2005 Dodge Neon

Routine

Owners filed 95 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
45,200 milesMedian miles at failure

82 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 10,00020,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control8
100
Structure › Body8
000
Electrical System8
010
Air Bags8
8010
Power Train › Manual Transmission5
000
Air Bags › Frontal5
504
Engine and Engine Cooling4
100
Unknown or Other2
000
Tires2
100
Structure2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Suspension08E033000
Filed Apr 14, 20086,903 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Chassis Products

Defect. FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

Risk. THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 29, 2022NY

No warning or engine light appeared; the gas pedal did not function as intended and accelerated while trying to parallel park when I put the shift knob in reverse the car immediately accelerated on its own to full force and I nearly Crashed into a bus stop filled with people losing control of the car I immediately managed to stop the car by pressing on the brake pedal which the car still had slight force but then I put the car in park and only at that time did it completely stop. The gas pedal and shift linkage and accelerator linkage have some dangerous unprovoked issues. This car has always had a high idle problem as warned to me by the first owners, as soon as you put the car into drive it would immediately go. I have researched recalls for years on this and have also discovered many reports of people losing control in this manner coincidentally going unaddressed. Until this occurred, I became very very apprehensive to even drive this car as I could have been held responsible for this damn malfunction costing many lives and injuries unknowingly and unprovoked. The car only has 60k miles and so far the entire dash board has cracked from sunlight falling completely to pieces that would crumble as I would drive causing distraction. The power steering belt prematurely needed replacing due to some sort of issue with the pulleys, not so long after that the alternator belt snapped needing the alternator and pulleys to be replaced again. The car during those repairs had just reach

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 23, 2022NY

The gas pedal has come disconnected or stuck continuing to accelerate and I miraculously stopped the car with the emergency brake before it nearly Crashed into a crowded bus stop! The car only has 65k miles but regardless a car should never put anyone in this danger! It is giving me a nervous breakdown almost running people over!

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jun 20, 202092,000 milesWA

THE AC UNIT LEAKS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT NEEDING TO BE FILLED YEARLY. WE PAID A DEALER TO REPAIR THE AC AND IT ALL LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THEY REFILLED ONCE AGAIN AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK EVERY YEAR TO HAVE IT REFILLED AGAIN. SO FAR IT HAS ALL LEAKED OUT 3 TIMES NOW. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 21, 201955,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAL THAT ALLOWED MOISTURE TO SEEP INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MOISTURE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE FLOOR TO DECAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DECAY CAUSED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 1, 2019223,400 milesCA

PERSON SOLD AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. USING VERBAL MANIPULATIONS HE CLAIMED IN THE ADD AND LATER FACE TO FACE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A CLEAN TITLE (CARFAX REPORT SHOWS IT AS SALVAGE WITH MULTIPLE REPORTED ACCIDENTS AND 8 SERVICE HISTORY RECORDS), CERTAIN MILEAGE (148000 CLAIMED, 223.300 IN REALITY), HE WAS THE 2ND OWNER (3 OWNERS IN REALITY) AND NO MAJOR ISSUES - WAS TOLD IN PERSON DURING THE SALE OPERATION, ALSO TOLD HE WAS SELLING THE CAR FOR HIS FRIEND THATS WHY THERE WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON NAME ON A TITLE ((XXXXX)). SELLER WAS CONVENCING AND DID A GREAT JOB AT CONFUSING IGOR AND DECIEVING HIM. THE SELLER LIED ABOUT THE SMOG CHECK ALSO AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BUYER - THE CAR DIDNT PASS THE SMOG CHECK THE NEXT MORNING 6/27, AND LATER THE SAME DAY DIDNT START ANYMORE FOR GOOD. SELLER SEND A TEXT MESSAGE TO IGOR THAT SAME MORNING SAYING THAT CAR IS OVERHEATING AND WATER HAS TO BE PLACED IN THE RADIATOR DAILY, BUT IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PROCEDURE AS THE WATER INSIDE THE TANK IS OF A BOILING TEMPERATURE AND CAN SPLASH UNCONTROLLABLY UNDER PRESSURE RESULTING ONTO AN INJURY, WHICH WAS A MOCKERY AS BY THAT TIME A CAR WAS MARKED AS INOPERABLE BY A MECHANIC AND THAT WAS A MIRACLE THAT IT MADE IT TO THE CURBSIDE. CURRENTLY IT IS ABSOLUTELY DEAD METAL. THE CAR WAS FRAUDLENTLY AND INTENTIONALLY MADE TO WORK JUST ONE DAY SPECIFICLY TO MAKE A SALE. (XXXXX) INTENTIONALLY GAVE OUT THE FALSE FACTS ABOUT THE CAR AND MISLED (XXXX) TOWARDS THE SALE COMPLETION. (XXXX) TRUSTED THE SELLER, FALSE INFO

Engine
Filed Apr 5, 201860,000 milesIL

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 60,000 MILES

Electrical System
Filed Sep 10, 2017OH

I PURCHASE A 2005 DODGE NEON IN JUNE. APPROXIATELY 3 WERKS LATER I NOTICE HOW WHEN I WOULD HAVE TO STOP WHEN TIME TO MOVE FORWARD CAR WOULD STALL AND BARELY WANT TO GO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD PICK UP. IT DID THAT FOR 2 DAYS. THE 3RD DAY I DROVE AWAY IN IT WITH NO PROMBLEMS. WHEN TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE IT WOULD NOT START. I REPLACE STARTER,BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND ALSO MADE SURE ALL THESE PARTS WHERE GOOD. MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. PLEASE HELP ME OUT JUST SPENT $2,000.00 AND MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT OCCURED.

Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed May 26, 2016183,373 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE NEON. WHILE PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED CHEST AND FACE INJURIES DUE TO THE AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,373. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed May 20, 2016150,300 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WITH MY FRIENDS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY DASHBOARD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I THEN LATER NOTICE MY BRAKE,FOG,HIGH BEAMS, AND TURN SIGNALS LIGHT DO NOT WORK. I WENT ON A FORUM TO SEE IF IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SAW CARS THAT WERE BURNED AND I SAW THAT IT WAS A CONNECTION THAT WAS FAULTY. I REMOVE MY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS BURNED TOO THE EXACT SAME PLACE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH FIRE. I WENT TO A JUNK YARD TO SEE IF I COULD GET ONE AND ALL THE DODGE NEONS THAT I GOT TO THEY WERE ALL SHOTS AND BURNED. I WANT TO GET A RECALL FOR THIS THAT CANNOT BE POSSIBLE THAT ALL THE CARS EVEN MY FRIENDS CAR HAS THAT TOO AND IT'S A DODGE NEON. CAN SOMETHING PLEASE BE DONE ABOUT THIS

Service BrakesCrash
Filed May 9, 2016132,000 milesPA

I SHIFTED MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT STOP CRASHED THRU MY NEIGHBORS GARAGE DOOR. THERE S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES EVEN IN NEUTRAL. I CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER OR BLOCKING THE GAS PEDAL. NO MATS IN CAR.

Power Train
Filed May 7, 2016MI

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 14, 2016FL

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE NEON, MY TURNING SIGNALS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. I HAVE TO BANG THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THEM TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO MY HORN STOPPED WORKING ALL OF SUDDEN. I HAVE CHECKED ALL OF THE FUSES AND THE HORN IT SELF AND THERE IS NOTHING FOUND.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 3, 201575,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS AND THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Service BrakesCrash3 injured
Filed Oct 12, 201510,200 milesMD

ON 10/6/15 MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS MERGING ONTO THE PARKWAY WHEN THE SUV HE WAS FOLLOWING CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT DOING THE SAME, BUT WHEN MY SON TRIED TO BREAK THE BREAKS WERE COMPLETELY OUT CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE BACK OF SUV HE WAS FOLLOWING, WITH HIS QUICK THINKING HE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAKS TO PREVENT HIT SUV AGAIN AS IT WAS PULLING OVER.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 21, 2015101,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 480 AND DEPLOYED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY NEON AT 60 MPH. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BRIEFLY, AND THEN ENGAGED THE "ACCELERATE" OPTION ON CRUISE CONTROL TO SPEED BACK UP. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TOWARDS A MUCH HIGHER SPEED AND I HAD TO QUICKLY SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME INCIDENCE, AND AM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. I AM A FREELANCE WRITER WITH A HUGE NETWORK OF FRIENDS. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO WRITE A BAD REVIEW OF MY EXPERIENCE, AND CALL OUT DODGE FOR NOT FIXING WHAT I WOULD THINK IS A VERY SERIOUS, POSSIBLY DEADLY, PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 15, 201477,218 milesFL

MY 2005 DODGE NEON ENTERED INTO A COLLISION WITH A 2001 FORD TAURUS ON 7/4/2014. MY VEHICLE HIT THE FORD TAURUS HEAD-ON INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE FORD TAURUS AT ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE TAURUS. MY SEAT BELT HAD KEPT ME IN MY SEAT, BUT THE AIR BAG HAD FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN PERMANENT INJURIES WHICH WILL REQUIRE PAIN MANAGEMENT AND SURGERY AT SOME POINT. THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH, AND I WAS ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELING AT AROUND 40 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 10, 201475,200 milesOH

THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR . THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS NO POWER IN ACCELERATION. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 10, 201445,200 milesOH

WHILE HAVING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE ENGINE WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN RACE/ACCELERATE BEYOND WHAT IT SHOULD. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 4, 201481,600 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES, BRUISES ON THE BODY, AND BACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,600.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 17, 2014272,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING ON THE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 272,000.

20 of 95 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2005 — this page95420Routine
200494530Routine
20032025201Fatalities reported
2002173630Routine
20011461015Fatalities reported
20003371162Fatalities reported
1999116445Fatalities reported
1998339630Above average
19973906120Above average
1996611750Above average
1995976115515Fatalities reported
19949000Routine
19933000Routine

Compare every Neon year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.