2002 Dodge NEON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
173 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 173 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 27 | 15.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 23 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Structure | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Electrical System: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Air Bags: 9; Structure: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Power Train: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 30 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 60 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2002: 20; 2003: 26; 2004: 31; 2005: 13; 2006: 21; 2007: 11; 2008: 12; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2011: 9; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001001 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
I TURNED THE KEY THAT MORNING TO GO TO WORK, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD. I CALLED CHRYLER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, SENT A TOW TRUCK, GAVE ME A JUMP, I LET THE CAR RUN FOR 45 MINUTES BEFORE GOING TO WORK, I STARTED DRIVING, DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE BLINKING LIKE CRAZY, THE GAS GUAGE KEPT MOVING UP & DOWN, AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DROVE TO CARMAX/LOS ANGELES AND THEY WERE CLOSED. I DROVE HOME, WOULDN'T RESTART, CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AGAIN, CAR TOWED TO DODGE DEALER (ON MANCHESTER & ISIS/INGLEWOOD). I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY CELL HAD DIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001619 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT PANEL COLLISION ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003952 · 2002-12-21 (December 21, 2002)
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE SAFETY BELTS. THE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE BELT WHICH CREATED TENSION TO MAKE THE BELT TIGHTEN TO KEEP IT FROM BECOMING LOOSE BROKE THREE TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003981 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND DID NOT GO OUT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK. *NLM *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005659 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THIS CAR HAS USED MORE THAN 10 QUARTS OF OIL SINCE NEW (NOT COUNTING CHANGES). IT HAS JUST OVER 20K MILES NOW AND STILL USES OIL. IT DOES NOT SMOKE OR LEAK. THE FUEL MILEAGE IS NOWHERE NEAR THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING NO BRAKE LIGHTS JUST AFTER PURCHASE. AFTER TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER (AND THE SERVICE WRITER TELLING US THAT WE REMOVED THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER ADAPTER WRONG), THEY DISCOVERED THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE BACKUP LIGHTS WAS CRUSHED BY THE SHIFTER IN REVERSE AND SHORTED THE LIGHTS. AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT PO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007820 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN TWICE FOR A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO TIRE WEAR AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE FREE OF COST. I TOOK THE CAR IN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS LATER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL TIRE WEAR AND THEY NOTHING ABOUT IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,326 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011530 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015080 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED AT 9000 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015080 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.