Problems · by component

2002 Dodge Neon electrical system problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Neon cite electrical system, 14% of all 184 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
14% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE VEHICLE DOOR, A MOUSE WAS SEEN RUNNING FROM THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RODENT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO CHEW ON THE WIRES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE MOUSE TRAPS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2017Electrical systemODI 11012272
“GOOD MORNING, I HAVE A 2002 DODGE NEON THAT I HAVE PUT MONEY INTO AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED DISHONESTY FROM MECHANICS UNTIL NOW; PAYING LOTS OF MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. I WAS INFORMED LAST WEEK THAT THIS LEAK ON MY CAR CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE ITS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL NEON'S. ITS A FLUID LEAK OF OIL. A RECOMMENDED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED MY CAR AND INFORMED ME OF THIS NEWS. HE SAID THAT THE SEALANT IS GONE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY ANY MECHANIC. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED AND I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, IS THERE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM? I ALSO HAD TO DISASSEMBLE MY RADIO BECAUSE AFTER REPLACING MY BATTERY, THE ELECTRICAL FUSE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE THE RADIO PLAYED AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD KILL MY BATTERY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2014Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10621973
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDODOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST OR SLOW HE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2011Electrical systemODI 10435031
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES WERE PROVIDING ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2011Electrical systemODI 10424254
“MY HEADLIGHTS & FOG LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING LAST WEEK. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN THE DARK WAS HOLDING MY HIGH-BEAMS ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP ON FRIDAY, IT WAS $500 TO REPLACE A BURNT WIRING HARNESS & MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS SYSTEM WOULD STOP WORKING. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE TIME CHANGE AND THE FACT IT GETS DARKER EARLIER, I HAD TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS TO GO WORK. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING DODGE SHOULD HAVE WARNED THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT OR REPLACED. SOMETHING FAILED IN THE SYSTEM, THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2008Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10247546
“I HAVE A 2002 DODGE NEON SXT. FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW MY FOG LIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY. WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON MY FOG LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OF ON THEIR OWN. IF I GO OVER A BUMP THE TURN ON ANOTHER BUMP TURNS THEM OFF. THEY EVEN FLICKER ON AND OFF ON SMOOTH ROAD. I THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL I STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. I THEN SAW A STREAM OF WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF MY STEERING COLUMN THROUGH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED YET BUT I NEED TO VERY SOON. I AM MOST SCARED THAT A FIRE WILL IGNITE WHILE I AM DRIVING OR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WILL CAUSE MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2008Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10236230

Showing 6 of 26 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.