Your vehicle report
1995 Dodge Neon
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 976
- Received Jan 1995 to Apr 2018
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Head gasket leaks coolant into engine120 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes87 complaints · 8.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Vehicle catches fire from wiring50 complaints · 5.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #97V169000Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering column coupler can become disconnected when the vehicle experiences an underbody impact.
- Recall #96V228000The fuel and rear brake tubes can experience accelerated corrosion between the tubes and a rubber isolator.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 130 crashes, 58 fires, 126 people injured, 15 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 142 |
| 1996 | 119 |
| 1997 | 143 |
| 1998 | 94 |
| 1999 | 150 |
| 2000 | 119 |
| 2001 | 101 |
| 2002 | 42 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 976 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 120 | 12% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 87 | 8.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 50 | 5.1% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 43 | 4.4% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 38 | 3.9% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 37 | 3.8% | – | NHTSA recall #94V033000 |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 36 | 3.7% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 34 | 3.5% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 26 | 2.7% | – | NHTSA recall #94V034000, #96V228000 |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 25 | 2.6% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 25 | 2.6% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 25 | 2.6% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 24 | 2.5% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 21 | 2.1% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 21 | 2.1% | – | NHTSA recall #97V169000 |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 19 | 1.9% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 17 | 1.7% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 16 | 1.6% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 15 | 1.5% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 13 | 1.3% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #97V169000October 7, 1997375,000 vehicles affected
steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering column coupler Can become disconnected when the vehicle experiences an underbody impact.
Loss of steering control Can occur.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the steering column coupler with a coupler design that collapses on impact.
NHTSA recall #96V228000November 18, 1996180,000 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The fuel and rear brake tubes Can experience accelerated corrosion between the tubes and a rubber isolator.
Corrosion of the tubes Can lead to brake fluid or fuel leakage. This Can cause a loss of brakes or result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the brake, fuel supply and fuel vapor tubes for the presence of corrosion. Any tubes showing corrosion will be replaced. All vehicles will have the rubber isolator replaced with a plastic clip.
NHTSA recall #96V075000May 3, 1996151,800 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
The brake master cylinder Can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
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.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
NHTSA recall #94V033000February 23, 19947,100 vehicles affected
power train
Moisture Can get into the powertrain control module (PCM) causing driveability malfunctions, including stalling.
Should drive ability malfunctions or stalling occur whilethe vehicle is in motion, a traffic accident may occur.
Remedy
The powertrain control modules on these vehicles will be replaced.
NHTSA recall #94V034000February 23, 19947,100 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The rear brake hose mounting bracket screws Can fail allowing the brake hoses to move out of position. The unrestrained hoses are then susceptible to damage which could result in brake fluid leakage.
Brake fluid leakage will reduce the braking performanceof the vehicle, extend stopping distances, and could result in an accident.
Remedy
The rear brake line hose bracket screws on these vehicles will be replaced.
NHTSA recall #94V026000January 9, 19942,700 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
The ABS brake master cylinder rear seal allows air to enter the brake system, causing spongy brakes or partial brake system loss.
Air entering the brake system caused extended stopping distance or partial loss of brakes which may result in an accident.
Remedy
Master cylinders will be inspected for the suspect build date code range and will be replaced if necessary.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1995 Dodge Neon.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN