Dodge NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,581 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 759 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 614 of 2,581 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 364 | 14.1% |
| Steering behavior | 222 | 8.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 196 | 7.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 190 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 156 | 6.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 47 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 614 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 198 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 170 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 136 |
| Electrical System | 131 |
| Unknown Or Other | 95 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 93 |
| Air Bags | 89 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 614; Air Bags:Frontal: 198; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 170; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 136; Electrical System: 131; Unknown Or Other: 95; Engine And Engine Cooling: 93; Air Bags: 89
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 136 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 168 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 183 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 129 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 102 |
| 150,000 and above | 41 |
Under 25,000: 136; 25,000 to 49,999: 168; 50,000 to 74,999: 183; 75,000 to 99,999: 129; 100,000 to 149,999: 102; 150,000 and above: 41
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (183). 1,822 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 147 |
| 1996 | 97 |
| 2000 | 470 |
| 2001 | 466 |
| 2002 | 309 |
| 2003 | 258 |
| 2004 | 221 |
| 2005 | 118 |
| 2006 | 96 |
| 2007 | 63 |
| 2008 | 67 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 50 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
1995: 147; 1996: 97; 2000: 470; 2001: 466; 2002: 309; 2003: 258; 2004: 221; 2005: 118; 2006: 96; 2007: 63; 2008: 67; 2009: 45; 2010: 50; 2011: 37; 2012: 28; 2013: 23; 2014: 30; 2015: 22; 2016: 11; 2017: 7; 2018: 8; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 364 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 222 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 196 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 10020805 · 2003-05-31 (May 31, 2003)
TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE. WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE IT MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. SHIFTED HARSHLY FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKES SQUEALED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAMSHAFT SEAL LEAKED OIL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE VALVE COVER GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050835 · 2003-12-20 (December 20, 2003)
I OWN A 1995 DODGE NEON AND IT HAS A MAJOR HEADGASKET OIL LEAK THAT A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED. THE HEADGASKET LEAK HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM ADDING A QUART OF OIL EVERY THREE DAYS. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE IS COVERED IN OIL. I CHECKED THE NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION REPORTS AND MANY CONSUMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. EVERY TIME I DRIVE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNED OIL. ON 12-15-2003 SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT START AN ENGINE FIRE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 985776 · 1996-06-18 (June 18, 1996)
LOSS OF POWER STEERING, WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATED DURING WET CONDITIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023092 · 2003-06-15 (June 15, 2003)
THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAUSED BY THE WIRING I HAD MY 3 WEEK OLD SON IN THE CAR AND HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET IT OUT I HAVE NOT FOUND OUT YET HOW BADLY THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DAMAGED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961656 · 1995-03-10 (March 10, 1995)
TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE IN GEAR BECAUSE CLUTCH WAS TOTALLY FRIED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018589 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
HAVE HAD THE CAR (1995 NEON) ABOUT 1 YEAR - ONLY HAD 61,000 MILES ON IT AND MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - TRANSMISSION SLIPS, IN RAIN ACTS AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL OR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, GETS NO POWER IN WET CONDITIONS EITHER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028501 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
FUEL PUMP (20A) FUSE RANDOMLY BLOWS. 30A FUSES USED AND ALSO RANDOMLY BLOW CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM WITH FUEL PUMP ITSELF. O2 SENSOR AND EGR VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED. MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE CAUSE BUT HAVE FOUND DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF CIRCUIT/WIRING DIAGRAMS FOR THIS '95 NEON SPORT MODEL VEHICLE. MECHANICS HAVE ALSO RECEIVED VARYING ADVICE FROM DODGE DEALERSHIPS ON THE CAUSE AND REMEDY. RESULT IS SAFETY HAZARD TO VEHICLE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS IF THE SYSTEM FAILS IN TRAFFIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959267 · 1995-01-26 (January 26, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED/STOPPED DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959267 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 6; 1996: 2; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0