2002 Dodge Neon
The Verdict
The 2002 Dodge Neon has 185 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (55 complaints) and electrical (46 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 57/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Neon, consider the 2004 model year which has 49% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2004 has 49% fewer complaints
View the 2004 Dodge Neon dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A WHIRRING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO GO INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A CLOGGED TRANS FILTER SO I REPLACED IT AND THE CAR RAN GREAT FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND NOW I HAVE TORQUE CONVERTER OUT OF RANGE CODES POPPING UP THE CAR HAS 88000 MILES ON IT AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK TRANSMISSIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO LAST AT LEAST 150 TO 180 THOUSAND MILES BEFORE GOING BAD THIS IS NOT A CHEAP NOR EASY FIX PLEASE HELP
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.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 49000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE THEN I SLOWED DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN TO BETWEEN 3 AND 7 MPH AND THE WHOLE THING JUST LOCKED UP. I TRIED EVERY GEAR BUT NOTHING WOULD UNLOCK THE TRANNY.. IT'S STILL LOCKED UP NOW I HAD TO GET IT TOWED.. LUCKILY I WAS ON A LITTLE TWO LANE ROAD WITH NOT MUCH TRAFFIC SO THERE WASN'T TO MANY MAD PEOPLE I FEEL DODGE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THERE PROBLEMS AND PROBLEM CARS.. IM NOT ASKING FOR MUCH JUST FOR MY CAR TO MAKE IT OVER 50000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE PISTON DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE CALL WAS FORWARDED TO VOICEMAIL. THE CONTACT LEFT A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,696.
2002 DODGE, WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE HOOD WAS BENT. ACCIDENT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY
I DRIVING OFF THE INTERSTATE WEN CAR SHUT OFF IDLED TRIED TO CRANK IT UP BUT IT ONLY MADE WHINING NOISE AND WON'T START I ALSO NOTICE MY CAR WAS SMOKING SO I LET THE CAR COOL OFF BEFORE I PUT WATER... THE NEXT DAY I WENT AND A NEW TIMING BELT PUT ON AND A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND IT STILL WON'T CRANK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND PARTIALLY FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO A COMPLETE STOP AND NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
DRIVING ON RT224 AND CAR STARTED SQUEALING, LOST POWER IN GAS PEDAL, GOT OFF BUSY ROAD, TURNED ON SIDE ST. AND HAD NO GAS POWER, HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND TO PICK ME AND MY UNCLE UP, HE LOST PAID WORK , MECHANIC CAME TO PARKING LOT, HE SAID TRANSMISSION BLEW, HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP. COST ME 2,323. ALSO RIP IN LEFT FRONT AXEL MECHANIC SAYS THESE NEONS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS TROUBLE AND TO FILE WITH YOU. I NEED TO GET REFUNDED IN FULL, THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT WORK AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO SCRAP UP THE MONEY TO PAY THIS AND OUR LIVES WERE SERIOUSLY IN DANGER ON A BUSY ROAD. I CALLED ON 9-29-14 AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR WORKER REF #10639796 AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD SEND ME AN EMAIL AND PAPER IN THE MAIL CONSERVING THIS PHONE CALL . I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING. PLUS I WILL SENDING A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY HUSBAND'S JEEP 2000 GAS TANK SHIELD IS ROTTED AWAY AND PIECES MISSING. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. ..UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 02/03/15*JB
WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR, I HAD/HAVE LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM MY BREAKS WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I WAS TOLD, FROM THE DEALER, NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS. I THOUGHT THAT MAY BE THIS WOULD STOP, BUT IT IS STILL ALWAYS HAPPENING. *TR
DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH COULD NOT STEER CAR, PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, COULDN'T CONTROL WENT OFF ROAD, HITTING TWO TREES AND THEN CAR FLIPPED, ENDING UP ON ROOF. RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES, DRIVER AND PASSENGER GOING TO HOSPITAL. *TR
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
I BOUGHT 4 PIRELLI P4 P185/60R-15 TIRES. LESS THAN 6K MILES A TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDEWALL. NOW AT 17K MILES ANOTHER TIRE HAS A BIG BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. I AM TAKING THAT BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRE FOR A REPLACEMENT. I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES AND I DRIVE SLOW. THIS IS SCARY. *TR
WATER COLLECTS IN THE TRUNK CAUSING MOLD, THIS AFFECTS MY ATHSMA. SEEMS THIS AFFECTS MANY OWNERS AND SEEMS IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE AIR QUALITY YOU BREATH. *TR
WHERE TO START! STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BAD WHEN IDLING AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COMPUTER! THERE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME COMPLAINTS WITH THESE CARS WITHOUT ANY ACTION FROM CHRYSLER. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TWICE IN 6 MONTHS IN MY DAUGHTERS CAR, THERE IS WATER LEAKING INTO THE BACKSEAT FROM SOMEWHERE, STUTTERING WHEN GOING UP HILLS OR OVER 50 MPH; BLOWN OUT STRUTS, REPLACED RADIATOR; EATS OIL..........WHY ISN'T CHRYSLER HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. CHECK THE INTERNET........THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS! IT HAS COST ME OVER 2500 IN REPAIRS IN 8 MONTHS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD POINT DOWNWARD AND ILLUMINATED AN INADEQUATE BRIGHTNESS TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED BOTH HEAD LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 63K MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE DO TO A RUSTED K FRAME. EVERYWHERE I LOOK ONLINE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH LOW MILEAGES HOW CAN THIS NOT BE RECALLED!?!? IT WAS ONLY FOUND WHEN I WENT TO 2 DIFFERENT PLACES IN NASHUA, NH AND IT FAILED INSPECTION AT BOTH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
185 total