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2004 Dodge Neon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 21 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 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

23 reports
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139,000 miles · Nov 9, 2017
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BUT, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BUT, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A PLASTIC PIECE THAT SEPARATED THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID FRACTURED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11044792

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2015
Power TrainSteeringStructure

THE FRONT FRAME THAT HOLDS ENGINE,STRUTS, BRAKES , STEERING ARE ROTTED OUT FROM RUST CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES AND POSSIBLE INJURIES AND DEATH !!!!!!!!!!! CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THESE ISSUES AND WONT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678930

54,000 miles · Dec 19, 2013
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATOR LEAKED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO CONTAMINATE ENGINE, AND ALSO CONTAMINATED TRANSMISSION WITH RADIATOR FLUID. CALLED CHRYSLER CORP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL ON IT AND DID NOT OFFER TO HELP WITH IT. WHEN I GOOGLE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. *…

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TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATOR LEAKED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO CONTAMINATE ENGINE, AND ALSO CONTAMINATED TRANSMISSION WITH RADIATOR FLUID. CALLED CHRYSLER CORP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL ON IT AND DID NOT OFFER TO HELP WITH IT. WHEN I GOOGLE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556627

153 miles · Jul 25, 2012
Power Train

I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2004 WHEN DRIVING TO SCHOOL THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN WHICH WAS VERY RISKY. IT WAS REVVING UP TO 3200 RPM ATG 40 MPH I HAD TO PULL BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW A LEAK BEHIND THE PLATE ON THE TRANSMISSION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOO BAD. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY R…

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I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2004 WHEN DRIVING TO SCHOOL THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN WHICH WAS VERY RISKY. IT WAS REVVING UP TO 3200 RPM ATG 40 MPH I HAD TO PULL BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW A LEAK BEHIND THE PLATE ON THE TRANSMISSION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOO BAD. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ON THIS CAR BECAUSE I CAN SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINS FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES REGARDING THE NEONS REVVING UP OR ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467602

74,000 miles · Jan 17, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING UNDERNEATH IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE FLUSHED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING UNDERNEATH IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10444106

134,526 miles · Jan 6, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF DRIVE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID SPILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FLU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF DRIVE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID SPILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FLUID TO CONTAMINATE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,526.

NHTSA ODI #10442694

134,000 miles · Jan 6, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE NEON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I LOST ACCELERATION AND IT SPEWED TRANSMISSION FLUID (AND MIXED WITH WHAT I LATER FOUND OUT WAS COOLING FLUID) ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE CAR COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND IS INOPERABLE. THE MECHANIC LATER DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR HAD FAILED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUS…

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THE NEON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I LOST ACCELERATION AND IT SPEWED TRANSMISSION FLUID (AND MIXED WITH WHAT I LATER FOUND OUT WAS COOLING FLUID) ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE CAR COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND IS INOPERABLE. THE MECHANIC LATER DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR HAD FAILED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442685

51,000 miles · Mar 8, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE RADIATOR CRACKED WHICH LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WHICH ENDED UP COSTING ME OVER $2,000 TO REPLACE. THE COOLANT LINE OR WHATEVER RUNS INTO THE TRANSMISSION SO WHEN THE RADIATOR LINE OR WHATEVER CRACKS IT ALLOWS COOLANT TO TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND DAMAGES THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386799

66,447 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER FROM REGARDING DODGE PROBLEMS. *KB 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE HOOD WAS EXTREMELY TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND NOISES AND LIQUIDS WER…

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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER FROM REGARDING DODGE PROBLEMS. *KB 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE HOOD WAS EXTREMELY TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND NOISES AND LIQUIDS WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IN THE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, HOSES AND THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE ENGINE WAS FLUSHED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10352111

46,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train

DRIVING 2004 DODGE NEON, BOUGHT NEW, GETTING ON INTERSTATE UP TO SPEED WHEN ENGINE BEGAN TO STUMBLE, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 2000 RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NURSED THE CAR HOME AT 40MPH AND RAN OBDII SCAN. GOT A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR INTERMITTENT SIGNAL FAILURE…

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DRIVING 2004 DODGE NEON, BOUGHT NEW, GETTING ON INTERSTATE UP TO SPEED WHEN ENGINE BEGAN TO STUMBLE, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 2000 RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NURSED THE CAR HOME AT 40MPH AND RAN OBDII SCAN. GOT A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR INTERMITTENT SIGNAL FAILURE CODE. REPLACED SENSOR FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS ON 2-18-2009. CAR RAN FINE UNTIL 7-7-2010 WHEN SAME THING OCCURRED. PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC TO GET UP TO SPEED WHEN ENGINE STOPPED PULLING AND STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. HAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR WOULD RUN BUT NOT OVER 2000 RPM . GOT IT HOME AND SCANNED IT AND SURE ENOUGH SAME DEFECT CODE, CAM SHAFT POSITION SIGNAL INTERMITTENT. CHANGED IT OUT WITH ONE FROM AUTOZONE WITH A TWO YEAR WARRANTY. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD ONE IN THIS CAR AND IT ONLY HAS 46000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343354

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.