Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 1994 Dodge Neon with NHTSA between 1995 and 2000.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 12 of 12 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 1
Against the median year of the Dodge Neon. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1994 Dodge Neon
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Acceleration & Cruise Control
220.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Airbags
220.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Transmission & Drivetrain
220.0%
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
Steering
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 3Jan 2000
NHTSA investigations into the 1994 Dodge Neon
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP03002Opened 7 May 2003Closed 22 Jul 2003STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENT...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Greeley, COCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE VEHICLE WAS IN AN IDLE POSITION, WAS PUT IN DRIVE, AT STOP PULLED FORWARD AND VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION AND LURCHED FORWARD, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED UNKNOWN, ALSO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE GOT STUCK. *AK
NHTSA complaint #806735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Heathrow, FLCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT(IT WAS A SMALL ONE)THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND A LOT OF BLACK POWDER CAME OUT. TT
NHTSA complaint #958559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tenpe, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES MOTOR MOUNTS COLLAPSED-
NHTSA complaint #854609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maryville, TN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AT 7 MPH. CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED DEALER OF PROBLEM; DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. ALSO BELIEVED THIS WAS THE OTHER FACTOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED DURING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP FOR CORRECTION, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #826165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crofton, MD
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE INFORMATION TO COMPLETE REPORT. (WILL FILL IN WHEN RECEIVED) THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #818425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bloomingbu, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #511893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bloomingbu, OH
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
SHAFT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #511893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greeley, COCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE VEHICLE WAS IN AN IDLE POSITION, WAS PUT IN DRIVE, AT STOP PULLED FORWARD AND VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION AND LURCHED FORWARD, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED UNKNOWN, ALSO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE GOT STUCK. *AK
NHTSA complaint #806735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Braidenton, FL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
LOSS OF POWER STEERING, WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATED DURING WET CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #985776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Conway, NH
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE IN GEAR BECAUSE CLUTCH WAS TOTALLY FRIED. TT
NHTSA complaint #961656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spokane, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED/STOPPED DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #959267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Heathrow, FLCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT(IT WAS A SMALL ONE)THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND A LOT OF BLACK POWDER CAME OUT. TT
NHTSA complaint #958559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.