IllustrationVEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK
2002 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
300–25K
3025–50K
2450–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
5150K+
113 reports with mileage · 60 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
25 reportsTHIS 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 SERVI…
Read full complaint
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 POOR STARTING AND SHUDDERING AFTER A COLD SOAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INJECTOR O-RINGS, WHICH SOLVED THE SHUDDER, BUT NOT THE MILEAGE. NOTHING HAS HELPED THE OIL USAGE, NOT EVEN THE TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE A BAFFLE IN THE VALVE COVER AND AN "OIL CONSUMPTION" TEST, WHICH WE PERFORMED. YES, IT USES OIL. I SHOULD'VE BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A NISSAN, OR, LIKE I JUST BOUGHT MYSELF, A BRAND NEW FORD PICKUP. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST DAIMLER-CHRYSLER PRODUCT...EVER!
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 B…
Read full complaint
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 DISLOCATED, REPLACED BATTERY AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 12/20/02: DRIVING HOME ON THE 405 FREEWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND ALL THE DASHBOARD GUAGES WERE GOING UP AND DOWN, THE RADIO CUT OFF, AND THE GAS GUAGE WAS GOING CRAZY. I WAS AT THE CENTURY BLVD EXIT, I MADE A SHARP TURN TO GET OFF ON CENTURY, THEN THE CAR JUST CUT ON BY ITSELF. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUNT 1 MILE AND THE CAR TOTALLY WENT DEAD. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS OR POWER. I CALLED FOR A TOW, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DOWNTOWN LA DODGE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS LOOSE, IT WAS TIGHTENED AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS.. 12/23/02: DROVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE (1/4) MILE, CAR CUT-OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MY FRIEND CAME, TOUCHED THE BATTERY CABLE, AND THE CAR STARTED. WHEN I DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER 1/4 MILE, THE CAR SHUT-OFF AGAIN. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SELLER (SANTA MONICA NISSAN), THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 31, I REC'D A CALL FROM BUERGE DODGE, THEY HAD TO RE-WIRE THE ENTIRE CAR.. 01/10/03: I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR ACCELERATED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLET STOP, MY CO-WORKER INSTRUCTED ME TO OPEN THE HOOD, SHE TOUCHED THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE CAR STARTED. I CAME HOME AND LEFT MSSGS FOR THE BUERGE DODGE SERVICE PERSON (JEREMY BATTAT) TO CALL ME BACK AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM.
CAR TOOK ON WATER FROM THE "AIR INTAKE" PORT CAUSING ME TO STOP--HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IT STOPPED--ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER THE ENGINE SEIZED FROM THE RAIN WATER INTAKE--SAME DAY IT COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN--WAS FROM A RUSTED STARTER AS PER DODGE DEALER--CAR WAS SOLD BACK TO DODGE DEALER AT A LOSS
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP, DURING INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR INTAKE PORT LAYS UNDER THE VEHICLE PARALLEL TO THE WHEEL AND IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WATER COMING OF…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP, DURING INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR INTAKE PORT LAYS UNDER THE VEHICLE PARALLEL TO THE WHEEL AND IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WATER COMING OFF THE ROAD AND BEING DISPLACED BY THE MOVING TIRE, CONSUMER ARGUED THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE IT SEEMED TO BE IN THE WRONG LOCATION, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN IN HIGH WATER, HOWEVER CONSUMER DISAGREES AND STATES THAT YES IT WAS RAINING, BUT THE WATER WAS NOT THAT HIGH, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE BLOCK.*JB
Official recalls
0No 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
3EA06019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Nov 22, 2006 · Closed Nov 7, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
PE06028 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 28, 2006 · Closed Nov 22, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.