2000 Dodge NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
327 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
63,891 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 98 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 327 complaints (14.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 69 | 21.1% |
| Steering behavior | 33 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 47 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 21 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 12 |
| Tires | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 47; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 21; Air Bags: 18; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 12; Tires: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 229 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 39 |
| 2001 | 78 |
| 2002 | 60 |
| 2003 | 49 |
| 2004 | 38 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 39; 2001: 78; 2002: 60; 2003: 49; 2004: 38; 2005: 19; 2006: 5; 2007: 8; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 5; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 69 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001662 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
WHEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR CAUSING A COLLISION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009033 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021900 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER WHICH LEFT THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034218 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
WHEN MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE, ALSO SOMETIMES THE KEYS GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. DEALER HAS REPLACED STEERING COLUMN 3 TIMES DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,505 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039597 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
FITTING IN BOTTOM OF RADIATOR POPPED OUT CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT. REPLACED RADIATOR AND 3 MONTHS LATER HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FIXED. AT THE TIME OF THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTION THE CAR HAD 34,000 MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE CAR HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT. THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1, 2003. THE FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, 2003. DAIMLER CHRYSLER ONLY PAID $250.00 TO HAVE RADIATOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF A 5-STAR CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 34,022 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054344 · 2004-01-17 (January 17, 2004)
SEE COMPLAINT 10053281 FOR INITIAL BACK ROUND INFO. RADIATOR REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT TRANSMISSION BLOW-OUT. THAT COST ME $500. THEN WHEN THE 5 STAR DEALER TESTED THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER WANTED 600 JUST TO INVESTIGATE AND SAID THAT IT COULD COST AS MUCH AS $2,500 ADDL TO REPLACE. I JUST READ ABOUT COMPLAINT 10039597 WITH SAME PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A MFG DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT OWNING UP TO. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY EXTENDED COVERAGE. PL…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039215 · 2003-09-20 (September 20, 2003)
AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY WENT OUT FROM COLD TO HOT AIR. CODE IN SYSTEM IS P0645, SAYS A/C CLUTCH RELAY CIRCUIT, AN OPEN OR SHORTED CONDITION DETECTED IN THE A/C CLUTCH RELAY CONTROL CIRCUIT. I BOUGHT THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR DODGE 2000 NEON. I WENT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY SAID A WIRE BREAKS ON THE BLACK HARNESS ATTACHED TO THE CLUTCH RELAY ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHEN THE AIR WENT FROM COLD TO HOT AIR. I CHECKED ALL FUSES ARE OK. THERE IS NO POWER THOUGH TO THE HARNESS TO THE HIGH PRESSURE CUT OUT SWITCH OR THE LOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078299 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)
I OWNED A 2000 DODGE NEON. I LAST DROVE THE VEHICLE ON MAY 25, 2004 AND IT HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT SINCE THAT TIME. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, ON MAY 27, 2004 AT ABOUT 2:45AM MY CAR WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS AND WAS ASLEEP IN MY APARTMENT AT THAT TIME. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE AND ENGINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015560 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005432 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
2000 DODGE NEON I HAD THIS DODGE NEON FOR 3 YEARS NOW ; I FOUND OUT THE OTHER DAY THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKET, FUEL PUMP AND TIMING BELT. I KNOW I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS SO SOON. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME EXACT THING. I AM TRULY UPSET ABOUT THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146012 · 2005-12-23 (December 23, 2005)
2000 DODGE NEON OWNED BY MS. JERRY KIMBELL OF HAUGHTON LOUISIANA BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER REAR END COLLISION. 2000 NEON HAS FUEL SENDING UNIT LOCATED ON BOTTOM OF GAS TANK AND POORLY ROUTED FUEL LINES. ACCORDING TO NHTSA STUDY, COST TO PLACE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON TOP OF TANK AND REROUTE FUEL LINES WOULD ADD ZERO COST IN PRODUCTION. THIS COMPLAINT IS FILED BY SAM GOODWIN, ATTORNEY FOR RENE RIVERS, THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146012 at NHTSA ↗