10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,467 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Dodge Neon:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #151

Sep 252000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
I have had problems with the head gasket in my 1996 Neon three times. The first time it was covered under warranty. The second time I had to take it to a shop and have it repaired costing me $450.both times the car was under 50,000 miles. Now my car has 78,000 and the gasket has failed again. I have contacted Chrysler about the problem and they are well aware of it. I have found a web site, neonheadgaskets.org, and seen that several people have had help from Chrysler, Chrysler paying $500 and the customer paying $100. But the decision is up to the service manager and the district manager. It really upsets me that a recall has not been called. Now they have even replaced the old gasket with an updated new one, which has not been put on my car yet. They're not sure if that will even work. Please make Chrysler take responsibility for their mistake. It is not my fault the gasket is blowing.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #150

Sep 022000

Neon

  • miles
While driving engine overheated and it was using 5 quarts of oil a day, and oil in the radiator that came out like cottage cheese.

- Wellington, UT, USA

problem #149

Sep 182000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
Directionals work when they want to. Head gasket is gone. Eats up oil. Dealer won't trade it in for another car. Headlights pulsate. Engine dies out

- Scarborough, ME, USA

problem #148

Sep 012000

Neon

  • miles
Vehicle got hot and has developed an oil leak, took to dealer, and they said it was engine head gasket problem, that may have damaged engine.

- Sulphur, LA, USA

problem #147

Sep 022000

Neon

  • miles
Blown head gasket, causing the engine to overheat.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #146

Sep 112000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
Was driving vehicle & experienced a bad engine head gasket leakage. Had noticed an odor of bad oil burning. Took to mechanic first time & entire head gaskets was defective & needed replacing. Had engine head gaskets replaced & the leakage problem has reappeared.

- Murray, KY, USA

problem #145

Oct 011999

Neon

  • miles
I understand that there is a rather high number cars on the road that have or have had this issue. This blown head gasket allows engine oil to leakout of the engine down the back of the engine this heated old could ignite and cause a "under hood fire"... I contacted Chrysler, theblock and on to the exhaust manifold. It looks like under the right conditions Y seem unconcerned.old

- Lenexa, KS, USA

problem #144

Aug 302000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
Head gasket has blown at only 25,000 miles, causing vehicle to heat up.

- Bangor, PA, USA

problem #143

Jul 292000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
I bought this car used in Oct. 97 with approximately 19K miles on it. The head gasket failed with the car just barely under the warranty by mileage, but I had to fight hard with the dealer to have them cover the repair work. They eventually repaired it and gave another 1 year/12K mile warranty on the repair. Within that time frame the head gasket failed again. The dealer repaired it under warranty, but this time would not warranty the work or the part. That's a sham! I'm getting rid of this peice of junk!

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #142

Jul 282000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
This car is junk, the head gaskets, air conditioning, brakes, electrical, everything is bad. If you call the corporate headquarters, they act like its a rare incident. From what I've read, this is not true. Please help squeeze this lemon!

- Bloomfield, AK, USA

problem #141

Nov 251996

Neon

  • miles
My vehicle was purchased in Feb. 1996. Within one year it had been recalled and serviced for several reasons. The first incident was the fuel pump module. The amount of gas on the reading revealed 1/4 of the tank still full, however the tank was actually empty. Also within that year I began noticing water in the back seat and in the spare wheel well, due to a leak in the rear window seal. Six months later the same vehicle began leaking oil and when serviced it was found to be a head gasket leak. The gasket and it's components were replaced under warranty. In addition to other recalls the vehicle has been serviced regularly. However, within the four years this car has been revealing symptoms that are unbelievable for such short amount of time. It has currently been diagnosed with another faulty head gasket. The vehicle is beyond the three year warranty and is expressing the same symptoms that it has had in the first year. I am searching for answers to remedy this problem or warranties that may apply.

- Hanford, CA, USA

problem #140

Jul 232000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
Have read complaints on head gaskets, taking car to dealership tomorrow to have ours replaced, it has been leaking into the radiator. Time for a recall!!

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #139

Jul 192000

Neon

  • miles
Car stalled after overheating. Vehicle restarted and was blowing white smoke from tailpipe. Dealer stated head gasket failure, but not covered under warranty because it was blowing antifreeze instead of oil. Vehicle had just had cylinder cover, spark plug seals and tubes replaced and engine tuneup 6 days prior to head casket failure. Dealership was informed at that time that vehicle was overheating, but they stated they couldn't find anything wrong other than it needing a tune up.

- La Crescent, MN, USA

problem #138

Jul 182000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
This car has a defect in the head gasket - many complaints from many owners on this issue.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #137

Nov 151999

Neon

  • miles
While driving at approximately 45mph a bubbling noise was heard. Engine had blown head gaskets. Had no prior warning of problems. Towed to dealership for repairs. Head gaskets were leaking again.

- Fairfield, OH, USA

problem #136

Jul 042000

Neon

  • miles
Vehicle is constantly leaking oil. Dealer has advised consumer that there was a problem with crankshaft rear main oil field which was not a part of the previous recall.

- Thomasville, NC, USA

problem #135

Dec 301999

Neon

  • miles
Engine head gasket has not been changed yet as of June 26, 2000.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #134

Jul 052000

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
When driving vehicle started missing when driving at 30 mph. Engine check light was illuminated on the dashboard when the head gasket blew. Consumer has contacted the dealer.

- Vidor, TX, USA

problem #133

Jun 252000

Neon

  • miles
Severe engine head gasket leak occurred quickly. Contacts with Chrysler denials that a problem exists.

- South Haven, MN, USA

problem #132

Jun 192000

Neon

  • miles
At 11,000 miles I had to have the head gasket replaced. This seems like something that should not have happened with that few miles on the engine. It would seem that the gasket is faulty. I would like to see a recall issued.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »