Model year record

2005 Dodge Neon recalls & problems

The 2005 Dodge Neon has 4 safety recalls and 96 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (15 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints96filed by owners

Crashes · fires23 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths20 · 0reported in complaints

2005 Dodge Neon in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

Exterior lighting

Recall 09E01200016,270 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

SuspensionApr 14, 2008

Suspension

Recall 08E0330006,903 vehicles

Problem: 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 VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E04900027,176 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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 DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2005 Dodge Neon 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2005 Dodge Neon NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainManual transmission; Automatic transmission	15	3	0	0	17,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control	15	5	0	1	65,000 mi
StructureBody; Body › Hood	15	1	0	2	60,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal	14	14	0	15	35,000 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer	13	0	1	0	72,479 mi
Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly; Engine	12	1	0	0	30,015 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	7	3	0	1	8,176 mi
Unknown or other	5	0	0	0	—
Engine	5	1	0	1	112,092 mi
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.; Appliance › Air conditioner	4	0	1	0	35,500 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly › Mounting	4	0	0	0	88,500 mi
TiresTread/belt	4	1	0	0	39,779 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Dodge Neon. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 160,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 180,000. The contact obtained a Carfax report, which had limited data. The Department of Licensing and Attorney General was contacted.
Sep 9, 2026 · 180,000 miles
Unknown or other
No warning or engine light appeared; the gas pedal did not function as intended and accelerated while trying to parallel park when I put the shift knob in reverse the car immediately accelerated on its own to full force and I nearly Crashed into a bus stop filled with people losing control of the car I immediately managed to stop the car by pressing on the brake pedal which the car still had slight force but then I put the car in park and only at that time did it completely stop. The gas pedal and shift linkage and accelerator linkage have some dangerous unprovoked issues. This car has always had a high idle problem as warned to me by the first owners, as soon as you put the car into drive…
Aug 20, 2022
Vehicle speed control
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!
Aug 22, 2022
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
THE AC UNIT LEAKS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT NEEDING TO BE FILLED YEARLY. WE PAID A DEALER TO REPAIR THE AC AND IT ALL LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THEY REFILLED ONCE AGAIN AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK EVERY YEAR TO HAVE IT REFILLED AGAIN. SO FAR IT HAS ALL LEAKED OUT 3 TIMES NOW. *TR
May 1, 2019 · 92,000 miles
Structure › Body
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAL THAT ALLOWED MOISTURE TO SEEP INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MOISTURE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE FLOOR TO DECAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DECAY CAUSED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Apr 1, 2006 · 55,000 miles
Structure › Body
PERSON SOLD AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. USING VERBAL MANIPULATIONS HE CLAIMED IN THE ADD AND LATER FACE TO FACE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A CLEAN TITLE (CARFAX REPORT SHOWS IT AS SALVAGE WITH MULTIPLE REPORTED ACCIDENTS AND 8 SERVICE HISTORY RECORDS), CERTAIN MILEAGE (148000 CLAIMED, 223.300 IN REALITY), HE WAS THE 2ND OWNER (3 OWNERS IN REALITY) AND NO MAJOR ISSUES - WAS TOLD IN PERSON DURING THE SALE OPERATION, ALSO TOLD HE WAS SELLING THE CAR FOR HIS FRIEND THATS WHY THERE WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON NAME ON A TITLE ((XXXXX)). SELLER WAS CONVENCING AND DID A GREAT JOB AT CONFUSING IGOR AND DECIEVING HIM. THE SELLER LIED ABOUT THE SMOG CHECK ALSO AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BUYER - THE CAR DIDNT PASS THE…
Jun 26, 2019 · 223,400 miles
Engine
BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 60,000 MILES
Jan 10, 2018 · 60,000 miles
Electrical system
I PURCHASE A 2005 DODGE NEON IN JUNE. APPROXIATELY 3 WERKS LATER I NOTICE HOW WHEN I WOULD HAVE TO STOP WHEN TIME TO MOVE FORWARD CAR WOULD STALL AND BARELY WANT TO GO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD PICK UP. IT DID THAT FOR 2 DAYS. THE 3RD DAY I DROVE AWAY IN IT WITH NO PROMBLEMS. WHEN TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE IT WOULD NOT START. I REPLACE STARTER,BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND ALSO MADE SURE ALL THESE PARTS WHERE GOOD. MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. PLEASE HELP ME OUT JUST SPENT $2,000.00 AND MY CAR STILL WILL NOT START. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT OCCURED.
Jul 17, 2017

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.