RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Neon Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
44
Latest Sep 13, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 611 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
33
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
22

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 44, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Sep 13, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

AFTER REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN DEAD CENTER THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10091950
Incident
Sep 7, 2004
Mileage
86,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed May 23, 2004

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD CAUSED THE FAN RELAY TO MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10073007
Incident
May 22, 2004
Mileage
83,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 6, 2003
Crash reported3 injuries reported

IN AUGUST OF 1999, DUE TO A HEALTH PROBLEM (UNKNOWN TO ME), I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL OF MY 1996 NEON. I AWOKE IN TIME TO FORCE THE CAR OVER TO A GRASSY MEDIAN BETWEEN TWO PARTS OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. THE CAR FLEW TWENTY OR SO FEET IN THE AIR, MAKING IMPACT WITH THE GRASS, AND CONTINUING WITHOUT POWER STEERING, ETC., FOR APPROXIMATELY. 300 FEET. WHILE IN THE AIR, MY LEFT ARM BROKE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. WHEN THE CAR LANDED DEAD ON TO THE GRASS, THE AIR BAGS BURST, BUT "WILTED" DOWN, THEY DID NOT COME STRAIGHT OUT AT ME AS NORMAL, BUT DOWN, AFTER EXPLODING. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR IN THIS KIND OF ACCIDENT, AND THAT THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN IN A PRIOR ACCIDENT, OR THE AIR BAGS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. I RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS ON THE INNER PARTS OF THE ARMS, AND DEVELOPED A LUNG PROBLEM DUE TO THE INHALED CHEMICALS. SINCE THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED IMPROPERLY, MY TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WERE FRIGHTENED EVEN MORE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN HAD BEEN SHOT. MY CONCERN IS THAT OTHER AIR BAGS MAY REACT IN THE SAME WAY, EVEN IF THERE IS NO FRONT IMPACT. I HAD NOTIFIED MY MECHANICS IN THE EBENSBURG AND CRESSON, PA AREAS, WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, AS WELL AS THE AMBULANCE DRIVERS, AND ANY OTHERS I COULD ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I ALSO NOTIFIED THE HOSTS OF CAR TALK. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE, BUT I DID NOTICE THAT AIR BAGS WERE NOT MENTIONED ON YOUR WEBSITE, AND FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008498
Incident
Aug 8, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jan 30, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
10005954
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 3, 2002

THE VEHICLE HORN SOUNDED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING WAS TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE. TS HORN CONTINUED TO SOUND AFTER FUSE REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER HAD TO BANG ON HORN SWITCH IN ORDER TO STOP SOUND. HORN SWITCH IS PART OF AIR BAG ASSEMBLY THEREFORE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8023614
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Mileage
73,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

FRONT COLLISION AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *TS

NHTSA ID
8016173
Incident
Jul 27, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jul 3, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATES AT A 30-35 MPH, VEHICLE CRASHED, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB *TT

NHTSA ID
8013277
Incident
Jun 29, 2002
Airbags
Filed Apr 22, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

FRONT COLLISION AT 35 MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED SPRAINED SHOULDER AND KNEE INJURY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, AIRBAG SENSOR WAS CRUSHED.*AK *YH

NHTSA ID
8008162
Incident
Mar 3, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2002
Crash reported

AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003374
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 21, 2001

HORN HAS BEEEN REPLACED TWICE. HORNS BLOWS INVOLUNTARILY. DEALER BELIEVES HORN PAD & AIRBAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE TIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
880929
Incident
May 1, 1996
Airbags
Filed Jan 17, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
878333
Incident
Dec 25, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WAS DRIVING 35MPH WHEN A TRUCK RAN STOP SIGN. NEON "T" BONED TRUCK. FRONT END LIFTED UP. FRONT END OF DRIVER'S SIDE WAS CRUSHED. DOOR WAS BENT OUTWARD. UPON IMPACT WITH TRUCK, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME INJURIES ,BUT NO HOSPITAL TREATMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
877471
Incident
Jul 17, 2000
Airbags
Filed Oct 18, 2000
Crash reported

DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HIT COW ON THE HIGHWAY HEAD-ON, HITTING WHINDSHIELD AND ROLLED OVER, SMASHING REAR WINDOWS. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
873325
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 1, 2000

IT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE EACH PROBLEM. ALL PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE COMPLETELY TRUE. I CAN SAY WITH COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AFTER THE 75000 MILE WARANTY I BOUGHT WAS OVER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EGR VALVE WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED JUST TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. ALSO THE DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR WHICH AGAIN IS FAILING AGAIN. THE HORN/AIRBAG SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL REPAIRES BY THE DEALER WAS (A) BEFORE THE WARANTY HAD EXPIRED, AND (B) I HAD TO CALL CHRYSLER AND COMPLAIN JUST TO HAVE THOSE THINGS FIXED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SO I KNOW THESE PROBLEMS TO EXIST. THE DEALER, INSTEAD OF FIXING MY CAR, WHICH THEY WON'T DO, THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I COULD NOT BE MORE DISSATISFIED WITH A "NEW CAR" THAN WE ARE WITH THIS ONE. BELIEVE ME, IF WE WERE TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS CAR'S TRACK RECORD, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT. I GUESS THATS ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU.R *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P1856014 )

NHTSA ID
719509
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2000
Crash reported

AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND RAN IT OFF THE ROAD INTO SHOULDER. CONSUMER HIT THE MEDIAN RAIL. NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
856399
Incident
Feb 11, 1999
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Sep 1, 1999
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH COLLISION, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
846316
Airbags
Filed Feb 11, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS, BLOWING OUT THE WINDOWS OF VEHICLE. ALSO INJURING CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ID
834754
Incident
Feb 4, 1999
Airbags
Filed Feb 3, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

HEAVY COLLISION DAMAGE TO RIGHTT FRONT. DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, RT SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCIDENT WAS HEAVY IMPACT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED 2/2/99, SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH ME 2/3. AS OF 2/3 5:00 PM THEY ARE IGNORING THE CLAIM. I AM A BODY SHOP MANAGER AND AM REPORTING THIS AS A FAVOR TO THE OWNER. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE TOWED TO A SALVAGE VEHICLE SALE LOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE A.S.A.P. *AK

NHTSA ID
702905
Incident
Jan 22, 1999
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jan 28, 1999
Crash reported

THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON WET PAVEMENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD CROSSED CENTER LINE & BRAKES WERE APPLIED QUICKLY. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES. HAS POLICE REPORT. *AK

NHTSA ID
834136
Incident
Dec 21, 1998
AirbagsEngine
Filed Aug 29, 1998

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL BLINK ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR ALSO HAS AN OIL LEAK.

NHTSA ID
540244
Incident
Jul 14, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jul 6, 1998

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BROKE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS.

NHTSA ID
780359
Airbags
Filed Jun 25, 1998
Crash reported

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WHEN HE STRUCK A DOG ON THE PARKWAY. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
823992
Incident
May 29, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jun 17, 1998

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG BROKE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS.

NHTSA ID
536909
Airbags
Filed Apr 21, 1998

WHILE BRAKING TO AVOID COLLISION FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG PRIOR TO COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
534406
Incident
Apr 2, 1997
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 40-45MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER CONSUMER WAS GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
818027
Incident
Oct 20, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .