45 of the 887 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Neon are about the airbag system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,000 miles.
45
Complaints
33
Crashes
1
Fires
20
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN DEAD CENTER THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10091950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD CAUSED THE FAN RELAY TO MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10073007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10008498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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 complaint #10005954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #8023614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT COLLISION AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8016173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES AT A 30-35 MPH, VEHICLE CRASHED, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB
NHTSA complaint #8013277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
NHTSA complaint #8008162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8003374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #880929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #878333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #877471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #873325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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 complaint #719509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #856399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #846316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #823992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BROKE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS.
NHTSA complaint #780359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS, BLOWING OUT THE WINDOWS OF VEHICLE. ALSO INJURING CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #834754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #702905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #834136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL BLINK ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR ALSO HAS AN OIL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #540244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG BROKE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS.
NHTSA complaint #536909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE BRAKING TO AVOID COLLISION FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG PRIOR TO COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #534406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #818027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MECHANISM WHICH FIRED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BECAME HOT AND MELTED PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #527619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE VEHCILE HIT AN TREE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS GOING 35-45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE HAD BOTH AIR BAGS.
NHTSA complaint #820081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WATER COMING IN FROM DASH WHICH CAUSES THE WATER TO LEAK FROM THE FLOORBOARD. THIS DEFECT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT IS RAINING. DEALER HAS TORN OUT DASH, CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. ALSO, AIRBAGS' SCREWS ARE LOOSENING WHICH CAUSES THEM TO MAKE NOISES.
NHTSA complaint #819833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD- ON COLLISION WHICH INVOLVED A TREE AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #819446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN AT 15 TO 20 MPH CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #818823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.