← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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
Clear category filter
74,246 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE STARTED BUCKING.NO MORE GEARS OR SHIFTING INTO DRIVE.LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT. A PIECE OF TRANSMISSION LINE OR FITTING CORRODED AND LET LOOSE INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THIS CAUSED THE MIXING OF FLUIDS INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND COOLING SYSTEM.RADIATOR FAILED AND BLED FLUIDS. RADIATOR…

Read full complaint

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE STARTED BUCKING.NO MORE GEARS OR SHIFTING INTO DRIVE.LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT. A PIECE OF TRANSMISSION LINE OR FITTING CORRODED AND LET LOOSE INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THIS CAUSED THE MIXING OF FLUIDS INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND COOLING SYSTEM.RADIATOR FAILED AND BLED FLUIDS. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND COOLANT SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED. TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO FLUSHED.THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TO MY CO-WORKER THAT HAS THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE(04 DODGE NEON,2.0 LITRE ENGINE,74000 MILES). I SUSPECT IT IS HAPPENING TO EVERY CUSTOMER THAT HAS THAT TYPE AND YEAR NEON. PART NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335488

67,234 miles · Mar 19, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2004 DODGE NEON SXT. TRANSMISSION / COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN ANTIFREEZE MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID DESTROYING TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. DODGE REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY CITING THE COOLING SYSTEM AS THE CAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AND NOT THE POWERTRAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A RARE OC…

Read full complaint

2004 DODGE NEON SXT. TRANSMISSION / COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN ANTIFREEZE MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID DESTROYING TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. DODGE REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY CITING THE COOLING SYSTEM AS THE CAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AND NOT THE POWERTRAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A RARE OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR ONLINE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT IN THESE CARS CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DEALER ESTIMATED 3900 PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320984

48,967 miles · Apr 20, 2009
Power TrainCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT YARD. SHE STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED WITHOUT THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION AND WITH…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT YARD. SHE STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED WITHOUT THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION AND WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,969 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,967.

NHTSA ODI #10266095

69,784 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Power Train

I DROVE MY 2004 DODGE NEON SXT TO SCHOOL LAST TUESDAY AND PARKED IT EVERYTHING FINE. I CAME OUT TO LEAVE STARTED IT AND I HAD NO REVERSE. IT KICKED IN FOR A SECOND AND THEN AGAIN NOTHING. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE SAME THING NOTHING. WHEN I GOT OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD I SAW ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND HAD IT TOWED T…

Read full complaint

I DROVE MY 2004 DODGE NEON SXT TO SCHOOL LAST TUESDAY AND PARKED IT EVERYTHING FINE. I CAME OUT TO LEAVE STARTED IT AND I HAD NO REVERSE. IT KICKED IN FOR A SECOND AND THEN AGAIN NOTHING. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE SAME THING NOTHING. WHEN I GOT OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD I SAW ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I HAVE A 70,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WITH 69,765 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER SAID RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING TRANS FLUID AND COOLANT TO MIX THROUGH OUT. ALBANY DODGE TRIED TO TELL ME I DIDN'T HAVE A 7YR 70K WARRANTY ONLY AFTER THE PRODUCTION OF ALL MY ORIGINAL PAPER WORK THEY AGREED TO FIX TRANS. BUT NOT RADIATOR OR COOLANT SYSTEM THEY WANT OVER 600$ I CALLED AROUND AND FOUND A PLACE FOR 250$ AFTER ALL THE TOWS AND EVERYTHING 450$ LATER MY CAR IS AT ALBANY DODGE FOR THE TRANS WORK AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY THEM 100$ DEDUCTIBLE. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 25 OTHER TIMES THE SAME WAY WITH OUT WARNING! I AM DISGUSTED ABOUT THE HOOPS I HAD TO JUMP THROUGH FOR MY WARRANTY TO BE HONORED THEN TO FIND OUT THAT ITS ALL REVOLVED AROUND THESE FAULTY RADIATORS USED IN THE 99-05 MODELS AND HAS HAPPENED LIKE CLOCK WORK AT AN AVERAGE OF 66,883 I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE CHRYSLER AS A WHOLE HAS MADE QUIT A BIT OF MONEY AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM PLEASE TAKE A LOOK IT TOOK ME A 1/2 AN HOUR TO FIND OVER 10 OF THE SAME EXACT STORY AS MINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260827

