Dodge Neon · model year

2001 Dodge Neon

199 NHTSA complaints, 50 crash reports, and 10 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
199
Recalls
10

The verdict

The 2001 Dodge Neon posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

Top 38%
fewest complaints, own model years
10
recall campaigns

The 2001DodgeNeon carries 199 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 50 crashes, 1 fire, 46 injuries, and 38 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2001 Neon is air bags:frontal with 23 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (10) and air bags (9). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2001 Neon, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

199
Complaints
50
Crashes
1
Fires
46
Injuries
38
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2001 Dodge Neon

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

199 filings

Crashes Reported

50 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL23
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE10
AIR BAGS9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
STEERING6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
STRUCTURE6
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID5
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING4

Recalls (10)

06E04900024/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

06E02600023/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 D

08E03300014/04/2008

SUSPENSION

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

00V41500012/12/2000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SPORT APPEARANCE PACKAGE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." CERTAIN VEHICLES BUILT WITH 16" WHEELS AND TIRES WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE INCORRECT TIRE PLACARD.

01V03900012/02/2001

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH 15" WHEELS, EQUIPPED WITH AN R/T PACKAGE. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN INCORRECT TIRE PLACARD. THE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH P195/50R16 TIRES BUT THE TIRE PLACARD INDICATED THAT THE RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZES WERE P185/65R14 AND P185/65

08E05000011/08/2008

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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 A

09E02500011/05/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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

00V36600009/11/2000

CHILD SEAT

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLU

01V15400008/05/2001

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IN THE PRESENCE OF OIL AND HEAT, THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE COULD SWELL AND LOOSEN FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

09E01200007/04/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

Recent Complaints

20200316VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE STUCK ON HIGHWAY WHEN ACCELERATION.

Mileage: 200,890

20200316UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THROTTLE STUCK ON HIGHWAY WHEN ACCELERATION.

Mileage: 200,890

20200218AIR BAGS

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IN MY HORN DON'T WORK

20150210STRUCTURE:BODY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK OIL WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,189.

Mileage: 158,189

20141202ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Mileage: 102,000

20141202STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Mileage: 102,000

20140602STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

Mileage: 49,000

20130607ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING AND CAR START TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. *TR

Mileage: 137,500

20130607ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS DRIVING AND CAR START TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. *TR

Mileage: 137,500

20111017STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20111013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 156,800

20110722ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT END WAS REWIRED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, CAM SHAFT, BATTERY, HORN AND THE GROUND WIRE CABLE WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REWIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Mileage: 126,000

20101207POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND NOW IT SLIPS EVERY TIME YOU USE THE CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF YOU WERE IN ON COMING TRAFFIC AND YOU HAD TO MOVE YOU CANT MOVE QUICK. *TR

20100912ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SMOKE HAS BEEN EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN. INITIALLY, FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. LATER, SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE FOG LIGHTS TURNED OFF, BUT WOULD NOT TURN ON. 1 MONTH LATER, MORE SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, WITH A BAD ODOR, AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. NOW, I HAVE HAD TO BUY THE MFS (MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH) BUT IT DOES NOT WORK, AS THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRES ARE BURNED. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING LOOM HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC, SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OTHER NEON OWNERS HAVE HAD TAILLIGHTS GO OUT, TURN SIGNALS NOT OPERATE, ETC. I CHECKED 7 CARS IN JUNK YARDS TODAY, AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THEM HAD BURNED WIRES AND HARNESSES. DODGE SHOULD REMEDY THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS CLEARLY RELATED TO S

Mileage: 90,000

20100912EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SMOKE HAS BEEN EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN. INITIALLY, FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. LATER, SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE FOG LIGHTS TURNED OFF, BUT WOULD NOT TURN ON. 1 MONTH LATER, MORE SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, WITH A BAD ODOR, AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. NOW, I HAVE HAD TO BUY THE MFS (MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH) BUT IT DOES NOT WORK, AS THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRES ARE BURNED. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING LOOM HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC, SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OTHER NEON OWNERS HAVE HAD TAILLIGHTS GO OUT, TURN SIGNALS NOT OPERATE, ETC. I CHECKED 7 CARS IN JUNK YARDS TODAY, AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THEM HAD BURNED WIRES AND HARNESSES. DODGE SHOULD REMEDY THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS CLEARLY RELATED TO S

Mileage: 90,000

20100405TIRES

WAS DRIVING AT 50MPH, WHEN MY RT FRONT NOKIAN TIRE WENT FLAT. WHEN I CHANGED THE TIRE A NOTICED THAT THE GREEN PLUG WAS MISSING. THERE WAS A GREEN PLUG IN THE LF FRONT TIRE, SO I KNEW THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. AS OF RIGHT NOW, I WAS TOLD NOKIAN NO LONGER MAKES THAT TYPE OF TIRE WITH THE GREEN PLUG SO I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE. *TR

Mileage: 77,590

20081007CrashAIR BAGS

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION GOING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH ON HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

20080103STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WHEN IT RAINS. HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE CAUSED OF THE LEAK. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,500.

Mileage: 72,000

20071227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING (MPH UNKNOWN) HE HEARD A LOUD RINGING NOISE THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART TO VEHICLE AFTER ADJUSTING THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MAIN CABLE INTO THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,880 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MAIN CABLE INTO THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,880 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 04-07-08 *BF

Mileage: 33,880

20071115STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

LEAKY TRUNK AND BACK SEAT. *TR

Compare 2001DodgeNeon to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 Dodge Neon have?▼
The 2001 Dodge Neon has 199 NHTSA complaints, 50 crashes, 1 fires, 46 injuries, and 38 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 Dodge Neon?▼
Yes, the 2001 Dodge Neon has 10 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Dodge Neon?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 Dodge Neon is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2001 Dodge Neon safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2001 Dodge Neon; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.