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2002 Dodge NeonProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 173 owner complaints about the 2002 Dodge Neon, most often about the power train. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2002 Dodge Neon
56
CarFlaw IndexSolid year21% below the Neon median · #8 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints17341 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage54kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 31, 2018. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 Dodge Neon has problems

173 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train362
Engine and engine cooling281
Electrical system251
Air bags2220
Structure210
Service brakes, hydraulic172
Suspension151
Exterior lighting111
Steering61
10 other systems294

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2002 Dodge Neon recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

54kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 28 power train complaints. 96% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
3under 30k miles27under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other Neon year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Neon median. How we score

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2002 Dodge Neon safety ratings

2002 Dodge Neon 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2002 Dodge Neon frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2002 Dodge Neon side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 Dodge Neon, and the recalls they led to.

  1. HEADLIGHT FAILUREEA06019 · closed Nov 7, 2007
    No recall
  2. SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATEPE02082 · closed Apr 23, 2003
    No recall
  3. HEADLIGHT FAILUREPE06028 · closed Nov 22, 2006
    No recall
In owners' words

What Neon owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11164248 · Dec 31, 2018
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…
Complaint 11010048 · Jul 22, 2017
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…
Complaint 10648296 · Oct 17, 2014 · 70,503 miles

Own a 2002 Neon?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.