RecallMyCar

1996 Dodge Neon Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1996 Dodge Neon, and owners have filed 611 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
611
owner complaints to NHTSA
46 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
25–28
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1996 Dodge Neon

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 96V075000 Reported 151,800 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

  2. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 96V026000 Reported 15,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

611 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Dodge Neon have filed 611 complaints with NHTSA; 46 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 32 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 81,398 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 130 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 27, 2015 · Exterior lighting

“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 performe”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 11, 2014 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Dodge Neon. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25–28 mpg
City / Highway22–24 / 30–35
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Dodge Neon model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Neon model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1993 Dodge Neon03
1994 Dodge Neon09
1995 Dodge Neon6976
1996 Dodge Neon2611
1997 Dodge Neon1390
1998 Dodge Neon1339
1999 Dodge Neon0116
2000 Dodge Neon5337
2001 Dodge Neon4146
2002 Dodge Neon0173
2003 Dodge Neon0202
2004 Dodge Neon094
2005 Dodge Neon095

Checking a specific 1996 Dodge Neon

How do I know if my 1996 Dodge Neon has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Dodge Neon; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V026000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Dodge models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.