RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Neon Airbags Problems

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

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
20
Latest Jun 23, 2017
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.
10%
of 202 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.
20
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
21

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 airbag

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

Airbags
Filed Jun 23, 2017
Crash reported

WE WERE HIT FROM THE SIDE AND TORE UP THE WHOLE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID
11000761
Incident
Jun 22, 2017
Mileage
152,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10840461
Incident
Mar 6, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 29, 2015
Crash reported4 injuries reported

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AGGRESSIVELY, WITH POSSIBLE METALLIC SHRAPNEL OR FRAGMENT INTRUSION INTO THE DRIVER'S BODY, BECAUSE THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A COMPLETE TRANSECTION OF THE RIGHT MAIN BRONCHUS - EITHER FROM METAL DEBRIS OR FROM AN OVER-AGGRESSIVE INFLATION THAT CAUSED SEVERE BLUNT TRAUMA TO THE CHEST.

NHTSA ID
10722167
Incident
Nov 8, 2014
Airbags
Filed Jul 29, 2010
Crash reported1 death reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BASED ON THE IMPACT. THE POLICE HAD TO CUT THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE STATE'S TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10346175
Incident
Jul 18, 2010
Airbags
Filed Jun 11, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

I REARENDED AN SUV DURING A RAINSTORM. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY CAR, AND SIDE PANELS WERE TOTALED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT AND DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR FRONT OF MY CAR ACTUALLY LEFT MINOR INTERIOR DAMAGE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL-PANEL PIECES BECAME DETACHED. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE BRUISES, MINOR CUTS, AND MAJOR HEADACHE FOR DAYS AFTERWARDS DUE TO THE FORCE OF HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL THEN MY SEATBELT JERKING ME INTO MY SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10335795
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
104,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed May 14, 2009
Fire reported1 injury reported

ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE CAR WAS IN OPERATION + PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF AIRBAG. DRIVER WAS FORCED TO CLAW THE AIRBAG OUT OF HIS WAY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND STEER IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO KNOWN TAMPERING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PRIOR TO THIS; CAR WAS USED, BUT HAD ONLY BODY WORK DONE TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. HEAT DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME FACIAL AND NECK INJURY--POSSIBLY OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268763
Incident
May 4, 2009
Mileage
83,936 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 11, 2008
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A SEVERE CRASH AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY SECURE HER AND SHE STRUCK THE STEERING COLUMN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NEVER SAW ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,000.

NHTSA ID
10224203
Incident
May 3, 2007
Mileage
29,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 8, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES DUE TO IMPACT. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK MANUFACTURER AND INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED, BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THE TALRO INSURANCE COMPANY, NEITHER WANTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING NEITHER DID THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCIDENT. THE APOLLO CASUALTY COMPANY TOLD HER TO CALL CHRYSLER BACK. CONSUMER WANTS TO SUE BUT LAWYER SAID THAT THERE CAN'T BE ANYTHING DONE BECAUSE NOBODY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.*SB

NHTSA ID
10115882
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Mileage
23,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION ON A DRY ROAD CONDITION AT 30 MPH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROAD SIDE ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. ALSO, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY THE LOCAL POLICE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
10115888
Incident
Mar 23, 2005
Mileage
3,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF MY SISTER (WHO WAS DRIVING MY CAR) AND SHE WAS GOING 40 MPH. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT ALMOST HEAD ON. AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY SISTER HAS MULTIPLE HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10114102
Incident
Mar 11, 2005
Mileage
28,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 20, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I HAD A COLLISION IN MY VEHICLE THE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN. (THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.) THE AIRBAGS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER) DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO ME AND MY PASSENGER. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 25 OR 30 MPH. ACCORDING TO POLICE ON THE SCENE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10107644
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
Mileage
26,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 17, 2004
Crash reported

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS USING THE SEAT BELT AT THAT TIME. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
10105016
Incident
Oct 27, 2004
Mileage
10,650 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091645
Incident
Sep 8, 2004
Airbags
Filed Aug 23, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THE ONLY RESPONSE HE RECEIVED WAS A LETTER DENYING THE CLAIM THAT COLLISION WAS OFFSET. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089415
Incident
Jul 24, 2004
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD/KNEE/CHEST INJURIES, AND SHATTERED GLASS UNDER THE SKIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10087417
Incident
Aug 6, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 7, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE AT A STAND STILL VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE VEHICLE DID A COMPLETE 36. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES, AND HAD TO GO THROUGH THERAPY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081450
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Mileage
2,175 mi
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed Jul 6, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A SIDE RAIL. NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AUTO BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM ALSO, 2 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURHCASED THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO AN INCIDENT THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T START. *LA

NHTSA ID
10074255
Incident
Feb 1, 2004
Mileage
8,800 mi
Airbags
Filed May 19, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED, HER NECK AND BACK WAS SORE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073920
Incident
May 19, 2004
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reportedFire reported

I WAS IN A SMALL COLLISION AT THE SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LESS. I REAR ENDED A FORD F150 TRUCK BECAUSE MY BRAKES SKIDED ON THE ROAD, MY 2003 NEON FISHTAILED, AND I HIT THE BUMPER OF THE TRUCK. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS SMASHED, AND MY RADIATOR WAS ALSO BROKEN. AFTER 3 MINUTES MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND MY ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES AFTER THE COLLISION. MY AIRBAG ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT GO OFF, I DIDN'T HIT THE TRUCK AT A HIGHSPEED, YET MY CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WAS MELTED, AND I THINK THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE. HAD I HIT A TRUCK OR BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER LARGE OR SMALL CAR, I HATE TO WONDER WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED THEN. WOULD I OF MADE IT OUT IN TIME BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, OR WOULD IT BLOW UP ON IMPACT?! NEONS ARE NOT SAFE, AND I THINK THIS CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR THAT SHOWS THE DAMAGE FROM THE COLLISION, AND YOU WOULDN'T EVER THINK THE SMALL DAMAGE COULD CATCH THIS CAR ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10071051
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Jun 19, 2003

2003 DODGE NEON HIT DEER AT 65 MPH, DEER HIT FRONT LEFT FENDER BEFORE BOUNCING OFF WINDSHIELD. GLASS TURNED INTO TINY SHARDS OF RAZOR SHARP GLASS (I THOUGH SAFETY GLASS WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN INTO LITTLE CUBES AND NOT RAZORS). AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION THAN A COMPLAINT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023362
Incident
Jun 16, 2003

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 .