Problems · by component

2000 Dodge Neon electrical system problems

42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Dodge Neon cite electrical system, 12% of all 361 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
42
12% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TURNING SIGNAL HEADLIGHTS 80% FAILURE, WHEN TEMPERATURE IN VEHICLE OVER 100 DEGREES. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ENGAGED, ALL REAR MARKING LAMPS, SIDE, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED, AND FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN IN OFF POSITION. I SPOKE TO A TECH OFF THE RECORD, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR COLLISION SINCE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT VISIBLE TO DRIVER. WHEN TEMP IN CAR WENT DOWN LATER THAT EVENING, SWITCH WORKED. TODAY IN THE AM IT WORKED, BUT FAILED THIS AFTERNOON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2007Exterior lighting, Electrical systemODI 10203382
“I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR BACK AND FORTH FROM COLLEGE AND RUNNING ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE A COMPLETELY STOCKED 2000 DODGE NEON ES. I USE THE HEADLIGHTS MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN DURING THE DAY, TO INCREASE VISIBILITY. ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY TOWN. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING BUT NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT SINCE I WAS NEAR A RURAL AREA THAT COULD HAVE CAMP FIRES LIT. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AS THEY USED TO. THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES NOT. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS JUST A SWITCH AND NOT A BIG DEAL SO I DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. THEN MY HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I DID A BIT OF RESEARCH TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I STUMBLED UPON A WEBSITE AND READ ABOUT LOOKING AT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST GOT FINISHED CHECKING OUT MY CAR. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE MFS IS MELTED AS HAS EVIDENCE OF BURN MARKS. THE HEADLIGHTS CURRENTLY WORK BUT THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS DO NOT. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE MELTED HARNESS AND WILL SEND THEM TO WHOEVER I NEED TO. I HAVE READ UP ON…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2007Electrical systemODI 10198348
“MAKE: DODGE MODEL: NEON TYPE: PASSENGER CAR YEAR: 2000 SUMMARY: AS NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, WITH ANY HEAVY RAINFALL, THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEATS FILLS WITH WATER (UP TO AN INCH OR MORE). APPEARS TO BE ENTERING THROUGH THE TRUNK AREA, AS THE SPARE TIRE WELL ALSO FILLS WITH WATER. USING SPONGES AND A SHOPVAC TO SOAK UP THE WATER AND THEN LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN TO DRY IT OUT IS MY ONLY REMEDY TO THE MOISTURE AND ODOR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. THE DEALER IS OF NO HELP BECAUSE (MERCIFULLY FOR OTHERS) THAT DEAL WENT BANKRUPT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. I HAVE A LITANY OF OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE 2000 NEON. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE (CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY - PARTLY A PROBLEM WITH RECORDS AS THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE/INITIAL MAINTENANCE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS), EACH TIME I START THE CAR, THE FUSE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND LOOK OK. AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT I HAVE NO FUNCTIONING INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS OR EXTERIOR BACKUP LIGHTS. REPEATED EFFORTS BY SEVERAL REPAIR FACILITIES TO LOCATE THE CORRECT HARNESS HAVE FAILED. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 72,000 MILES OF RELATIVELY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2006Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, StructureODI 10150653
“THE CAR IDLES VERY HIGH AND THEN ACCELERATES TO HIGHER SPEEDS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE IS A HIGH ACCELERATION BOOSTS AND SPURTS WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN NOT USED DAILY, SUCH AS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR, BUT NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND WITH EITHER PARTS UPON INSPECTIONS BY A MECHANIC. FRONT AXLES POP WHEN TURNING. KEY IS HARD TO DISENGAGE OR REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY SQUEALING AND WEAR EVERY 3-6 MONTHS REGARDLESS F HOW THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THOUGH IT MAY OR NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME, THE FOLD DOWN SEATS IN THE REAR SEAT DO NOT HAVE A DISENGAGE LEVER FROM THE TRUNK. OVER-HEAD DOME LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HAS FAULTY WIRING, SO THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED THE DOME LIGHT NEVER SHUTS OFF. THERE IS CONSTANTLY A FUSE LIGHT THAT FLASHES IN MY DASH, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL ARE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER, THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE WARNING LIGHT STILL FLASHES. THE UTILITY OUTLET/CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET DOESN'T AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED SINCE THE CAR WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Interior lightingODI 10144012
“I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE PUT $750 INTO REPAIRS AND HAVE ESTIMATES FOR $1000 MORE WORTH OF REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEMS INCLUDED A REAR MAIN OIL SEAL LEAK, AN OIL PAN GASKET LEAK, AND A DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH LEAK. THERE WAS ALSO A BENT WHEEL, DAMAGED TIRE, AND BAD STARTER. THE DEALER (DICK MORRIS CHEVROLET) WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Tires, WheelsODI 10137227
“DT: WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND FIRST STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE LANE THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON ,AND THE CAR WAS IN FIRST GEAR. WHEN TRYING TO PLACE CAR IN SECOND GEAR CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT AND FELT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE GEARS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO THE NEAREST TURNOFF LANE. A POLICE OFFICER FOLLOWED CONSUMER AS TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THE CROSSOVER CABLE BROKE. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. CONSUMER HAD THIS REPAIRED AND HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE REPAIR. *AK THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE GASKET WERE REPLACED BECAUSE WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE CAR DURING RAINSTORM. THE RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT CRACKED. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2005Power train, Electrical system, StructureODI 10130298

Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.