2004 Dodge Neon: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 94 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (15% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“As I was driving down the street, my rear passenger end was leaning a little to the side. I was a smooth paved road and it felt as though I was hitting potholes. I pulled over to the side of the road thought my tire was flat. I t0ok the car to a shop to get checked out. They stated that my rear shot blew. On 11/20/18 my defrosters are no longer working. My headlights are dim. I tried replacing the bulb. However, it still isn't bright enough to drive in the dark.”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2018
“On occasion the cruise control does not engage and on occasion it does engage and when you try to slow down the brake becomes hard to depress and the car starts to accelerate but repeated attempts to depress brake or pump brakes allows control again over speed without incident. This has happened on several occasions while driving over 45 mph . As this happens randomly cause has not been found and this only happens when cruise control has been engaged . Problem noticed in 2014 when I got car to present date .. Not an isolated incident.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 2018
“Cruise control would not turn off and I wrecked my car into into a other car. I even tried putting my car in park and it wouldn't stop the motor was reved up and would not slow down or stop”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jun 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Running lights stopped working (on a city street), when repaired, was due to a wire in the multifunction switch burning out and melting the casing of the mfs”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2016
“Vehicle respond to a light acceleration request with sustain full throttle operation. The vehicle traveled in poor road conditions with full throttle operation. The only influence in course change was terrain and torque steering. After collision with a stone pillar code p0123 throttle high voltage was found.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2016
“The front frame that holds engine,struts, brakes , steering are rotted out from rust causing major issues and possible injuries and death !!!!!!!!!!! Chrysler knows of these issues and wont do anything to remedy the problem. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Jan 2015
“Transmission cooler in radiator leaked, causing transmission fluid to contaminate engine, and also contaminated transmission with radiator fluid. Called chrysler corp and they said no recall on it and did not offer to help with it. When I google searched this problem there seems to be multiple instances of this happening. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge neon. The contact stated that while traveling 20 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was diagnosed by a private mechanic who stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 160,000 and the current mileage was 167,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2013
“Just had the instrument panel replaced due to a fried power transistor on the I/c board. Repair lasted about 1 hour and then replacement instrument panel failed also. Appears to be a short in the dash light circuit. This causes fuse # 15 to blow which removes power from the parking lights, and the tail lights. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Nov 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge neon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the key would release out of the ignition switch without warning. The vehicle continued to drive without the key in the ignition switch. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 7/16/15*cn”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 19 of these complaints and injuries in 18 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
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 2004 Dodge Neon reliable?
NHTSA has 94 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Dodge Neon. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (15% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Dodge Neon problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 61,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Dodge Neon have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting. 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.