FaultScore

2002 Dodge Neon transmission problems

38 of the 230 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Neon are about the transmission — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,500 miles.

C

38

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 24 63.2%
Power Train 7 18.4%
Axle Assembly 3 7.9%
Manual Transmission 1 2.6%
Torque Converter 1 2.6%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 2.6%
Clutch Assembly 1 2.6%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Dodge Neon year

1995 102 30.9%
1996 49 14.8%
1997 27 8.2%
1998 20 6.1%
2000 28 8.5%
2002 38 11.5%
2003 28 8.5%
2004 23 7.0%
2005 15 4.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Southgate, MI

POWER TRAIN

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 CAR HAS 88000 MILES ON IT AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK TRANSMISSIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO LAST AT LEAST 150 TO 180 THOUSAND MILES BEFORE GOING BAD THIS IS NOT A CHEAP NOR EASY FIX PLEASE HELP

NHTSA complaint #11164248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carson City, NV

POWER TRAIN

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 LITTLE TWO LANE ROAD WITH NOT MUCH TRAFFIC SO THERE WASN'T TO MANY MAD PEOPLE I FEEL DODGE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THERE PROBLEMS AND PROBLEM CARS.. IM NOT ASKING FOR MUCH JUST FOR MY CAR TO MAKE IT OVER 50000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11010048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,503 miles Canfield, OH

POWER TRAIN

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 RIP IN LEFT FRONT AXEL MECHANIC SAYS THESE NEONS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS TROUBLE AND TO FILE WITH YOU. I NEED TO GET REFUNDED IN FULL, THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT WORK AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO SCRAP UP THE MONEY TO PAY THIS AND OUR LIVES WERE SERIOUSLY IN DANGER ON A BUSY ROAD. I CALLED ON 9-29-14 AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR WORKER REF #10639796 AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD SEND ME AN EMAIL AND PAPER IN THE MAIL CONSERVING THIS PHONE CALL . I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING. PLUS I WILL SENDING A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY HUSBAND'S JEEP 2000 GAS TANK SHIELD IS ROTTED AWAY AND PIECES MISSING. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10648296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Canfield, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. ..UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 02/03/15

NHTSA complaint #10639796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Roxbury, MA

POWER TRAIN

GOOD MORNING, I HAVE A 2002 DODGE NEON THAT I HAVE PUT MONEY INTO AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED DISHONESTY FROM MECHANICS UNTIL NOW; PAYING LOTS OF MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. I WAS INFORMED LAST WEEK THAT THIS LEAK ON MY CAR CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE ITS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL NEON'S. ITS A FLUID LEAK OF OIL. A RECOMMENDED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED MY CAR AND INFORMED ME OF THIS NEWS. HE SAID THAT THE SEALANT IS GONE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY ANY MECHANIC. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED AND I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, IS THERE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM? I ALSO HAD TO DISASSEMBLE MY RADIO BECAUSE AFTER REPLACING MY BATTERY, THE ELECTRICAL FUSE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE THE RADIO PLAYED AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD KILL MY BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #10621973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,349 miles Loves Park, IL

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN, WITH NO WARNING, I FELT A JOLT (LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND), THEN A STRANGE SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD LOST ALL GEARS. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME (ABOUT 80 MILES) WHERE I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY DID A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN ALONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM RADIATOR. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND THE RADIATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $1,800. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND READING COMMENTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS VERY COMMON WITH THE DODGE NEONS. IT WOULD SEEM REASONABLE THAT THIS BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL BY CHRYSLER.

