2000 Dodge Neon recalls and problems

The 2000 Dodge Neon has 5 recalls and 337 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

Pictured: a 2001 model; the 2000 may differ in details. Photo: 2001 Dodge Neon by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2000 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 6 Neon model years — the most of any year.

5recalls

337complaints

73crashes

6fires

56injuries

63,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

5 recalls

Service Brakes

May 8, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V154000 · 353,000 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Passenger vehicles. In the presence of oil and heat, the brake booster vacuum hose could swell and loosen from the intake manifold.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Risk: This could cause a loss of power brake assist and an increase in engine idle speed.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum hose. Owner notification began July 2, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Child Seat

Nov 9, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V366000 · 1,211,756 vehicles

Problem: 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, including diagrams, for properly attaching a child restraint system's tether strap to the tether anchorage.

Original NHTSA wording

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, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the child seat May not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy & notes

Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.

Owner notification began November 12, 2000.owners who do not receive the free owner's manual addendum within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 17, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V194000 · 263,000 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Passenger cars. Vapors from the positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) system can condense and freeze inside of the throttle body when the vehicle is operated in extremely cold ambient temperatures.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. VAPORS FROM THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM CAN CONDENSE AND FREEZE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN EXTREMELY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.

Risk: This can prevent the throttle from fully returning to idle, which could cause a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CAN PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM FULLY RETURNING TO IDLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace and relocate a pcv system tube.

Owner notification began August 21, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contactdaimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Suspension

May 6, 1999 · NHTSA campaign 99V114000 · 744 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Passenger vehicles. The front suspension lower control arms May have been inadequately welded between the pivot tube and the arm.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED BETWEEN THE PIVOT TUBE AND THE ARM.

Risk: This inadequate welding could allow the tube to separate from the arm, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS INADEQUATE WELDING COULD ALLOW THE TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE ARM, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the lower control arm.

Owner notification began May 31,1999.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chrysler at 1-800-992-1997. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Air Bags

Mar 11, 1999 · NHTSA campaign 99V043000 · 488 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Passenger vehicles. Some frontal (passenger side) air bags May not inflate properly.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONTAL (PASSENGER SIDE) AIR BAGS MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the passenger May not be adequately restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the air bag module on the passenger side.

Owner notification began April 5, 1999.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chrysler at 1-800-992-1997. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine54

Vehicle Speed Control20

Seat Belts19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE

PE02082 · opened Nov 6, 2002 · closed Apr 23, 2003

Summary

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.

CONTROL ARM WELDS

RQ99010 · opened Jun 1, 1999 · closed Feb 5, 2001 · led to recall 99V114000

Summary

There is no summary currently available

2000 vs. other Dodge Neon years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2000. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2000 Dodge Neon have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Dodge Neon, the latest from May 8, 2001 (service brakes). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Dodge Neon?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (71), service brakes (68), engine (54). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.