96,978 miles · Feb 13, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS SERVICED. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACT WAS LEAKING AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $1,000, OF WHICH THE CONTACT PAID $865. TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP W…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS SERVICED. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACT WAS LEAKING AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $1,000, OF WHICH THE CONTACT PAID $865. TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATED. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,978.

NHTSA ODI #10258570

35,000 miles · Feb 8, 2007
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

UPON PURCHASING MY CAR, BRAND NEW IN 2004, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT. AFTER A SHORT YEAR OF HAVING MY CAR MY POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT, SHORTLY AFTER MY FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS STOPPED WORKING AND MY RADIO/CD PLAYER OFTEN DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY...CD DISCS WILL GET STUCK IN PLAYER AND CONTINUALLY PLAY UNTIL CAR IS SHUT OFF AN…

Read full complaint

UPON PURCHASING MY CAR, BRAND NEW IN 2004, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT. AFTER A SHORT YEAR OF HAVING MY CAR MY POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT, SHORTLY AFTER MY FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS STOPPED WORKING AND MY RADIO/CD PLAYER OFTEN DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY...CD DISCS WILL GET STUCK IN PLAYER AND CONTINUALLY PLAY UNTIL CAR IS SHUT OFF AND SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN RESOLVE PROBLEM. FRONT BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK AND GROAN CONSTANTLY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO HAVE THEM TRY TO FIX BRAKES. WHILE HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STARTED TO CHUG AND JERK FREQUENTLY. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED #4 CYLINDER MISFIRE, HAD PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED, HOWEVER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING CAR <10 MILES. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO FIX, ON THE FOURTH OCCASION THEY FINALLY FOUND A BROKEN RING LEADING TO THE MOTOR, PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. I THEN CALLED WARRANTY PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THAT MY RING IS COVERED UNDER MY POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE RING COULDN'T BE FIXED. WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE WIRING WAS FAULTY IN THE RADIO PLAYER AND NOT THE SPEAKERS.

NHTSA ODI #10182021

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2006
Power Train

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2004 DODGE NEON SRT IN AUGUST OF 2004. WITHIN TWO MONTHS MY CARS VALUE DEPRECIATED OVER HALF WHAT I PAID. WHEN MY MILEAGE HIT 11,000 I STARTED HAVING A LOT OF TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE. AT 12,000 MILES I HAD A NEW SOLENOID PUT ON, STILL LEAKED. TOOK IT AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY CHANGED GASKETS. TWO WEEKS LAT…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2004 DODGE NEON SRT IN AUGUST OF 2004. WITHIN TWO MONTHS MY CARS VALUE DEPRECIATED OVER HALF WHAT I PAID. WHEN MY MILEAGE HIT 11,000 I STARTED HAVING A LOT OF TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE. AT 12,000 MILES I HAD A NEW SOLENOID PUT ON, STILL LEAKED. TOOK IT AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY CHANGED GASKETS. TWO WEEKS LATER THEY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE MINE WAS POROUS. NOW HERE I AM TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER AND 39,000 MILES AND I AM LEAKING AGAIN. THEY SUSPECT I NEED YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. TWO TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 40,000 MILES THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING UP HERE. WE ARE GETTING RID OF IT ASAP! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10170471

50,000 miles · Oct 2, 2006
Power Train

THIS IS ON BEHALF OF MANY OWNERS OF 2003-2005 DODGE NEON SRT-4 VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS THOSE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS COMMONLY HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION CEASES TO FUNCTION ENTIRELY LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE…

