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2003 Dodge Neon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
202Owner complaints

Model-year median: 173

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 Dodge Neon

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 202 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 72 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 48 reports
  • Power Train: 28 reports
  • Air Bags: 20 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 18 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    337
    2000    146
    2001    173
    2002    202
    2003    94
    2004    95
    2005
    Compare all Neon years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    72    Exterior Lighting
    48    Power Train
    28    Air Bags
    20    Engine And Engine Cooling
    18
    All reported categories
    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    17    Structure
    11    Suspension
    9    Fuel System, Gasoline
    8    Steering
    8    Vehicle Speed Control
    7    Tires
    6    Seat Belts
    5    Unknown Or Other
    5    Visibility
    3    Wheels
    3    Child Seat
    2    Equipment
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Interior Lighting
    1    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Seats
    1    Service Brakes, Air
    1    Visibility/wiper
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    159 reports with mileage · 43 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.

    • Electrical System. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Exterior Lighting. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    23 crash reports20 fire reports17 injury reports

    Power Train complaints

    28 reports
    Clear category filter
    44,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
    Power Train

    I BOUGHT MY 2003 NEON WITH 18,000 MILES. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THE CAR SHIFTED HARD AND SOMETIMES WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. I TOOK TO MY DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASSIONS, ONCE IN 08/03, ONCE IN 12/03, AND ONCE IN 03/04. ALL THREE TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR SHIFTED FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE "DUP…

    Read full complaint

    I BOUGHT MY 2003 NEON WITH 18,000 MILES. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THE CAR SHIFTED HARD AND SOMETIMES WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. I TOOK TO MY DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASSIONS, ONCE IN 08/03, ONCE IN 12/03, AND ONCE IN 03/04. ALL THREE TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR SHIFTED FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE "DUPLICATED". ON 08/04/03, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHNE MY TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND RENDERED MY CAR INOPERABLE AND IMMOBILE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. I WAS GIVEN A TOTALLY NEW TRANSMISSION UNIT. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SHIFTING FUNNY AND IT ALSO HESITATES A LOT, ESPECIALLY IN THE LATE AFTERNOON WHEN IT IS FAIRLY WARM OUT.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10088894

    20,000 miles · Jun 17, 2004
    Power TrainInjury

    INTERMITTENTLY AND AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SWITCHED INTO LOWER GEAR AND STALLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED OVER 20 TIMES SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP OVER SEVEN TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED . CONSUMERS SUSTAINED MINOR LEG AND SHOULDER INJURIES. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10079438

    20 miles · Nov 20, 2003
    Power Train

    3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND THE ENGINE ENGAGED IN NEUTRAL, IT WOULD VIOLENTLY JUMP INTO REVERSE. DODGE FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH REVERSE; CURRENTLY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LUNGE VIOLENTLY FORWARD AFTER STOPPING, FORCING ME TO PUT IN PARK AT LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS; ETC., …

    Read full complaint

    3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND THE ENGINE ENGAGED IN NEUTRAL, IT WOULD VIOLENTLY JUMP INTO REVERSE. DODGE FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH REVERSE; CURRENTLY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LUNGE VIOLENTLY FORWARD AFTER STOPPING, FORCING ME TO PUT IN PARK AT LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS; ETC., TO AVOID REAR-ENDING OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM! *LA

    NHTSA ODI #10047245

    100 miles · Nov 14, 2003
    Power Train

    I HAVE A 2003 DODGE SRT-4 SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD THE GET IN GEARS NO MATER IS YOU'RE DOWN SHIFTING OR UP SHIFTING, I WENT TWICE TO THE DEALER I THEY TOLD ME THAT IS NORMAL BUT I KNOW FROM THE CHATS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS.…

    Read full complaint

    I HAVE A 2003 DODGE SRT-4 SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD THE GET IN GEARS NO MATER IS YOU'RE DOWN SHIFTING OR UP SHIFTING, I WENT TWICE TO THE DEALER I THEY TOLD ME THAT IS NORMAL BUT I KNOW FROM THE CHATS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS. *LA

    NHTSA ODI #10046948

    75,000 miles · Oct 28, 2003
    Power Train

    WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT SHIFT FORT PADS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED WHICH CAUSED THE SHIFT COLLAR NOT TO ENGAGE. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10044847

    Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
    Power Train

    THE TRANSMISSION IN MY DODGE NEON RT 2003 HAS WENT OUT TWICE, THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT W/ NEW ONES... I KNOW A FEW MORE PEOPLE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN IN THESE CARS.. IT'S HAPPENING CONSTATNLY IN THE NEON RT .. MANUAL TRANSMISSION *LA

    NHTSA ODI #10041506

    70 miles · Jul 29, 2003
    Power Train

    TRANSMISSIN FAILURE ON THE INTERSATE W/ A 2 YEAR OLD AND A 6 MONTH OLD CHILDREN IN THE CAR. HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JULY 19, 2004 WITH ONLY 17 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10030379

    Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2003
    Power Train

    WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10031290

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    3

    EA06019 · 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.