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2003 Dodge NeonProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 202 owner complaints about the 2003 Dodge Neon, most often about the electrical system. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2003 Dodge Neon
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Neon median · #6 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints20260 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage60kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 20, 2019. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Dodge Neon has problems

202 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
Electrical system7217
Exterior lighting487
Power train282
Air bags2019
Engine and engine cooling182
Service brakes, hydraulic173
Structure111
Suspension90
Fuel system, gasoline81
15 other systems425

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

0 recalls

2003 Dodge Neon recalls and how many were fixed

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

Mileage at failure

When do electrical system problems start?

60kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 62 electrical system complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
10under 30k miles53under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 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

2003 Dodge Neon safety ratings

2003 Dodge Neon 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Dodge Neon frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2003 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 2003 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 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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!!
Complaint 11269793 · Oct 20, 2019 · 124,000 miles
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…
Complaint 10783080 · Oct 17, 2015 · 30 miles
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…
Complaint 10704440 · Apr 8, 2015 · 9,494,109 miles

Own a 2003 Neon?

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