Dodge NEON Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Dodge NEON options? We analyzed 6 model years (2000–2005) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Dodge NEON has 1,113 owner complaints and 41 safety recalls across model years 2000–2005. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2000 drew the most complaints; 2004 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Dodge
- Model
- NEON
- Model years analyzed
- 2000–2005 (6 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,113
- Safety recall campaigns
- 41
- Crash-related complaints
- 204
- Fire-related complaints
- 36
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2000 (381 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2004 (94 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Dodge NEON: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe DODGE NEON has 1,113 NHTSA complaints and 41 recalls on record. 204 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,113 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 41 federal recall campaigns
- 204 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
41 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
CHILD SEAT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUSPENSION
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUSPENSION
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUSPENSION
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2005. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,113 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,113 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
No warning or engine light appeared; the gas pedal did not function as intended and accelerated while trying to parallel park when I put the shift knob in reverse the car immediately accelerated on its own to full force and I nearly Crashed into a bus stop filled with people losing control of the car I immediately managed to stop the car by pressing on the brake pedal which the car still had slight force but then I put the car in park and only at that time did it completely stop. The gas pedal and shift linkage and accelerator linkage have some dangerous unprovoked issues. This car has always had a high idle problem as warned to me by the first owners, as soon as you put the car into drive it would immediately go. I have researched recalls for years on this and have also discovered many reports of people losing control in this manner coincidentally going unaddressed. Until this occurred, I became very very apprehensive to even drive this car as I could have been held responsible for this damn malfunction costing many lives and injuries unknowingly and unprovoked. The car only has 60k miles and so far the entire dash board has cracked from sunlight falling completely to pieces that would crumble as I would drive causing distraction. The power steering belt prematurely needed replacing due to some sort of issue with the pulleys, not so long after that the alternator belt snapped needing the alternator and pulleys to be replaced again. The car during those repairs had just reached 50k miles, two batteries and the car still has electrical problems, power steering issues. This car was never involved in any major accident that would explain this other than a manufacture defect costing hundreds of dollars but there’s no cost to the lives of myself but others that you can’t put a price tag on. It’s truly a crime and absolute obvious indication of negligence that none of these reports have called for any recalls on this vehicle!
The gas pedal has come disconnected or stuck continuing to accelerate and I miraculously stopped the car with the emergency brake before it nearly Crashed into a crowded bus stop! The car only has 65k miles but regardless a car should never put anyone in this danger! It is giving me a nervous breakdown almost running people over!
THE AC UNIT LEAKS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT NEEDING TO BE FILLED YEARLY. WE PAID A DEALER TO REPAIR THE AC AND IT ALL LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THEY REFILLED ONCE AGAIN AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK EVERY YEAR TO HAVE IT REFILLED AGAIN. SO FAR IT HAS ALL LEAKED OUT 3 TIMES NOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAL THAT ALLOWED MOISTURE TO SEEP INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MOISTURE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE FLOOR TO DECAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DECAY CAUSED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
PERSON SOLD AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. USING VERBAL MANIPULATIONS HE CLAIMED IN THE ADD AND LATER FACE TO FACE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A CLEAN TITLE (CARFAX REPORT SHOWS IT AS SALVAGE WITH MULTIPLE REPORTED ACCIDENTS AND 8 SERVICE HISTORY RECORDS), CERTAIN MILEAGE (148000 CLAIMED, 223.300 IN REALITY), HE WAS THE 2ND OWNER (3 OWNERS IN REALITY) AND NO MAJOR ISSUES - WAS TOLD IN PERSON DURING THE SALE OPERATION, ALSO TOLD HE WAS SELLING THE CAR FOR HIS FRIEND THATS WHY THERE WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON NAME ON A TITLE ((XXXXX)). SELLER WAS CONVENCING AND DID A GREAT JOB AT CONFUSING IGOR AND DECIEVING HIM. THE SELLER LIED ABOUT THE SMOG CHECK ALSO AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BUYER - THE CAR DIDNT PASS THE SMOG CHECK THE NEXT MORNING 6/27, AND LATER THE SAME DAY DIDNT START ANYMORE FOR GOOD. SELLER SEND A TEXT MESSAGE TO IGOR THAT SAME MORNING SAYING THAT CAR IS OVERHEATING AND WATER HAS TO BE PLACED IN THE RADIATOR DAILY, BUT IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PROCEDURE AS THE WATER INSIDE THE TANK IS OF A BOILING TEMPERATURE AND CAN SPLASH UNCONTROLLABLY UNDER PRESSURE RESULTING ONTO AN INJURY, WHICH WAS A MOCKERY AS BY THAT TIME A CAR WAS MARKED AS INOPERABLE BY A MECHANIC AND THAT WAS A MIRACLE THAT IT MADE IT TO THE CURBSIDE. CURRENTLY IT IS ABSOLUTELY DEAD METAL. THE CAR WAS FRAUDLENTLY AND INTENTIONALLY MADE TO WORK JUST ONE DAY SPECIFICLY TO MAKE A SALE. (XXXXX) INTENTIONALLY GAVE OUT THE FALSE FACTS ABOUT THE CAR AND MISLED (XXXX) TOWARDS THE SALE COMPLETION. (XXXX) TRUSTED THE SELLER, FALSE INFO AND FAKE ODOMETER PICTURES THATS BEEN FORCED AT HIM, AS HE COULDNT SEE THINGS CLEARLY IN PERSON AND WAS MISLED AND VERBALLY MANIPULATED. ALL RECORDS AS DOCUMENTS ON THIS CAR, ADD SCREENSHOTS AND TEXT MESSAGING BETWEEN (XXXX) AND SELLER (XXXX) ARE AVAILABLE AS PROOF. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 60,000 MILES
Read 14 more owner reports
