2002 Dodge Neon problems
NHTSA has received 230 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Neon, and 12% of them involve engine. After that come electrical system (12%) and transmission (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 230 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 12% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 34 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 20 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 50,000 miles 143 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 27 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 31 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 27 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 26 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 143 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 50,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 33,000 miles (16 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 34 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 20 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Dodge Neon with enough data (158 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I got my oil changed, tires rotated, and windshield wipers replaced on april 13 2011 around 6:30pm. My oil change took approximately 15 min. After the oil change and tire rotation, I paid and went straight home. I was not informed by anyone at valvoline that anything was wrong with my car. I got in my car around 7:40am on april 14th and headed towards my insurance company on asheville highway.
My daughter was in a car accident with her 15mo old baby. A vehicle ran a red light and hit her vehicle making it spin around. The front of her vehicle was all smashed in. It was a head on collision. No airbags was inflated.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags failed to deploy. The accident resulted in a total loss. Scc
Driving down I95, oil and engine light went on. Immediately pulled into rest stop <1 mile away. Car died on ramp. Last oil change 23,000 miles, car has 30,000 miles. Realize late for change, but deal says engine needs to be replaced will not cover under warranty. States that failure to have dealer do maintainan invalid warranty. States that problem caused by neglect. 7000 miles since last change, while late should not blow engine. No assistance offered by dealer.
I was driving on the interstate when, with no warning, I felt a jolt (like being hit from behind), then a strange sound from the engine compartment. I was able to control the car and pull off to the side of the road where I discovered that I had lost all gears. The car would not shift and would not move. I had to have it towed home (about 80 miles) where I took it to a transmission shop.