Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Dodge Neon Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission — runs 2.1× the fleet median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
173Complaints
6Recalls
26Crashes
3Fires
16Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (13.9% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 2.1× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 24 · 13.9% | not available | — |
| Electrical System | 14 · 8.1% | not available | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 13 · 7.5% | not available | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 12 · 6.9% | not available | — |
| Air Bags | 9 · 5.2% | not available | — |
| Structure | 9 · 5.2% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 173 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 6 campaigns
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 08E050000 · 2008 · reported 08/11/2008
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension
NHTSA campaign 08E033000 · 2008 · reported 04/14/2008
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.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE, UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE WERE INFORMED, IT HAD A SIZABLE HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION…”NHTSA complaint 10182035 — filed 02/08/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO IDLE HARD AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IN NOV OF 2004. VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO STALL WHEN STOPPED. ON DATE OF INCIDENT, OWNER…”NHTSA complaint 10178928 — filed 01/17/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“VEHICLE HAD IDLED HARD SINCE PURCHASE. TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR KNOCKING SOUND ON START UP OF VEHICLE EVERY MORNING. OWNER WAS TOLD…”NHTSA complaint 10178924 — filed 01/17/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge Neon?
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 24 of 173 NHTSA complaints (13.9%), followed by electrical system (14), air bags:frontal (13), engine and engine cooling:engine (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Dodge Neon have?
173 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 26 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, and 16 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Dodge Neon have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Dodge Neon's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