Read full complaint

THIS IS ON BEHALF OF MANY OWNERS OF 2003-2005 DODGE NEON SRT-4 VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS THOSE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS COMMONLY HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION CEASES TO FUNCTION ENTIRELY LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WITH LESS THAN 10K MILES ON THEIR CAR. I HAVE 65K MILES AND I AM ON MY 2ND TRANSMISSION AND NOW IT IS STARTING TO ACT UP AS WELL. MOST DEALERS WILL NOT WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS DEFECT STATING THAT IT IS DRIVER ABUSE OR DUE TO MODS DONE ON THE VEHICLE (IN VIOLATION OF THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT). THE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169710

43,000 miles · Jul 18, 2006
Power TrainCrash

I PURCHASED A 2004 NEON SXT ON NOVEMBER 23, 2004. MILEAGE ON DELIVERY WAS 200. IN DECEMBER OF 2004, THE SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONED. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THIS AND MY BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY COVERED IT. ON MARCH 5, 2005, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR THIS S…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A 2004 NEON SXT ON NOVEMBER 23, 2004. MILEAGE ON DELIVERY WAS 200. IN DECEMBER OF 2004, THE SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONED. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THIS AND MY BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY COVERED IT. ON MARCH 5, 2005, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. ON MARCH 23, 2005, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS TIME THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH MY TIMING CHAIN CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN! IT WOULD REACH SPEEDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WITHOUT APPLYING GAS! THE DEALER REPAIRED THIS, AGAIN COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. IN JUNE 2006, THE PROBLEM RECURRED CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. OUT OF NO WHERE, WITH NO WARNING, AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER, THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND MY CAR TOOK OFF! I COULD NOT STOP IT! ITS 5PM, THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND CARS A WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT! I DROVE IN BETWEEN LANES TO AVOID HITTING OTHERS! I FINALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (DIDN'T STOP) THEN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET! AS I DID THIS I HIT TWO CARS. IM SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE MY HORROR! ITS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET NOR WANT TO RELIVE. IM SENDING YOU THIS LETTER BECAUSE IM NOW FACED WITH A DILEMMA. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. NOW WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE POWER TRAIN WAS ALL ENGINE RELATED PARTS. NOW ACCORDING TO YOUR WARRANTY MANUAL, THE TIMING CHAIN IS AN ENGINE PART AND IS COVERED BY THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WHY AM I HAVING A PROBLEM? BESIDES THIS, I NO LONGER WANT TO DRIVE THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE! WHO KNOWS WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND WHERE ILL BE! I RISK INJURING MYSELF AND ANYONE IN THE PATH OF THAT CAR! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162755

8,000 miles · Mar 11, 2006
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HARD IN A PARKING LOT, AND THEN BOOOM CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAME APART. THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAME OUT SO HARD IT WENT THROUGH THE HOOD AND CUT THE CORE SUPPORT IN HALF. IT ALSO WENT THOUGH RADIATOR, STARTER, AND THROTTLE BODY. THERE WERE PEOPLE STANDING ALL AROUND LUCKILY NO WAS HURT. IT THROW PIECES OF CL…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HARD IN A PARKING LOT, AND THEN BOOOM CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAME APART. THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAME OUT SO HARD IT WENT THROUGH THE HOOD AND CUT THE CORE SUPPORT IN HALF. IT ALSO WENT THOUGH RADIATOR, STARTER, AND THROTTLE BODY. THERE WERE PEOPLE STANDING ALL AROUND LUCKILY NO WAS HURT. IT THROW PIECES OF CLUTCH ABOUT 50 FEET IN FRONT OF CAR. DODGE WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR OR EVEN FIX IT. SO I HAD TO BUY ALL PARTS AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED. WENT WITH A DIFFERENT CLUTCH TOO. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152462

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.