FaultScore

Dodge Neon headlight problems

200 of the 4,954 complaints filed about the Dodge Neon are about the lighting — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

200

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

15

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1995 Neon 42 21.0%

Median failure at 63,500 miles

1996 Neon 22 11.0%

Median failure at 74,561 miles

1997 Neon 16 8.0%

Median failure at 73,500 miles

1998 Neon 9 4.5%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

1999 Neon 2 1.0%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2000 Neon 15 7.5%

Median failure at 88,500 miles

2001 Neon 15 7.5%

Median failure at 58,500 miles

2002 Neon 11 5.5%

Median failure at 65,900 miles

2003 Neon 56 28.0%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2004 Neon 9 4.5%

Median failure at 88,500 miles

2005 Neon 3 1.5%

Median failure at 60,393 miles

What owners said

2005 Dodge Neon Woodhaven, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

2003 Dodge Neon at 124,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIS MAKES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS 2003 DODGE NEON XST . I HAVE PUT $10.000.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ! THESE ARE LEMONS!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE!!

NHTSA complaint #11269793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Dodge Neon at 169,000 miles Lakewood, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #11157260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Dodge Neon at 185,000 miles Morristown, NJ Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

NHTSA complaint #10884541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Dodge Neon at 107,326 miles Pittsburg, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO LOW. HARD FOR ME TO SEE. ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER, I CAN'T SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD. AFRAID OF WRECKING. I TRIED CLEANING THE OUTSIDE HEADLIGHTS THINKING THEY MAY HAVE A FILM ON THEM, BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. IF THEIR ARE NO REFLECTIVE MARKERS ON THE ROAD IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE THE WHITE LINE.

NHTSA complaint #10730776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon Fort Wayne, IN Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STARTED VEHICLE DURING RAINY, FOGGY, 40 DEGREE WEATHER. HEADLAMP INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WITHIN GAUGE CLUSTER. UPON CHECKING OUTSIDE THE CAR, ONLY PARKING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING DESPITE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BEING IN THE "ON" POSITION. BURNING SMELL OCCURRED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND MULTIFUNCTION HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED.

NHTSA complaint #10704440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon at 10,345 miles Jersey City, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS & STEERING COLUMN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID IT WAS SPILLED ANTI FREEZE FROM WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL. CAR WAS OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW IT'S SMOKING AGAIN THE FRONT DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK THE FOG LIGHTS ARE GONE & RECENTLY MY HIGHLIGHTS WENT TOO. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SHOWN ME THE BURNT WIRES IN STEELING COLUMN & SAID THE HEATING COIL IS DAMAGED MAKING THE SMELL & FOGS THE WINDOW FROM THE FUMES. NEXT TO GO WILL BE THE TURNING SIGNALS & WIPERS IF NOT FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10678686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon at 200,000 miles Tooele, UT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10652405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Dodge Neon at 15,000 miles Louisville, KY 1 injured

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10621019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon at 120,000 miles Barre, VT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SMELLED HOT WIRING AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE UF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10573395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Dodge Neon at 135,000 miles Waynesboro, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD POINT DOWNWARD AND ILLUMINATED AN INADEQUATE BRIGHTNESS TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED BOTH HEAD LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA complaint #10543268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Dodge Neon at 65,000 miles Atlantic Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN I TURN ON MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL MY FOG LIGHTS TURN ON. I SMELLED SOMETHING THAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY MFD SWITCH CONNECTOR THE LEFT SIDE(NUMBER 10&20) WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF MELTING.

NHTSA complaint #10535958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon Tampa, FL Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10498101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Dodge Neon at 80,000 miles Vevay, IN, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10488065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon at 100,000 miles Roseburg, OR Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED, WHICH AFFECTED THE FOG LIGHTS. AFTER PERFORMING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DEDUCED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE HIGH LOW BEAM MECHANISM, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10485145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon at 125,000 miles Oregonia, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THEN WOULD ONLY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL FINALLY THEY DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. TOOK OFF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH WAS MELTED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANUFACTURERS MADE THE WIRES TOO SMALL TO CARRY THE ELECTRICAL LOAD.

NHTSA complaint #10473263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Dodge Neon at 82,000 miles Fort Pierce, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHTS GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10432677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Dodge Neon Kalamazoo, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10427091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon at 122,567 miles South Milwaukee, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FIRST THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, I NOTICED A PORTION OF THE PLUG HAD MELTED FROM EXTREME HEAT. MOST LIKELY DUE TO A POOR DESIGN IN THE WIRING, THE CIRCUITS OR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. HAD THIS BEEN LEFT UNNOTICED IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGES, FIRE OR PERSONAL HARM.

NHTSA complaint #10404761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Dodge Neon Greenville, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT MY LOW BEAMS WOULDN'T. NOW MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT I AM UNABLE TO SWITCH TO MY LOW BEAMS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WITH MY BATTERY DYING SEVERAL TIMES WHICH RESULTED IN GETTING A JUMP FROM ANOTHER CAR. I END UP HAVING A BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ON MY CAR LAST YEAR BETWEEN NOV/DEC 2010. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN LOCATED NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THIS HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR DIDN'T START MONDAY 3-28-11 MORNING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR BUT NO READINGS REGARDING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION PERTAINS TO WHAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #10393824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Dodge Neon problems