WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT HAS A BAD SPARK PLUG BUT WEN YOU CHECK ONE IS FULL OF OIL ITS SHUTS OFF WHEN IT DOES THAT AND IT TAKES A MINUTE TO START BACK UP. *TR
2000 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
98 reports with mileage · 239 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
337 reportsTHE REAR TAILLIGHT SEALS ON MY 2000 DODGE NEON LEAK EVERYTIME IT RAINS WHICH ENDS UP FLOODING THE PASSENGER CABIN AND CAUSES MOLD. *TR
TURNING SIGNAL HEADLIGHTS 80% FAILURE, WHEN TEMPERATURE IN VEHICLE OVER 100 DEGREES. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ENGAGED, ALL REAR MARKING LAMPS, SIDE, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED, AND FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN IN OFF POSITION. I SPOKE TO A TECH OFF THE RECORD, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR COLLISION SINCE INSTRUMENT PANEL…
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TURNING SIGNAL HEADLIGHTS 80% FAILURE, WHEN TEMPERATURE IN VEHICLE OVER 100 DEGREES. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ENGAGED, ALL REAR MARKING LAMPS, SIDE, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED, AND FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN IN OFF POSITION. I SPOKE TO A TECH OFF THE RECORD, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR COLLISION SINCE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT VISIBLE TO DRIVER. WHEN TEMP IN CAR WENT DOWN LATER THAT EVENING, SWITCH WORKED. TODAY IN THE AM IT WORKED, BUT FAILED THIS AFTERNOON. *TR
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR BACK AND FORTH FROM COLLEGE AND RUNNING ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE A COMPLETELY STOCKED 2000 DODGE NEON ES. I USE THE HEADLIGHTS MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN DURING THE DAY, TO INCREASE VISIBILITY. ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY TOWN. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING BUT NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT SINC…
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I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR BACK AND FORTH FROM COLLEGE AND RUNNING ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE A COMPLETELY STOCKED 2000 DODGE NEON ES. I USE THE HEADLIGHTS MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN DURING THE DAY, TO INCREASE VISIBILITY. ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY TOWN. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING BUT NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT SINCE I WAS NEAR A RURAL AREA THAT COULD HAVE CAMP FIRES LIT. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AS THEY USED TO. THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES NOT. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS JUST A SWITCH AND NOT A BIG DEAL SO I DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. THEN MY HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I DID A BIT OF RESEARCH TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I STUMBLED UPON A WEBSITE AND READ ABOUT LOOKING AT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST GOT FINISHED CHECKING OUT MY CAR. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE MFS IS MELTED AS HAS EVIDENCE OF BURN MARKS. THE HEADLIGHTS CURRENTLY WORK BUT THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS DO NOT. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE MELTED HARNESS AND WILL SEND THEM TO WHOEVER I NEED TO. I HAVE READ UP ON REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS BUT IT IS RATHER EXPENSIVE. ESPECIALLY IF IT WILL MELT AGAIN SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I BELIEVE THE PART NUMBER IS 5183442AA BASED ON SEVERAL SOURCES. I WILL BE REPLACING THIS PART PROBABLY ON MY OWN TO SAVE SOME MONEY, ESPECIALLY ON A PART I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ORDERING IN THE FIRST PLACE. *JN
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING THAT TIRE TO LEAN. THE TRAVEL SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE ROD ENDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WE…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING THAT TIRE TO LEAN. THE TRAVEL SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE ROD ENDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 90,898. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. *AK
WATER LEAKING IN BRAKE POWER BOOSTER CAUSE BRAKES TO FREEZE IN COLD; BRAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ABS SYSTEM DISCONNECT- NOT WORKING PROPERLY - CONTROLLER GIVEN OFF ERROR CODE - POSSIBLE NEED TO BE REPLACE; ALL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS ON IN CAR - NO DIAGNOSIS FOR PROBLEM; RATTLING…
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WATER LEAKING IN BRAKE POWER BOOSTER CAUSE BRAKES TO FREEZE IN COLD; BRAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ABS SYSTEM DISCONNECT- NOT WORKING PROPERLY - CONTROLLER GIVEN OFF ERROR CODE - POSSIBLE NEED TO BE REPLACE; ALL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS ON IN CAR - NO DIAGNOSIS FOR PROBLEM; RATTLING NOISE IN DASH BOARD; HIGH HUMMING NOISE UNDER CAR WHEN DRIVE - UNABLE TO HEAR RADIO BETWEEN RATTLING & HUMMING NOISES; AC WORK BUT NO HEAT; WHEN DRIVING WHEELS SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF; RECENTLY FOUND OUT CAR FAILED NYS EMISSION TEST ON DATE OF PURCHASE; I FILED COMPLAINT WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING DEALER WHERE I BROUGHT CAR FROM - THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED,THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,150, AND THE CURRENT MIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED,THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,150, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,200.*AK
TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO ACTIVATE. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THE WIRES HAD MELTED TOGETHER. DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED HE COULD NOT W…
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TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO ACTIVATE. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THE WIRES HAD MELTED TOGETHER. DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED HE COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED CONTACT TO A DODGE DEALER. *AK
WATER LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK AREA AND THE FLOOR BOARDS OF THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING MILDEW, RUST AND DAMAGE TO STORED PROPERTY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAINFALL THE FLOORS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FILL WITH WATER. IT IS SO BAD THAT NOW IT FILTERS OVER INTO THE FRONT SEATS. I HAVE BEEN HAIVNG THIS PROBLEMS FOR A FEW YEARS BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. DEALERS AND AUTO MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCC…
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AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAINFALL THE FLOORS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FILL WITH WATER. IT IS SO BAD THAT NOW IT FILTERS OVER INTO THE FRONT SEATS. I HAVE BEEN HAIVNG THIS PROBLEMS FOR A FEW YEARS BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. DEALERS AND AUTO MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. *NM
Official recalls
501V154000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
May 8, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IN THE PRESENCE OF OIL AND HEAT, THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE COULD SWELL AND LOOSEN FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 2, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
00V366000 · Child Seat
Nov 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
00V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jul 17, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. VAPORS FROM THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM CAN CONDENSE AND FREEZE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN EXTREMELY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM FULLY RETURNING TO IDLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE AND RELOCATE A PCV SYSTEM TUBE.
99V114000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED BETWEEN THE PIVOT TUBE AND THE ARM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS INADEQUATE WELDING COULD ALLOW THE TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE ARM, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.
99V043000 · Air Bags:frontal
Mar 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONTAL (PASSENGER SIDE) AIR BAGS MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
RQ99010 · Control Arm Welds
Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed Feb 5, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Illustration