Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Dodge Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I got my oil changed, tires rotated, and windshield wipers replaced on April 13 2011 around 6:30 pm. My oil change took approximately 15 min. After the oil change and tire rotation, I paid and went straight home. I was not informed by anyone at valvoline that anything was wrong with my car. I got in my car around 7:40 am on April 14th and headed towards my insurance company on asheville highway. As I entered onto business 85, my car started to smoke from under the hood and I could feel heat on my feet near the gas pedal and brake. As I tried to brake and slow the car down, something under the hood caught fire and the brakes failed to stop the car and the car ended up sliding into the back of a pick up truck and the hood and front end of the car completely burst into flames. …
At approximately 3:00 a.m. On a Saturday the 4th of August I was involved in a rollover car accident in which I swerved to avoid a medium dog/coyote and my vehicle hit the ditch and rolled. My front airbags didn't deploy and I had to be transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital. I suffered a head injury as well as numerous body impact injuries from the crash. According to the report from the impound my engine was found 40 feet from my vehicle. My first concern was of course my airbags and why they failed to deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Neon. While driving various speeds, a knocking sound was coming from the engine and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine piston detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
On feb 14, 2006 while driving to work the car started making dinging noise and the transmission started slipping. The temperature gauge went to hot and I heard a bubbling sound coming from the engine area. As I pulled the car into a parking lot, the car stopped. Had the car towed to the dealership in town and they ran a check through the onboard computer system. What they finally found was that the radiator had an internal failure (that the radiator seal had failed) and leaked between the radiator and the transmission causing the coolant and transmission fluids to mix. …
Noticed car was leaking oil; checked oil level and oil wasn't even registering on the oil dipstick. Required two (2) quarts of oil to fill to proper level. It appears as though the oil is finding its way into the coolant system and being expelled from the coolant overflow (expansion) tank. