Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Dodge Neon problems
Owners filed 151 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Neon with NHTSA between Nov 2000 and Mar 2020. The most-cited component is air bags (33).
Complaints
151
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
35
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags33
- Electrical system26
- Service brakes, hydraulic21
- Engine and engine cooling16
- Steering15
- Structure13
- Vehicle speed control10
- Exterior lighting10
- Power train7
- Seat belts7
- Equipment6
- Suspension5
- Tires3
- Latches/locks/linkages3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
26
37
26
20
11
7
6
3
0
3
3
0
1
2
2
0
1
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
33 reports24 crashes
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.”
Electrical system
26 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“THIS CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, AND FOGLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY BLOWS FUSES. THE DEALER QUOTED ME OVER $98.00 PER HOUR TO "DIAGNOSE" THE PROBLEM, AND COULD NOT OFFER ANY HOPE OF HOW MANY HOURS IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AS NO CIRCUIT COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN ALTERED IN ANY WAY. I OBTAINED A NEW MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, HOPING THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS CRACKED DUE TO HEAT AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THE INDIVIDUAL SPADE CONNECTORS ARE BLACKENED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CURRENT DRAW THROUGH THEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT BEST, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC AT WORST.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
21 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED, AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 01V154000 PERTAINING TO THE SERVICE BRAKES POWER ASSIST VACUUM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.”
Engine and engine cooling
16 reports1 crash
“WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT MADE A LOUD TICKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE AIR COMPRESSOR. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF TSB#24-04-00 BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER INVOLVING THIS COMPONENT.*AK”
Steering
15 reports4 crashes
“RECENTLY PURCHASED MY NEON STILL HAVE TO REGISTER IT IN MY NAME WHEN THE FRONT BUSSINGS IN THE STABILIZER BAR LITERLY FELL OUT AND I WAS IN A RURAL AREA N HAD TO TIE IT TOGETHER USING SHOE LACES AND WIRE THAT I FOUND I THOUGHT TO LOOK ON THE RECALLS LIST TO FIND MY NEON HAS ALMOST EVERY PROBLEM LISTED ON THE SAFTY RECALL FOR A 2001 NEON I AM A SINGLE PARENT FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT THIS IS MINE AND MY DAUGHTERS ONLY TRANSPORTATION SOME ONE LOOKED UNDER IT AND SAID OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE AT RISK EVERY TIME WE GET INTO THE CAR HOW DO I GET THESES THINGS FIXED WHAT DO I DO THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION N GOT VERY WOBBLEY ALLSO THE ENGINE WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT ON BREAK GETS RUFF AND WILL DIE SOMETIMES I PUT BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT BRIOR TO THE BUSHING FALLING OUT FROM FIRESTONE AND THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN PROBLEM IF IT WASNT SOME KIND OF DEFECT, I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR MAINTENENCE OIL CHANGE SPARK PLUGS COIL PACKS FUEL FILTERECT”
Structure
13 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK OIL WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,189.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.