NHTSA complaint #10377648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles West Haven, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION , ENGINE AND SEAT BELTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THE REPRESENTATIVES REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE FAILURES .THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA complaint #10296880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Hagerstown, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON INITIALLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE COMPUTER READ BY A MECHANIC. THE LIGHT TURNED OFF BEFORE I ARRIVED TO THE SHOP, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER HISTORY. THE MECHANIC STILL PUT THIS ON THE COMPUTER WHICH READ NOTHING IN THE HISTORY. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MUST BE SOME TYPE OF DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT I COULD OF JUST PUT THE GAS CAP ON WRONG OR SOMETHING. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN I HAD THIS INSPECTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS. THEN ON 06/22/09 I GOT AN FULL OIL CHANGE AND ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED. STILL NOTHING WRONG. I TURNED THE CAR ON 07/04/09 THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE AND FUEL GAUGE WAS SHAKING. THE BATTERY DIED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE BATTERY WAREHOUSE CHECKED THE FLOW OF THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN JUST A BAD BATTERY BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG. THEY EVEN STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE ALTERNATOR. THEN 2 DAYS LATER I TURN THE CAR ON AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTIFREEZE WERE POURING ON THE GROUND. I TURNED THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP THINKS THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION FROM EXPERIENCE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER WHEN LOOKING ONLINE IT LOOKS AS IF I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF 2002 NEON THAT IS HAVING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE WARNING. THERE WAS NO POP-THE ENGINE STILL RUNS WITHOUT A NOISE I JUST NOTICED THAT I LOST ALL GEARS AND FLUIDS ARE DUMPING VERY QUICKLY FROM MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THIS DOWN. DODGE IS QUOTING JUST FOR A TRANSMISSION THE BILL WILL BE $3500.00 AND NEEDED MY VIN # JUST TO TELL THAT WITHOUT SEEING MY CAR. LUCKILY MY EMPLOYER IS NOT UPSET ABOUT THE FLUIDS ALL DUMPED IN THE PARKING LOT, BUT THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10276381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Fairmont, WV

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY 2002 NEON DODGE NEON'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BEFORE 60,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10268873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 81,000 miles Lexington Park, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FELT A JOLT AND LOSS OF POWER. THE SPEEDOMETER THEN DIALED ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN BACK TO ZERO. PULLED OFF TO CHECK IT OUT, AS I SLOWED DOWN ON THE OFFRAMP HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD LOCKED UP! I COULDN'T EVEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OFF THE OFFRAMP. HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE THEY PUT IN A USED, NOT NEW OR REBUILT BUT A USED TRANSMISSIONS WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT FOR $1,800. THE CAR HAD 81,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE AND IS BARELY SIX YEARS OLD! I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEFORE 75,000 MILES. BY FAR THE TRANSMISSION IS THE MOST UNACCEPTABLE COMPONENT FAILURE. AT ONLY 81,000 MILES AND SIX YEARS OLD DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THESE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS!

NHTSA complaint #10238623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Decatur, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FOGGY AND PROVIDED POOR ILLUMINATION. THE LIGHTS ALSO FACE DOWNWARD INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN SHE WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE GEAR WOULD SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,250 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN 02/08 AT THE COST OF $1,864.18. UPDATED 03/18/08

NHTSA complaint #10216716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Ithaca, NY

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE CLUTCH, ALTERNATOR AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/08/08.

NHTSA complaint #10208908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Kent, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE NEON. IN THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR I HAD THE TYPICAL CAR PROBLEMS BUT NOTHING TOO MAJOR. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 6 TIMES IN THE CAR, SINCE PURCHASE. IN MAY OF 2006, IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN ROLLING IN. MY MAIN COMPUTER HAD DIED IN THE CAR, A $900 REPAIR. AFTER CONTACTING DODGE TO GET A NEW COMPUTER TO PUT IN THE CAR, I HAD TO WAIT FOR 7 MONTHS FOR IT TO BE SHIPPED, DUE TO SUCH A LARGE BACK ORDER. AND THE COMPUTER WAS ONLY SHIPPED AFTER DODGE WAS CALLED AND I HAD THREATENED TO CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THE DAY I HAD PICKED UP THE CAR FROM GETTING THE COMPUTER INSTALLED, MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SO I HAD TO REPAIR BOTH OF THEM. ONLY A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR WAS YET AGAIN IN THE SHOP FOR YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW BACK ON, UPON HAVING THE COMPUTER CODE HOOKED UP TO THE CAR, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A TRANSAXLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AND AN INCORRECT GEAR RATIO CONDITION IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE CAR WILL NOT GO ABOVE 45 MPH. WHEN I START IT AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THAT ITS IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND WHEN IT FINALLY DOES GO INTO DRIVE THE ENTIRE CAR JERKS. IT WILL DO THAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS WILL NOW BE THE 8TH TIME FROM DECEMBER, 07 TO AUGUST, 07 THAT I HAVE HAD TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, THERE IS NO REASON ON WHY I SHOULD BE HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR AND IT HAS RECEIVED THE PROPER MAINTENANCE. I HAVE PUT MORE THEN $9000 IN THE CAR SINCE PURCHASE, HAVING TO GO AS FAR AS TO HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER TAKE OUT A SECOND MORTGAGE ON THEIR HOME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER LOOKING UP COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED?? WHY IS IT THAT THE ONLY RECALL ON THE NEON IS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM??

NHTSA complaint #10201713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles Williamsburg, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE, UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE WERE INFORMED, IT HAD A SIZABLE HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK. TOTAL REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $600. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2002 DODGE NEON AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS RECEIVED PROPER CARE AS FAR AS OIL CHANGES, TIRES, SPARK PLUGS ETC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EVEN REACHED 60,000 MILES YET, AND WE'RE ENCOUNTERING SUCH PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED US, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALL LEAKS, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR EACH LEAK, THUS THEY ONLY FIXED WHAT WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND THE OIL LEAK, WHICH WAS ALSO SUBSTANTIAL.

NHTSA complaint #10182035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Oroville, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HAD IDLED HARD SINCE PURCHASE. TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR KNOCKING SOUND ON START UP OF VEHICLE EVERY MORNING. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT SOUND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ON DATE OF INCIDENT, VEHICLE STARTED JERKING IN AND OUT OF GEAR ON HIGHWAY. LOUD WHINE STARTED AND INCREASED WITH ACCELERATION. OWNER PULLED VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND GOT OUT TO TRY TO LOCATE SOURCE OF SOUND. WHEN OWNER TRIED TO PUT CAR BACK INTO GEAR, GEAR SHIFT MOVED BUT DID NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10178924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,328 miles Oroville, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO IDLE HARD AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IN NOV OF 2004. VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO STALL WHEN STOPPED. ON DATE OF INCIDENT, OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE HOME IN A 55 MPH ZONE. VEHICLE MADE A SCREECHING NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER. TRANSAXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE (FIRST ONE SHIPPED FROM MANU WAS DEFECTIVE).

NHTSA complaint #10178928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,824 miles Hampton, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DRIVING AT 49.9K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS BEING 19.9K MILES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES (30K MILE WARRANTY). JUST MADE A LONG TRIP FROM HAMPTON, VA TO APPLETON, WI. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER ARRIVING IN WI, I AM HEADING TO WORK AND START TO HEAR A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE. WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF HEARING THIS WHINE, I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARK AND RIDE JUST AS THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. I WAS STILL ABLE TO REV THE ENGINE, BUT NO ACCELERATION. I PLACED THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I STARTED IT BACK UP, AND STILL COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO MOVE. PLACED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I TRIED TO PUSH IT. FOUND OUT, AFTER CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP, THAT A PINION BOLT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION (2002 MODEL) HAD BROKEN OFF AND WAS THE CAUSE TO THE SEIZURE OF THE VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THIS HAD HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND BEEN THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT, THANKFULLY, WAS AVOIDED IN THIS INSTANCE. NEW TRANSMISSION (2006 MODEL) INSTALLED. THE NEW SAFETY FEATURE FOR THIS MODEL IS THAT IT HAS METAL PLATES (BRACKETS) AROUND THE OFFENDING BOLT SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. SEMI-OFF TOPIC: IF THEY (THE MANUFACTURES OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE DEALERSHIPS THAT SELL THE VEHICLE) KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE (APPARENT FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF THE METAL PLATES FOR THE BOLT) WHY WAS IT NOT ANNOUNCED AND CORRECTED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2002?

NHTSA complaint #10176776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suisun City, CA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE WAS BROKEN. THIS MANUFACTURES DEFECT CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE CB UNIT AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHERE THE CB UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING A PART TO ARRIVE FOR THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO PERFORM A REPLACEMENT. THERE WERE NO RECALL NOR COMPLAINT FOUND ON THIS PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/05/06.

NHTSA complaint #10173021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suisun City, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE WAS BROKEN. THIS MANUFACTURES DEFECT CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE CB UNIT AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHERE THE CB UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING A PART TO ARRIVE FOR THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO PERFORM A REPLACEMENT. THERE WERE NO RECALL NOR COMPLAINT FOUND ON THIS PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/05/06.

