Most common 2001 Dodge Neon problems
Share of the 146 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Neon complaints by model year
Best Neon years: 2005, 2004, 1999. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
2001 Dodge Neon recalls (4)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. In the presence of oil and heat, the brake booster vacuum hose could swell and loosen from the intake manifold.
Remedy: 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…
Equipment › Other › Labels
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with 15" wheels, equipped with an r/t package. Certain vehicles were equipped with an incorrect tire placard. The vehicles were equipped with p195/50r16 tires but the tire placard indicated that the recommended tire sizes were p185/65r14 and p185/65r15.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a correct label and installation instructions. Owner notification began February 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Equipment › Other › Labels
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sport appearance package fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS 110, "tire selection and rims." certain vehicles built with 16" wheels and tires were equipped with the incorrect tire placard.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a new label, or, if the owner wishes, their dealer can install the label for them.
Child seat
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…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Dodge Neon:
Safety belt cinching latch plate
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.
What 2001 Dodge Neon owners say
Air bags all 33 →
Dt*: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at 40 MPH on the highway, there was an increased stopping distance which resulted in a rear end collision, and the airbags did not deploy. The contact was wearing a seat belt, but minor injuries were sustained. The vehicle sustained extensive front end damage. The police were alerted, and a report was taken. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not alerted.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with air bags. Consumer was driving and was involved in a frontal collision. The vehicle air bags did not deploy and a s result the driver sustained severe injuries. Manufacturer and dealer were contacted, and they knew of the problem, but would not get involved.
Electrical system all 23 →
On several occasions, smoke has been emitted from behind the steering column. Initially, fog lights would not turn off. Later, smoke came from behind the steering column, and the fog lights turned off, but would not turn on. 1 month later, more smoke came from behind the steering column, with a bad odor, and the headlights stopped working. Now, I have had to buy the mfs (multi-function switch) but it does not work, as the wiring harness and wires are burned. The Dodge dealer says that the entire wiring loom has to be replaced for several thousand dollars. I have researched online, and have found several complaints of the same issue. My concern is that headlights, taillights, turn signals, etc, should be a safety issue, and I have seen that many other Neon owners have had taillights go out, turn signals not operate, etc. …
2001 Dodge Neon . In shop 11 times for same problem. Electrical failure. All gauges drop to 0 engine stalls and starts back up. All lights black out. Very unsafe!!! Car can swerve due to power lose. Have had 4 very close calls of being hit when the car does this on freeway. Car was under warranty when problem started and problem could never be duplicated. Computer modula replaced, engine shut down replaced,ignition switch replaced, relays replaced. Just had positive battery cable (harness) replaced at $280.00 cost to me with 3 days lost at work. 20,000 miles ouit of warranty and even though problem has been documented for a year while under warranty I had to pay that and the $110.00 for the engine shut down relay 2 weeks ago. Don't know if this is fixed or not. Will never buy another Dodge.
Brakes all 21 →
Dt*: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at 40 MPH on the highway, there was an increased stopping distance which resulted in a rear end collision, and the airbags did not deploy. The contact was wearing a seat belt, but minor injuries were sustained. The vehicle sustained extensive front end damage. The police were alerted, and a report was taken. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not alerted.
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.
2001 Dodge Neon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Dodge Neon a good car?
Based on 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Neon rates better than average: 45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Neon at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Dodge Neon?
The air bags — 33 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (23) and brakes (21).
How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Neon have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2001 Dodge Neon, the most recent from May 8, 2001 (vacuum). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Neon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000. See the full Dodge Neon years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Neon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 46% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.