RoadVitals

2001 Dodge Neon Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Dec 2, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 146 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Dodge Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineSteering
Filed Dec 2, 2014

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.

NHTSA ID
10661558
Incident
Oct 2, 2014
Mileage
102,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2005

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT MADE A LOUD TICKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE AIR COMPRESSOR. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF TSB#24-04-00 BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER INVOLVING THIS COMPONENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10113689
Incident
Jan 5, 2005
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I BOUGHT MY NEON IN MAY OF 2001 AND IN FEB. 2002 I HAD A BAD WATER LEAK. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD SAY IT WAS FIXED, BUT NO IT WAS NOT. I FINALLY TOLD THEM I WANT MY CARPET REPLACED WHEN THEY DO GET IT FIXED. I FOUGHT WITH THEM ROUND & ROUND, TILL THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD. I SAID DO NOT PUT IT IN UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE IT WAS FIXED. THEY SAID IT WAS, PUT NEW CARPET IN AND SURE ENOUGH IT LEAKED AGAIN AND THE NEW CARPET WAS SOAKED AND STINKY, LIKE THE ORIGINAL. THEY FINALLY GOT THE LEAK FIXED AFTER 6 MONTHS, BUT THEY SURE DID NOT OFFER TO REPLACE CARPET AGAIN. THIS DEALER WAS VERY RUDE. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS REPLACED, DUE TO WATER LEAK. MY CD PLAYER BROKE TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, MY SUNROOF HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DODGE DEALER, DUE TO THE RUDENESS I WOULD RECEIVE. IN THE PAST MONTH MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TWICE, ONCE IT WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT RAN OK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AGAIN/FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY TELL ME MY SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $50.00 FOR LOOKING AT IT AND I ARGUED WITH THE GUY I TOLD HIM I WILL NOT PAY A DIME. HE BASICALLY THREW THE PAPERWORK DOWN AND WALKED AWAY. NOW I HAVE BEEN TO 2 DEALERS AND HAVE GOT NOTHING BUT TREATED LIKE CRAP. MY HUSBAND DID REPLACE THE PLUGS AND IT RAN OK FOR 1 1/2 WEEKS , NOW I DON?T KNOW WHERE TO GO, AND MY CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE WHILE IM DRIVING OR ACCELERATING. I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF THING. IM ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP AND JUST TRADE THE CAR IN, BUT THEN I DON?T WANT TO GIVE UP. WHEN MY CAR FIRST HAD THOSE LEAKS, I EVEN CALLED TO CORP. OFFICE OF DODGE AND WAS TREATED THE SAME. WHERE DO I TURN TO. AND IS MY CAR GOING TO HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS NOW?

NHTSA ID
10070655
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
25,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2003
1 injury reported

HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON THE 2001 DODGE NEON ES SEDAN. OIL LEAKAGE IN CERTAIN COMPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE WATER COOLANT HOUSING. AS A RESULT, THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041029
Incident
Sep 28, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10038464
Incident
Apr 12, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2003

ENGINE IDLES VERY ROUGH. CAR HAS STALLED OUT TWICE THIS WEEKEND WHILE IN REVERSE WITH NO WARNING. DEALER HAS SEEN CAR TODAY AND SAID IT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FIX. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN CLOSE TO A DOZEN TIMES IN REGARDS TO THE ROUGH HANDLING. ESPECIALLY WHEN A/C WAS ON. NOW IT SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT...WHEN YOU TRY TO GO THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING GAS. CAR DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ALTHOUGH MY HUSBAND AND FRIENDS HAVE ALL NOTICED/EXPERIENCED THE ROUGH FEELING WHILE DRIVING (LIKE IT WILL JUST STALL OUT...SORT OF SPUTTERS) I AM VERY AGGRAVATED WITH MY '01 NEON. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010752
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Mileage
33,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2003

THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL.*JB

NHTSA ID
10011539
Incident
Mar 12, 2003
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+8 more
Filed Jan 13, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported3 deaths reported

CONSUMER STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE GAS, THE PEDAL BEGAN TO ACT ERRATIC, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT NOW IT HESITATES WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPING. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS AND ALARMS, ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT(NOT SPEC), FUEL SYSTEM, HEATER/DEFROST/VENT, PARK BRAKE, POWER TRAIN, SERV. BRAKES, STEERING, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, VISUAL SYSTEMS, THE AIR BAG MODULE, (BRAIN OF THE VEHICLE) COMPUTER, AND A CRACKED MOTOR HEAD. CAUSE OF INCIDENT: WEAR/CORROSION/RUST, LOCKS, AND STABILITY. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10002120
Engine
Filed Oct 31, 2002

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE COLD. THERE IS A LOUD INTERNAL KNOCKING NOISE FROM ENGINE. I AM A PROFESSIONAL AUTO MECHANIC, I SUSPECT PISTON SLAP. IN MY OPINION ,THIS CONDITION IS NOT NORMAL AS STATED BY THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY. DT

NHTSA ID
769141
Incident
Oct 14, 2002
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 25, 2002

ENGINE IDLE ROUGH. IDLE SPEED DROPS BELOW 500 RPM. THROTTLE STICKS OPEN CAUSING TO SURGE AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED (2 OCCURANCES) ENGINE LOSE OF POWER, ESPECIALLY UP SMALL INCLINES. A/C OR ACCESSORIES HAVE NO EFFECT ON IDLE RPM. DEALER RECOMMEND SUPER GRADE GAS (AGAINST MANF RECOMMENDATIONS) 2 DEALERS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. AT 70MPH ENGINE HESITATES AND STALLS, AGAIN DEALER UNABLE TO DUP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HOWEVER NO CODES ARE DISPLAYED FOR DEALER. OVERALL, ENGINE IDLE BAD, THROTTLE STICKS, VEHICLE STALLS. DRIVING SKILLS HAVE PREVENTED ACCIDENT. WHAT CAN BE DONE? NLM

NHTSA ID
767688
Incident
Sep 20, 2002
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Jul 5, 2002

TRANSMISSION, THE FIRST TIME NEEDED THE SEALS AND CAPS REPLACED, THE SECOND TIME IT NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, THEN THE BATTERY BLEW UP, THEN THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE AND THE RODS WENT BAD AND I NEED TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
763843
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Apr 5, 2002

VEHICLE STALLED AT 55 MPH, LOST ALL POWER AND FUNCTIONS. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER, PCM WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM, AND INSTALLED CO PILOT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 14-APR-2002 VEHICLE STALLED FOR THE FOURTH TIME, DEALER COULDN?T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY. *YD

NHTSA ID
8006952
Incident
Nov 26, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2001

VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED, AND STALLED 6 TIMES . DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
897336
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2001

WHEN YOU REACH ANY SPEED DURING THE DAY ONLY WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO A STOP IT TRIES TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
751093
Incident
Jul 27, 2001
ElectricalEngineFuel system+4 more
Filed Jul 23, 2001

CONSUMER STATES WHEELS ARE MAKING NOISE.*YD

NHTSA ID
562200
Incident
Feb 28, 2001
Engine
Filed May 23, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
745744
Incident
May 19, 2001
Engine
Filed May 22, 2001

ENGINE LOCKED UP DURING A HEAVY RAIN, DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO WATER GETTING INSIDE THE ENGINE THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM LOCATED IN THE L/F FENDER (DESIGN FLAW?). *AK

NHTSA ID
745667
Incident
May 19, 2001
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING AND LEAVE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER.*AK

NHTSA ID
883714
Incident
Mar 15, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .