Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 1,196 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Dodge Neon, and it carries 11 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 238 | 20% |
| Service brakes | 176 | 15% |
| Steering | 110 | 9% |
| Air bags | 102 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 79 | 7% |
| Power train | 76 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 37 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 33 | 3% |
| Visibility | 33 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 33 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE PCM ON MY 1995 DODGE NEON WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 16, 1994, 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. DONE BY JAY CHEVROLET/GEO/DODGE IN ISLAND PARK, NY. MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING ON ME AND SHUTTING DOWN OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST
NHTSA complaint: Power train
REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING .BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM SHOE .THAN BRAKE LINES STARTED LEAKING AT FRAME HOLD DOWN BRACKET. THESE ARE ORIGINAL PARTS. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
2005 DODGE NEON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNRELIABLE STEERING WHEEL HORN CIRCUIT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN SOMETIMES TO FAILED TO HONK. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING, HE DI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL FIRST GENERATION (1995-1999) DODGE AND PLYMOUTH NEONS. WITHOUT EXCEPTION, ALL OF THEM HAVE/HAD CORROSION ON THE FUEL FILLER PIPE THAT WAS SO BAD THAT GASOLINE SPILLED ON THE GROUND WHEN THEY WERE FI
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
GAS TANK LEAK (VERY SLOW AND GRADUAL). NOTICED ONLY WHILE PARKED, LEFT DROPS ON GARAGE FLOOR. CAR ALSO HAD BAD HEAD GASKETS, PARKING BRAKE, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I HAVE A 1995 DODGE NEON. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION, ETC. AND HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT, ALSO REPLACING MY HEAD GASKET, RESULTING IN A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. MY MECHANIC INFORMED
NHTSA complaint: Power train
PEELING PAINT ON MY 1995 DODGE NEON. I AM ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION, REPLACED AIR CONDITIONER BECAUSE OF SMOKE UNDER HOOD, BRAKES, ROTORS, FUEL LEAKING, VALVE COVER GASKET, HEAD GASKET, NO OIL IN ENGINE HAD IT TOWED. I AL
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
MY NIECE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, BUSTED MY WINDSHIELD, MY 2 SIDE WINDOWS, AND TORE MY DASH UP REAL GOOD. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 1995 Dodge Neon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIA
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
| Reliability raw | 67 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 1,196 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 238 of them (20%). There are 11 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 67/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.