NHTSA complaint #10173021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Suisun City, CA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AXLE FRACTURED. THERE WAS A NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS GRADUALLY WORSENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO CHANGED THE AXLE, BUT AFTER A YEAR THE AXLE FRACTURED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10172267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Waterville, ME

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY 2002 DODGE NEON ES HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS LEADING UP TO THE EXPIRATION OF MY WARRANTY. EVERYTHING FROM ELECTRICAL ISSUES TO RADIATOR PROBLEMS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AT 65,000 MILES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. MY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. I KNEW THEY WERE LYING AND SURE ENOUGH, AT 72,000 MILES, 2,000 MILES AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY TRANSMISSION IS DEAD. CHRYSLER CORP. REFUSES TO FIX OR EVEN DISCOUNT A TRANSMISSION FOR ME SAYING THAT MY CAR IS "ABOVE AND BEYOND" ANY WARRANTY. I DON'T CONSIDER 2,000 MILES ABOVE AND BEYOND, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE CAR HAD 5,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND WAS CONSIDERED BRAND NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10160239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TOOK MY 2002 NEON SXT IN FOR TRANSMISSION WARRANTY WORK IN 2004...FIRST CHRYSLER DENIED THE CLAIM STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVERED (HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY!). HAD MY SPEED SENSORS REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2005 & AM TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN TOMORROW TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10155728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Fredericksburg, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY CAR WAS WORKING FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND MADE LOUD NOISE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY TELL MY THROTTLE REGULATOR BOX BLEW UP. MY CAR HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. I DRIVE IT 10 MILES TO AND FROM WORK. NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AS WHEN THE BOX BLEW UP IT SEND SHARDS OF METAL THROUGH MY TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10154452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,348 miles Martinsville, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

ON FEB 14, 2006 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR STARTED MAKING DINGING NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND I HEARD A BUBBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AS I PULLED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR STOPPED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THEY RAN A CHECK THROUGH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM. WHAT THEY FINALLY FOUND WAS THAT THE RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE (THAT THE RADIATOR SEAL HAD FAILED) AND LEAKED BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO MIX. SINCE THE CAR IS A 2002 AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 YRS AND 3 MONTHS WITH ONLY 68,348 MILES ON THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY STATED, BECAUSE THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND IT (THE RADIATOR) WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I EXPLAINED TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRYSLER ON THE PHONE, THAT INDEED THE RADIATOR IS ONE OF THEIR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR AND ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED (AS STATED BY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP), AND IT WAS FACTOR FOR THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS ALSO THE MAIN FACTOR THAT RESULTED IN THE CAR STOPPING WHILE BE DRIVEN ON A BUSY ROADWAY, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT, PERSONAL INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10150791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,218 miles Lexington, MA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2002 DODGE NEON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE PULLING OFF EXIT AT VERY SLOW SPEED WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR -WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED CAR HAD 40,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10150628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wallace, NC

POWER TRAIN

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PANEL LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. *BF THE DAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR WHAT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT WAS A FAULTY WIRING PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $825.00 TO REPAIR THE INSIDE CLUSTER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE VEHICLE HAD OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RESERVOIRS, IN ADDITION TO THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RATTLING, THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BELT AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10097334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,900 miles NEW Orleans, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON SEPTEMBER 24,2004 MY TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, CAUSING MY CAR TO DRIVE INEFFICIENTLY. IT IS PUTTING A STRAIN ON MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER PEOPLE'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR NEONS. DODGE IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME FOR FIXING IT. THIS IS STILL UNDER A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT ARE TRYING GET AROUND FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD OTHER EXPERT TELL ME THAT AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT THING ARE WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I AM BRINGING IT BACK TO PREMIER DODGE TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 28.

NHTSA complaint #10093180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Providence, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10092823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Charlotte, NC

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

FIRST ENGINE LIGHTS STARTS TO COME ON - SECOND NOTICE THAT ONE MORNING CAR STARTS TO MAKE LOUD SQEAKING NOISE - THIRD TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC (49000MI) AND HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG - HE REPLACES ENTIRE FRONT...AXLE, BOOTS, ETC. CAR STILL MAKES SAME NOISE AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO FALL APART.

NHTSA complaint #10072929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,700 miles Sylmar, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10071503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Dodge Neon problems

← Full 2002 Dodge Neon report