2000 Dodge Neon: problems, recalls and reliability
11 recalls and 337 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (18% of complaints); the 1999 and 2001 and 2002 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 337 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Unfortunately I ran into a driver whom was in front of me due to low visibility & bad brakes. My headlights are extremely dull & foggy. Also, whomever own the car before me had the brake vacuum replaced due to recall & ever since I've purchased the car there's been a brake problem. Such as needing a new master cylinder, new propositioning, new brake shoes, and wheel cylinder. I have receipts of all work completed. I have a one year old whom ride along and I'm highly concerned about his safety. I love the car but if it continues I will junk out my car and look to sue dodge chrysler and whomever else associated with the making of the vehicle. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2014
“I was driving through a enter section and I hit a slight bump and it broke my sub frame. When I went to look at it the whole right side of the sub frame was rusted out. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2014
“Rear seat belts do not lock up at all and have 3 other buddies that the same make and model diffrent years do the same. Its not safe for a 4 year old to be in a booster seat in the rear seat because of both of seat belts will not lock up at all. And went to dealier ship and they could not tell me why they dont lock up and told me to call coustmer line and tell them but no answare if it going on with more than one and its a saftey hasared should be a recall on the car.....”Owner report · Seat Belts · May 2013
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 dodge neon. The contact stated that the sub frame became rusted completely. The middle of the frame and each wheel where the control arm was located was also rusted. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that there was no repair available for the vehicle because it was over the 10 year statute of limitations. The failure and the current mileage was 110,000. Kmj *tr”Owner report · Structure · Mar 2013
“My son was driving his 2000 dodge neon and the sub frame broke and I look under the car the hole frame was rusted out he can not afford to fix the car where glad that he was not on the free way when it happen is there a recall where he can get this fix I been looking at neons and they all see to be rusted out by looking at the body you would think the sub frame would not be like that. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2013
“I was hearing a clunk under my car. Took it to goodyear. They said it was a rusted subframe. Needs to be repaired to the tune of 1000 dollars. They said nothing else looked rusted. Hmmmm odd. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2013
“Severe corrosion caused a weakness in the suspension cradle/ engine cradle that resulted in the front suspension control arm to break away from its mounting to the suspension crossmember/ cradle. The control arm and all associated components seemed to be in acceptable condition and did not exhibit any failures. The failure was severe enough that the drive axle was pulled out of the transmission. The vehicle was completely undriveable. I was extremely lucky to have had the failure at a very low speed while turning into a driveway. The same failure at posted speed (45mph at the time) would have resulted in total loss of control and likely severe crash. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Oct 2012
“My daughter was driving down the highway in the passing lane. A white suv tried passing another car that was to her right. The suv misjudged and hit the rear right panel of my daughters neon sending her into the median where there are wire guard rails. She hit the guard rail on the drivers front left damaging the bumper, fender, wheel, rim steering rack and everything on the left front of the car. The air bag did not deploy. The state police filled a police report which states no fault of neon driver and the suv took off. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2012
“My daughter hit ice on a bridge going about 40 -45 mph spun and struck the guardrail head on and while spinning hit guardrail with frontend at least one or more times, the airbags did not deploy. The car was a total loss. This happened on 2/20/2012. She hit her jaw on the steering wheel, luckily there was no broken bone just very sore. The officer at the accident stated that we should contact a lawyer about this. The car belonged to my stepmother before my daughter, and she did not receive any recall notices on this vehicle. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2012
“Turned into parking lot when car suddenly made horrible banging-type noise and suddenly stopped. Black smoke poured out of front of car and car wouldn't move. When mechanic examined vehicle, it was discovered the frame had rusted through and broke. The axle broke, control arm dropped and everything inside the front of the car (I.e. Engine, etc.) crashed to the ground! Mechanic said this was a common problem in the 2000 neon. It was advised, due to the age of the car, that it was not worth fixing. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 74 of these complaints and injuries in 57 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 11 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IN THE PRESENCE OF OIL AND HEAT, THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE COULD SWELL AND LOOSEN FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 2, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED BETWEEN THE PIVOT TUBE AND THE ARM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONTAL (PASSENGER SIDE) AIR BAGS MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. VAPORS FROM THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM CAN CONDENSE AND FREEZE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN EXTREMELY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE AND RELOCATE A PCV SYSTEM TUBE.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Neon by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Dodge Neon reliable?
NHTSA has 337 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on record for the 2000 Dodge Neon. The most complained-about area is air bags (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2000 Dodge Neon problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 63,891 miles or less.
Does the 2000 Dodge Neon have open recalls?
11 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning child seat. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.