RESTARTED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10073611

Showing 6 of 334 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.