Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
370–25K
2925–50K
3750–75K
3075–100K
18100–150K
8150K+
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
What owners actually said
202 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO …
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THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THEY WANTED TO. AFTER ABOUT A DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. IF THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10168307
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2006
Exterior Lighting
I NOTICED ONE DAY THAT A WHITE PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN SHROUD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN SO I CONTINUED TO USE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, THE BRIGHTS HOWEVER WORKED FINE. I COULD WIGGLE THE WIRING IN THE DASH THE …
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I NOTICED ONE DAY THAT A WHITE PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN SHROUD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN SO I CONTINUED TO USE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, THE BRIGHTS HOWEVER WORKED FINE. I COULD WIGGLE THE WIRING IN THE DASH THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THEY WORKED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND BEFORE I COULD GET IN THE HEADLIGHTS DIED COMPLETELY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION STALK UNDER WARRANTY AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE UNTIL I SOLD THE CAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10168219
44,410 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE MULTI-SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL MELTED RENDERING MY HEADLIGHTS (LOW-BEAM) AND FOG LIGHTS INOPERABLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166718
46,500 miles · Aug 25, 2006
Exterior Lighting
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH MELTING/BURNING, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS, BLINKERS AND DASH LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION. PROBLEM NOT PRESENTLY FIXED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166545
65,000 miles · Aug 18, 2006
Electrical System
HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH SHORTING OUT, THE 20 PLUG WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE LIGHTS PORTION OF THE SWITCH GETS LITERALLY BURNT AND MELTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10165909
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2006
Exterior Lighting
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10165269
30,000 miles · Aug 5, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING HARNESS SHORTED AND MELTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10164583
34,900 miles · Jul 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE RATTLES HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STALL. IT HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER REPAIRED TRANSMISSION BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLES BEEN TO THE SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10162892
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2006
Power Train
CAR WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS - CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THEY BLAMED IT ON BAD SYNCHROS. ABOUT 6,000 MILES LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY WORSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT ALL. IT WOULD ONLY GRIND. THEY REPLACED IT AGAIN WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW - ONC…
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CAR WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS - CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THEY BLAMED IT ON BAD SYNCHROS. ABOUT 6,000 MILES LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY WORSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT ALL. IT WOULD ONLY GRIND. THEY REPLACED IT AGAIN WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW - ONCE AGAIN I AM HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR AND SOMETIMES 4TH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10162533
54,400 miles · Jun 5, 2006
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON SRT-4 AND WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I GOT TO WORK AND PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS & TURN SIGNALS) HAD MELTED INTO THE SWITCH. UPON DISCOVERING THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEE…
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I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON SRT-4 AND WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I GOT TO WORK AND PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS & TURN SIGNALS) HAD MELTED INTO THE SWITCH. UPON DISCOVERING THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN HAD WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE DRIVING NEONS FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR, I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS. I SPLICED THE WIRES BACK INTO PLACE AND EVERYTHING WORKED BUT MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE FUSE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BEEN BLOWN AND NEEDED REPLACING AS WELL. QUESTIONS POSED TO DODGE/DAIMLER-CHRYSLER RESULTED IN DEAD ENDS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10159022
Official recalls
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 ↗
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.
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.
2003 Dodge Neon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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