2003 DODGE NEON Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Dodge Neon. This model year has 202 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Electrical Faults.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2003 Dodge Neon Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Transmission / Drivetrain
Considering a 2003 Dodge Neon?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Dodge Neon. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 72 | 2 | 16 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 48 | — | 7 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 28 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 20 | 18 | 2 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 18 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Brake System | 18 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 17 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 11 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Dodge Neon. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 202 most recent complaints
THIS MAKES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS 2003 DODGE NEON XST . I HAVE PUT $10.000.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ! THESE ARE LEMONS!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING.…
WE WERE HIT FROM THE SIDE AND TORE UP THE WHOLE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE MANUFACTURE…
OIL PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I PAID THOUSANDS FOR REPAIRS.-BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR IDLING FOR EVEN A SHORT TIME. WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION, A STEADY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME, EXCEPT WHEN IT FLASHES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE O…
WELL I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD MY KID IN CAR 10-16-15 THANK GOD I A HAD ARRIVED HOME ON TIME WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I KEPT DRIVING I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE COMING OF DASH I WAS ON STREET COMING FROM JANESVILLE WI IT'S LIKE 35 MIN AWAY I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH WAY BUT LIKE I SAID…
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AGGRESSIVELY, WITH POSSIBLE METALLIC SHRAPNEL OR FRAGMENT INTRUSION INTO THE DRIVER'S BODY, BECAUSE THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A COMPLETE TRANSECTION OF THE RIGHT MAIN BRONCHUS - EITHER FROM METAL DEBRIS OR FROM AN OVER-AGGRESSIVE INFLATION THAT CAUSED…
STARTED VEHICLE DURING RAINY, FOGGY, 40 DEGREE WEATHER. HEADLAMP INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WITHIN GAUGE CLUSTER. UPON CHECKING OUTSIDE THE CAR, ONLY PARKING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING DESPITE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BEING IN THE "ON" POSITION. BURNING SMELL OCCURRED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF D…
SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS & STEERING COLUMN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID IT WAS SPILLED ANTI FREEZE FROM WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL. CAR WAS OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW IT'S SMOKING AGAIN THE FRONT DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK THE FOG LIGHTS ARE GONE & RECENTLY MY HIGHL…
ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC, CAUSED BY OVERHEATED WIRING (PIN 16) ON TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHT CONTROL. LIGHT WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON LOW BEAM ; WHILE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS LIT . FOG LAMPS HAVE BEEN LIT ,WHEN SWITCH IS HEADLAMP ON POSITION, FOR THREE YEARS. THEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF …
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY LIGHTS ON, I BEGAN TO SEE AND SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THE SMOKE CLEARED UP AND WENT AWAY. AFTER SOME TIME, I TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM TO BE FOUND AT THIS TIME. A WEEK OR SO LATER TH…
STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARMENT WHILE THE BATTERY WAS BEING CHARGED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMPERATURE, SPEEDOMETER, FUE…
SMELLED HOT WIRING AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE …
HI, I HAVE A DODGE NEON 03, AND IT CUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, EVERYTHING IN THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR COMES TO AN INSTANT STOP ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOR THIS…
WHILE PARKED IN THE RAIN, WATER WAS LEAKING FROM TOP OF DRIVERS-SIDE DOOR, SOAKING THE DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR TO A POINT THAT SQUISHING SOUNDS COULD BE HEARD, ALSO DURING RAIN, THE DRIVERS-SIDE OF THE TRUNK LEAKED & IT SOAKED ENOUGH WATER TO BE ABLE TO SOAK A CLOTH & SQUEEZE WATER OUT…
UPON WARMING THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING TO WORK WINDOWS STEAMED UP BADLY I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF COLD TEMP OUTSIDE. THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. ALWAYS HAVING A SWEET TASTE IN MY MOUTH TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT THERE SAID THE HEATER CORE WAS L…
MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR
WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK WAS LEAKING AND HAD SO MUCH WATER IN IT THAT MUSHROOMS WERE LITERALLY GROWING UNDER THE CARPET. NO ONE CO…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNO…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2003 Dodge Neon.
Recalls for 2003 Dodge Neon
5 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2003 Dodge Neon. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2003 Dodge Neon — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Dodge Neon reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2003 Dodge Neon has 202 NHTSA owner complaints, 23 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Electrical Faults (72 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge Neon?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (72 complaints). #2: Headlight/Taillight Failures (48 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (28 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Dodge Neon?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2003 Dodge Neon?▾
The 2003 Dodge Neon has 23 crash-related complaints and 20 fire reports out of 202 total NHTSA complaints. 25 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2003 Dodge Neon have any recalls?▾
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2003 Dodge Neon. The largest issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2003 Dodge Neon?▾
The 2003 Dodge Neon has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Electrical Faults issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Neon reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2003 Dodge Neon
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.