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.

73 crash reports6 fire reports42 injury reports

What owners actually said

337 reports

74,500 miles · Jan 13, 2005

Electrical System

I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO TWO DIFFERENT 2000 DODGE NEONS. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND THEN I HAVE SMOKING AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE HEADLIGHTS HAS BURNT UP. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IT WILL COST ABOUT 3000 TO REPLACE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106277

85,000 miles · Jan 10, 2005

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION FUEL IT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PLENTY OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THAT ALL OF THE FLUIDS HAD RECENTLY BEEN CHECKED AND CHANGED IF NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10107115

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2005

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DID NOT OPERATE. VEHICLE SPINNED OUT THE ROAD BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106713

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2004

Exterior Lighting

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WIRE HAD BURNED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10105200

31,000 miles · Dec 13, 2004

Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THE CONSUMER STATES THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE SEVEN TIMES. CONTINUOUSLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACT THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10103582

76,250 miles · Dec 9, 2004

Air Bags

THE WORD "AIRBAG" STAYED RED. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR. AS RAIN WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK AND FROM THERE INTO THE FLOOR OF THE BACK SEAT I WONDERED IF THE WATER SEEPED INTO THE CIRCUITRY. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO BRING TO THE DEALER YET - BUT THE AIR BAG…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10102440

71,000 miles · Nov 26, 2004

EquipmentPower TrainTires

Read full complaint

2000 DODGE NEON-I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND USE IT SOLELY FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK. I AM A CAREFUL DRIVER AND DO NOT ABUSE THIS VEHICLE. *AK DURING THESE 5 YRS I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING WORK ON THIS CAR; REPLACED THE BRAKES TWICE WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YRS REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES OVER 5 YEARS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 70K REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT 70K THE CAR PERFORMS VERY POORLY IN ICE AND SNOW. I HAVE SPUN OUT ON SEVERAL MAJOR HIGHWAYS MERELY DOING LESS THAN 10 MPH IN SNOW/SLUSH. I WAS TOLD MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND POOR DESIGN OF MY VEHICLE THAT THIS HAPPENS. MY TIRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED/REPLACED WHEN TREAD WAS GETTING LOW. I RECENTLY PAID $400 FOR A SET OF NEW MICHELIN HARMONY TIRES HOPING THAT THE UPCOMING SNOW AND ICE SEASON MAY NOT KILL ME. CAR HAD A MUSTY/FISHY ODOR WHEN I USED THE HEATER DURING THE FIRST 2 YEARS. THIS HAS SINCE GONE. MY TRANSMISSION DIED DURING A THUNDERSTORM ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. IT GAVE NO WARNING, ALL FLUIDS HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED THE WEEKEND BEFORE WHEN MY OIL WAS CHANGED. THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN OVER $1900 WORTH OF REPAIR CHARGES. I HAD JUST BOUGHT OUT MY LEASE THAT VERY WEEK. THE $1900 I PAID WAS MY ENTIRE SAVINGS. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR WORK OUTSTANDS; CDPLAYER IS DEAD. IT CHEWED UP MY CDS. (1 YEAR) MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BUZZES WHEN I LOCK IT. IT APPARENTLY NEEDS A NEW DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND ACTUATOR. (2ND YEAR) THE TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LOCK. (1ST YEAR).

NHTSA ODI #10100566

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. CONSUMER COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10101104

60,000 miles · Nov 15, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE GROUND. *JB *SC

NHTSA ODI #10097354

34,000 miles · Nov 8, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099579

Official recalls

01V154000 · 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

PE02082 · 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