I PURCHASE A 2005 DODGE NEON IN JUNE. APPROXIATELY 3 WERKS LATER I NOTICE HOW WHEN I WOULD HAVE TO STOP WHEN TIME TO MOVE FORWARD CAR WOULD STALL AND BARELY WANT TO GO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD PICK UP. IT DID THAT FOR 2 DAYS. THE 3RD DAY I DROVE AWAY IN IT WITH NO PROMBLEMS. WHEN TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE IT WOULD NOT START. I REPLACE STARTER,BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND ALSO MADE SURE ALL THESE PARTS WHERE GOOD. MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. PLEASE HELP ME OUT JUST SPENT $2,000.00 AND MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT OCCURED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE NEON. WHILE PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED CHEST AND FACE INJURIES DUE TO THE AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,373. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ
I WAS DRIVING TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WITH MY FRIENDS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY DASHBOARD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I THEN LATER NOTICE MY BRAKE,FOG,HIGH BEAMS, AND TURN SIGNALS LIGHT DO NOT WORK. I WENT ON A FORUM TO SEE IF IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SAW CARS THAT WERE BURNED AND I SAW THAT IT WAS A CONNECTION THAT WAS FAULTY. I REMOVE MY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS BURNED TOO THE EXACT SAME PLACE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH FIRE. I WENT TO A JUNK YARD TO SEE IF I COULD GET ONE AND ALL THE DODGE NEONS THAT I GOT TO THEY WERE ALL SHOTS AND BURNED. I WANT TO GET A RECALL FOR THIS THAT CANNOT BE POSSIBLE THAT ALL THE CARS EVEN MY FRIENDS CAR HAS THAT TOO AND IT'S A DODGE NEON. CAN SOMETHING PLEASE BE DONE ABOUT THIS
I SHIFTED MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT STOP CRASHED THRU MY NEIGHBORS GARAGE DOOR. THERE S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES EVEN IN NEUTRAL. I CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER OR BLOCKING THE GAS PEDAL. NO MATS IN CAR.
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP.
I HAVE A 2004 DODGE NEON, MY TURNING SIGNALS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. I HAVE TO BANG THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THEM TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO MY HORN STOPPED WORKING ALL OF SUDDEN. I HAVE CHECKED ALL OF THE FUSES AND THE HORN IT SELF AND THERE IS NOTHING FOUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS AND THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
ON 10/6/15 MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS MERGING ONTO THE PARKWAY WHEN THE SUV HE WAS FOLLOWING CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT DOING THE SAME, BUT WHEN MY SON TRIED TO BREAK THE BREAKS WERE COMPLETELY OUT CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE BACK OF SUV HE WAS FOLLOWING, WITH HIS QUICK THINKING HE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAKS TO PREVENT HIT SUV AGAIN AS IT WAS PULLING OVER.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 480 AND DEPLOYED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY NEON AT 60 MPH. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BRIEFLY, AND THEN ENGAGED THE "ACCELERATE" OPTION ON CRUISE CONTROL TO SPEED BACK UP. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TOWARDS A MUCH HIGHER SPEED AND I HAD TO QUICKLY SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME INCIDENCE, AND AM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. I AM A FREELANCE WRITER WITH A HUGE NETWORK OF FRIENDS. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO WRITE A BAD REVIEW OF MY EXPERIENCE, AND CALL OUT DODGE FOR NOT FIXING WHAT I WOULD THINK IS A VERY SERIOUS, POSSIBLY DEADLY, PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
MY 2005 DODGE NEON ENTERED INTO A COLLISION WITH A 2001 FORD TAURUS ON 7/4/2014. MY VEHICLE HIT THE FORD TAURUS HEAD-ON INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE FORD TAURUS AT ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE TAURUS. MY SEAT BELT HAD KEPT ME IN MY SEAT, BUT THE AIR BAG HAD FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN PERMANENT INJURIES WHICH WILL REQUIRE PAIN MANAGEMENT AND SURGERY AT SOME POINT. THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH, AND I WAS ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELING AT AROUND 40 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. *TR
THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR . THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS NO POWER IN ACCELERATION. *TR
WHILE HAVING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE ENGINE WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN RACE/ACCELERATE BEYOND WHAT IT SHOULD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES, BRUISES ON THE BODY, AND BACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING ON THE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 272,000.
Showing 20 of 1,113 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Dodge NEON
These pages show model-year patterns across 6 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Dodge NEON, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Dodge NEON has 1,113 complaints on record across 6 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Dodge NEON has 41 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 204 of the Dodge NEON's 1,113 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Dodge NEON vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Dodge NEON vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Dodge NEON has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Dodge NEON stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Dodge NEON by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Dodge NEON.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Dodge NEON reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge NEON reliable?
Poor. The Dodge NEON has 1,113 NHTSA owner complaints and 41 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Dodge NEON years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2000 (381 complaints), 2003 (202 complaints), 2002 (186 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Dodge NEON problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (192 complaints); AIR BAGS (177 complaints); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (162 complaints).
Does the Dodge NEON have recalls?
Yes — 41 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Dodge NEON. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.