2003 Dodge Neon

202 complaints on file, page 1 of 11.

1. Filed Oct 20, 2019Failure Sep 10, 2019124,000 milesIndianapolis, INElectrical system, Exterior lighting, Power train

   THIS MAKES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS 2003 DODGE NEON XST . I HAVE PUT $10.000.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ! THESE ARE LEMONS!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE!!

   NHTSA complaint 11269793
2. Filed Oct 5, 2017Failure Oct 5, 2017103,421 milesDecatur, ILBody

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,421.

   NHTSA complaint 11031946
3. Filed Jun 23, 2017Failure Jun 22, 2017152,000 milesWichita, KSAir bagsCrash

   WE WERE HIT FROM THE SIDE AND TORE UP THE WHOLE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

   NHTSA complaint 11000761
4. Filed Mar 8, 2016Failure Mar 6, 2016140,000 milesGloversville, NYAir bagsCrash

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10840461
5. Filed Oct 28, 2015Failure Oct 28, 2015100,000 milesKittery, MEFuel/propulsion system, Power train

   OIL PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I PAID THOUSANDS FOR REPAIRS.-BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR IDLING FOR EVEN A SHORT TIME. WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION, A STEADY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME, EXCEPT WHEN IT FLASHES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I NEED INFO ON THIS AND ALL RECALLS OR COMPLIMENTARY REPAIRS AVAILABLE . I NEED TO BE SAFE .THANK YOU. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10786850
6. Filed Oct 17, 2015Failure Oct 16, 201530 milesWhitewater, WIElectrical system

   WELL I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD MY KID IN CAR 10-16-15 THANK GOD I A HAD ARRIVED HOME ON TIME WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I KEPT DRIVING I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE COMING OF DASH I WAS ON STREET COMING FROM JANESVILLE WI IT'S LIKE 35 MIN AWAY I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH WAY BUT LIKE I SAID IT STARTED HAPPENING WHILE APPROACHING HOUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEE INSIDE BUT THIS HAS ME SHOCKED DUE TO VIDEO I HAVE SEEN CATCHING ON FIRE WHY ISN'T NOTHING BEING DONE NO RECALL NOTHING SOMEONE CAN DIE FROM THIS I LOOKED UP PROBLEM AND IT'S A COMMON THING THATS HAPPENING THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DISAPPOINTED WITH DODGE I NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE HELP I TOOK A PICTURE OF WHEN I PARKED IT.

   NHTSA complaint 10783080
7. Filed May 29, 2015Failure Nov 8, 2014Coral Gables, FLAir bagsCrash4 injured

   THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AGGRESSIVELY, WITH POSSIBLE METALLIC SHRAPNEL OR FRAGMENT INTRUSION INTO THE DRIVER'S BODY, BECAUSE THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A COMPLETE TRANSECTION OF THE RIGHT MAIN BRONCHUS - EITHER FROM METAL DEBRIS OR FROM AN OVER-AGGRESSIVE INFLATION THAT CAUSED SEVERE BLUNT TRAUMA TO THE CHEST.

   NHTSA complaint 10722167
8. Filed Apr 8, 2015Failure Apr 8, 20159,494,109 milesFort Wayne, INElectrical system, Exterior lightingFire

   STARTED VEHICLE DURING RAINY, FOGGY, 40 DEGREE WEATHER. HEADLAMP INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WITHIN GAUGE CLUSTER. UPON CHECKING OUTSIDE THE CAR, ONLY PARKING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING DESPITE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BEING IN THE "ON" POSITION. BURNING SMELL OCCURRED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND MULTIFUNCTION HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10704440
9. Filed Jan 24, 2015Failure Jan 19, 2015114,000 milesWaterford, PAElectrical system

   ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC, CAUSED BY OVERHEATED WIRING (PIN 16) ON TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHT CONTROL. LIGHT WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON LOW BEAM ; WHILE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS LIT . FOG LAMPS HAVE BEEN LIT ,WHEN SWITCH IS HEADLAMP ON POSITION, FOR THREE YEARS. THEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF UNLESS YOU USED LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN HEADLAMP MALFUNCTIONED I BOUGHT REPLACEMENT SWITCH. DURING INSTALLATION, FOUND WIRING HARNESS TERMINAL WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, AS IT WAS MALFORMED AND BRITTLE DUE TO EXCESS HEAT. I TOOK PICTURES TO DOCUMENT WIRE POSITION; THERE IS NO PIN 15 OR 10 : ALSO NO WIRE TO TERMINAL POSITIONS 15,10, AND 12. THERE IS A PIN 12 ON THE SWITCH. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10678701
10. Filed Jan 24, 2015Failure Oct 20, 200410,345 milesJersey City, NJElectrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper

    SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS & STEERING COLUMN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID IT WAS SPILLED ANTI FREEZE FROM WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL. CAR WAS OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW IT'S SMOKING AGAIN THE FRONT DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK THE FOG LIGHTS ARE GONE & RECENTLY MY HIGHLIGHTS WENT TOO. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SHOWN ME THE BURNT WIRES IN STEELING COLUMN & SAID THE HEATING COIL IS DAMAGED MAKING THE SMELL & FOGS THE WINDOW FROM THE FUMES. NEXT TO GO WILL BE THE TURNING SIGNALS & WIPERS IF NOT FIXED. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10678686
11. Filed Jan 18, 2015Failure Jan 5, 2015244,517 milesBaileyton, ALSteering

    AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY LIGHTS ON, I BEGAN TO SEE AND SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THE SMOKE CLEARED UP AND WENT AWAY. AFTER SOME TIME, I TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM TO BE FOUND AT THIS TIME. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS YOU PULLED THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH, THEN AND ONLY AS YOU HELD THE SWITCH THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK. ( IF YOU HAVE NEVER SIT AND HELD THE SWITCH WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ( OF COURSE ) TO GET HOME IT IS NO FUN. ) THAT WEEK END I PULLED THE COVERS OFF THE COLUMN AND PULLED THE HARNESS OUT OF SWITCH TO FIND IT WAS MELTED. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM DOWN A VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10676317
12. Filed Nov 4, 2014Failure Oct 1, 2014200,000 milesTooele, UTElectrical system, Exterior lighting, Steering

    STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10652405
13. Filed Jun 24, 2014Failure Jun 21, 2014163,000 milesNEW Haven, KYElectrical system

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARMENT WHILE THE BATTERY WAS BEING CHARGED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMPERATURE, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND RPM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10605692
14. Filed Mar 19, 2014Failure Nov 15, 2013120,000 milesBarre, VTElectrical system, Exterior lighting

    SMELLED HOT WIRING AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE UF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10573395
15. Filed Aug 5, 2013Failure Aug 3, 2013103,261 milesGreensboro, NCElectrical system

    HI, I HAVE A DODGE NEON 03, AND IT CUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, EVERYTHING IN THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR COMES TO AN INSTANT STOP ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AND THEY JUST SWITCHED OUT A CAR PART, BUT THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE TWO MONTHS LATER MY CAR STOPED AGAIN ON JULY 4TH. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO DAYS TO RUN TEST AND THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK AND SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ABOUT A MONTH GOES BY AND MY CAR COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP ON A HIGHWAY THIS TIME, ON AUGUST 3RD. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AT THIS POINT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW ONE COULD EASILY OCCUR AND HOW IT COULD POSSIBLY BE FATAL FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHERS. I DID SOME REASEARCH AND DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE NEONS, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE 03'S BUT ALSO THE 96-98, AND 2000'S. I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10533592
16. Filed Jul 11, 2013Failure Sep 21, 200963,000 milesElmira, NYStructure

    WHILE PARKED IN THE RAIN, WATER WAS LEAKING FROM TOP OF DRIVERS-SIDE DOOR, SOAKING THE DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR TO A POINT THAT SQUISHING SOUNDS COULD BE HEARD, ALSO DURING RAIN, THE DRIVERS-SIDE OF THE TRUNK LEAKED & IT SOAKED ENOUGH WATER TO BE ABLE TO SOAK A CLOTH & SQUEEZE WATER OUT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10524506
17. Filed Apr 25, 2013Failure Oct 5, 2009110,000 milesJohnsburg, ILCooling system, Heater core

    UPON WARMING THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING TO WORK WINDOWS STEAMED UP BADLY I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF COLD TEMP OUTSIDE. THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. ALWAYS HAVING A SWEET TASTE IN MY MOUTH TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT THERE SAID THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. I CALLED THE LOCAL PARTS STORE AND GOT A PRICE ON IT 60.00 DOLLARS I THOUGHT THIS PRICE WAS OK .THE PARTS HOUSE SAID GOOD LUCK I ASKED WHY HE WAS SMILING WHEN HE SAID THAT .HE SAID THAT WAS AN 800.00 DOLLAR JOB BY THE DEALER. HE WAS SO RIGHT!! THE SOB WHO DESIGNED THAT SHOULD BEEN MADE TO CHANGE IT IN EVERY CAR THAT THE CORE WET BAD IN I HAVE OWNED 96 1500 97 1500 99 1500 AND NOW 2003 EVERY ONE HEATER CORE LEAKS .WENT ON LINE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM HUNDREDS. PEOPLE ARE BREATHING ANTIFREEZE VAPOR. HELP!!!! *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10509597
18. Filed Feb 14, 2013Failure Feb 14, 2013Tampa, FLElectrical system, Exterior lightingFire

    MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10498101
19. Filed Feb 4, 2013Failure Mar 1, 201187,379 milesMedina, OHStructure

    WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK WAS LEAKING AND HAD SO MUCH WATER IN IT THAT MUSHROOMS WERE LITERALLY GROWING UNDER THE CARPET. NO ONE COULD FIX THE TRUNK LEAK. WE HAD TO TAKE THE CARPET OUT AND BLEACH THE MUSHROOMS OFF, TWICE. WE ENDED UP BUYING CAULKING AND FIXED IT OURSELVES SO WE WOULDN'T WASTE $250 FOR A MECHANIC TO NOT FIX IT AGAIN. IT TOOK 3 TUBES OF CAULKING, BUT IT STOPPED LEAKING. NOW THE SUN ROOF LEAKS AS WELL. BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM EITHER. WE'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO 4 SEPARATE GARAGES AND HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE "FIXED" 6 TIMES NOW. WE'VE SPENT AT LEAST $500 ALL IN ALL ON THIS ONE PROBLEM AND EACH TIME, THE LIGHT GOES OFF, BUT A WEEK LATER IT COMES BACK ON. NO ONE CAN FIX IT. WE'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND WE'VE ALREADY PUT AT LEAST $1000 INTO IT, IF YOU INCLUDE THE BRAKES AND TUNE UPS. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10496288
20. Filed Jan 7, 2013Failure Dec 28, 2012160,000 milesOakville, WAElectrical system

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $130. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF UPDATED 03/11/13

    NHTSA complaint 10491664