IllustrationCAR GETS GAS MILEAGE OF 16.5 - 17.8 MPG CITY. ADVERTISES 22 - 28, HWY 26.6 ADVERTISES 26-38. ATTITUDE IS SYSTEMS CHECK SO TOUGH LUCK. MR
2002 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
300–25K
3025–50K
2450–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
5150K+
113 reports with mileage · 60 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.
- Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
173 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION AT APPROX 40-45MPH. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SCC
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED "NEW" WITH ALL SEASONAL TIRES, P18560R15. THIS VEHICLE CAN ONLY USE SNOW OR STUDDED TIRES IF OWNER PURCHASES 4 MORE NEW TIRES WITH DIFFERENT SIZE, P18565R15. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY THAT OWNER CAN HAVE SNOW TIRES. IT IS NOT AVAILABLE BY TIRE SIZE THAT WAS PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. MANUFACTUR…
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THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED "NEW" WITH ALL SEASONAL TIRES, P18560R15. THIS VEHICLE CAN ONLY USE SNOW OR STUDDED TIRES IF OWNER PURCHASES 4 MORE NEW TIRES WITH DIFFERENT SIZE, P18565R15. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY THAT OWNER CAN HAVE SNOW TIRES. IT IS NOT AVAILABLE BY TIRE SIZE THAT WAS PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO SEE IF RESOLUTION WOULD BE GIVEN, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
CAR TOOK ON WATER FROM THE "AIR INTAKE" PORT CAUSING ME TO STOP--HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IT STOPPED--ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER THE ENGINE SEIZED FROM THE RAIN WATER INTAKE--SAME DAY IT COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN--WAS FROM A RUSTED STARTER AS PER DODGE DEALER--CAR WAS SOLD BACK TO DODGE DEALER AT A LOSS
WHILE TRVELING AT 40 MILES DOWN HILL CONSUMER WAS BLINDED BY THE SUN, AND HIT ANOTHER DRIVER ON FRONT SIDE. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP, DURING INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR INTAKE PORT LAYS UNDER THE VEHICLE PARALLEL TO THE WHEEL AND IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WATER COMING OF…
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CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP, DURING INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR INTAKE PORT LAYS UNDER THE VEHICLE PARALLEL TO THE WHEEL AND IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WATER COMING OFF THE ROAD AND BEING DISPLACED BY THE MOVING TIRE, CONSUMER ARGUED THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE IT SEEMED TO BE IN THE WRONG LOCATION, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN IN HIGH WATER, HOWEVER CONSUMER DISAGREES AND STATES THAT YES IT WAS RAINING, BUT THE WATER WAS NOT THAT HIGH, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE BLOCK.*JB
TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AIR CONDITION DOES NOT GET VERY COLD, 15 MILES PER GALLON, STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE AFTER 45MPH, FRONT AND BACK BRAKES SQUEAK, MINOR LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE DASH BOARD, CAR STARTS TO VIBRATE HARSHLY IN A DRIVE IDLE AT A RED LIGHT, CAR STALLS WHILE SITTING IN PARK, CAR STALLS WHIL…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AIR CONDITION DOES NOT GET VERY COLD, 15 MILES PER GALLON, STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE AFTER 45MPH, FRONT AND BACK BRAKES SQUEAK, MINOR LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE DASH BOARD, CAR STARTS TO VIBRATE HARSHLY IN A DRIVE IDLE AT A RED LIGHT, CAR STALLS WHILE SITTING IN PARK, CAR STALLS WHILE GOING IN REVERSE ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, AND WHEN EVER I PUT DOWN MY WINDOWS, OPEN MY SUN ROOF OR EVER HAVE THE AIR CONDITION ON, YOU CAN FEEL AND HEAR THE CAR JUST LOSE POWER WHEN I DO ONE OF THOSE THINGS DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO GO TO A DIFFERENT GAS STATION, TO SOLVE MY GAS PROBLEM, COME ON 15MPG THATS A CAR DEFECT, ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THEY TOLD ME THEIR COMPUTER DID NOT DETECT ANYTHING AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT AND THEY COULDNT DO NOTHING. CALLED CHRYSLER HEAD QUARTERS, I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE CALLED MY NEIGHBOR TO GET HELP. CHRYSLER HEAD QUARTERS CALLED DEALERSHIP UP AND TOLD THEM TO HOOK UP A CO-PILOT TO MONITOR MY CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THEIR'S DID NOT WORK ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER DODGE DEALERSHIPS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE OR CHRYSLER CAR AGAIN.. BECAUSE OF ALL THESE PROBLEMS I AM STUCK PAYING 400 BUCKS A MONTH WITH A 20% INTEREST RATE ON A LEMON CAR...NEONS NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. NOW I AM SELLING THE CAR FOR A LOSE BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT FIX OR MAKE A CAR THE RIGHT WAY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER DROVE OVER A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THEN, BECAME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. HOWEVER , DEALER STATED IT WAS CONSUMER'S NEGLECT ON DRIVING AROUND PUDDLE.MECHANIC STATED WATER WAS ABLE TO GET INTO ENGINE.*AK
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I DROVE INTO THE BACK OF A CAR GOING 35 MPH AND NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I AM CONCERNED IN THAT THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTERS, AND HAD THEY BEEN DRIVING IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN THEY WOULD FAIL TO CATCH PROPERLY. THIS CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. FOR THE BRAKES TO CATCH, SOMETIMES, WOULD NEED TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
3EA06019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Nov 22, 2006 · Closed Nov 7, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
PE06028 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 28, 2006 · Closed Nov 22, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
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.