154 of the
4,954 complaints filed about the Dodge Neon
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
154
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
25
Crashes
3
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
No warning or engine light appeared; the gas pedal did not function as intended and accelerated while trying to parallel park when I put the shift knob in reverse the car immediately accelerated on its own to full force and I nearly Crashed into a bus stop filled with people losing control of the car I immediately managed to stop the car by pressing on the brake pedal which the car still had slight force but then I put the car in park and only at that time did it completely stop. The gas pedal and shift linkage and accelerator linkage have some dangerous unprovoked issues. This car has always had a high idle problem as warned to me by the first owners, as soon as you put the car into drive it would immediately go. I have researched recalls for years on this and have also discovered many reports of people losing control in this manner coincidentally going unaddressed. Until this occurred, I became very very apprehensive to even drive this car as I could have been held responsible for this damn malfunction costing many lives and injuries unknowingly and unprovoked. The car only has 60k miles and so far the entire dash board has cracked from sunlight falling completely to pieces that would crumble as I would drive causing distraction. The power steering belt prematurely needed replacing due to some sort of issue with the pulleys, not so long after that the alternator belt snapped needing the alternator and pulleys to be replaced again. The car during those repairs had just reached 50k miles, two batteries and the car still has electrical problems, power steering issues. This car was never involved in any major accident that would explain this other than a manufacture defect costing hundreds of dollars but there’s no cost to the lives of myself but others that you can’t put a price tag on. It’s truly a crime and absolute obvious indication of negligence that none of these reports have called for any recalls on this vehicle!
NHTSA complaint #11481890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The gas pedal has come disconnected or stuck continuing to accelerate and I miraculously stopped the car with the emergency brake before it nearly Crashed into a crowded bus stop! The car only has 65k miles but regardless a car should never put anyone in this danger! It is giving me a nervous breakdown almost running people over!
NHTSA complaint #11480684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11114807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #11099364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I SHIFTED MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT STOP CRASHED THRU MY NEIGHBORS GARAGE DOOR. THERE S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES EVEN IN NEUTRAL. I CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER OR BLOCKING THE GAS PEDAL. NO MATS IN CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10863951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 480 AND DEPLOYED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY NEON AT 60 MPH. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BRIEFLY, AND THEN ENGAGED THE "ACCELERATE" OPTION ON CRUISE CONTROL TO SPEED BACK UP. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TOWARDS A MUCH HIGHER SPEED AND I HAD TO QUICKLY SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME INCIDENCE, AND AM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. I AM A FREELANCE WRITER WITH A HUGE NETWORK OF FRIENDS. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO WRITE A BAD REVIEW OF MY EXPERIENCE, AND CALL OUT DODGE FOR NOT FIXING WHAT I WOULD THINK IS A VERY SERIOUS, POSSIBLY DEADLY, PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10717703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR . THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS NO POWER IN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10663485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON OR ABOUT MARCH 1, 2013, MY 2005 DODGE NEON BEGAN TO HAVE CLUTCH PROBLEMS. ON MARCH 11, 2013, I BROUGHT THE NEON IN FOR REPAIRS AT THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT AT. THE REPAIRS TOOK 3 WEEK. ON JULY 10, 2013, I DROVE TO THE DENVER V.A. FROM CHEYENNE, WY AND ON THE TRIP BACK TO CHEYENNE, WY, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN LOVELAND, CO ON JULY 11, 2013 TO SET-UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIRS AND AFTER WAITING FOR 4 HOURS FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK WITH A TIME THEY WOULD SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, I CALLED SOMEONE ELSE, WHO SET ME AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT THAN AND THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10524378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,842 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
NHTSA complaint #10450772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY TO SPEEDS OF 95 MPH. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE HAD BECOME STUCK OPEN AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
NHTSA complaint #10449700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2005 DODGE NEON, BEGAN ACCELERATING ALL BY IT SELF. I WAS NOT GIVING IT GAS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, IT KEPT GOING, I WENT THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, BUT THE GARAGE DOOR SLOWED ME DOWN, AND I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I READ ON LINE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. I TRIED TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE SENSOR, THAT DID NOT WORK. MY NEXT STEP IS TO CHANGE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. I HOPE THAT WORKS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 1 WEEK NOW, BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. IT HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME PRIOR TO RUNNING INTO THE GARAGE. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RECALL AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS LUCKY IT WAS MY GARAGE DOOR INSTEAD OF A HUMAN BEING. IT COST ME 800 TO REPLACE THE GARAGE DOOR, AND THAT WAS A FRIEND GIVING ME AN INCREDIBLE DEAL. YOU CANNOT REPLACE A HUMAN LIFE. PLEASE HAVE DODGE NEON GIVE A SOLUTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND WARN PEOPLE ABOUT IT. ARIZONA DECEMBER 26TH, 2011.
NHTSA complaint #10441246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,845.
NHTSA complaint #10430058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE TO HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WHEN IT WAS ON THE TOW TRUCK, IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/02/11
NHTSA complaint #10408518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST UNTIL ACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT SHE BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,191.
NHTSA complaint #10345397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. STARTED TO ACCELERATE OFF OF A GREEN LIGHT HEARD A LOUD POP. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, WHEN IN GEAR, WITHOUT ME HAVING TO APPLY ANY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR. AS I CONTINUED ON MY WAY HOME I HEARD A LOUD HISSING LIKE A METAL ON METAL SOUND. POSSIBLY THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR 2. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES. 3. THE INCIDENT JUST HAPPENED TODAY TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10343542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 DODGE NEON SE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO CONSTANTLY ACCELERATE DESPITE THE GAS PEDAL NOT BEING PRESSED. BRAKING WOULD SLOW THE CAR BUT NOT EFFECTIVELY AND THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DISENGAGED. WHILE THIS WAS OCCURRING, NO SENSORS IN THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INDICATED ANY PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 30 MORE MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE BEING REPEATEDLY TURNED OFF - IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR AT RED LIGHTS/STOP SIGNS - BUT PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO ATTEMPT TO RED LINE AND NECESSITATED IT BE TURNED OFF. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TRAVELING, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE STARTED AND THE CAR RAPIDLY PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE BEFORE THE ENGINE RED LINED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOTHING OF NOTE PRECEDED THE FAILURE AND THE ONLY WORK DONE ON THE CAR IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS WAS ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND ONE ROTATION OF TIRES. ONCE THE DEALERSHIP EXAMINED THE CAR, THEY FOUND A FAULTY VACUUM LINE BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE FOR 30 MINUTES OF THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER IN DETERMINING THAT CONSTANT ACCELERATION (OR A FAILURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM) WAS OUTSIDE THE NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETER OF THE ENGINE. DODGE WAS CONTACTED ON THE ISSUE AND CONTENDED THE REPAIR WAS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE EXISTING WARRANTY AND ALSO COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE FAILURE OF THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER IN DETECTING THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY SEEMED UNINTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING FURTHER.
NHTSA complaint #10325504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 DODGE NEON. ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT STOP. THE CAR CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED. TRIED TO TURN ENGINE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. TRIED TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL BUT IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. FINALLY PUT INTO PARK AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING WHILE IN PARK. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10319119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNG FORWARD WITHOUT THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BEING PUSHED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EIGHT TIMES. THE CONTACT HAS NEVER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSE. THE CONTACT FEELS THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE TOYOTA STICKY PEDAL RECALL. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #10303220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.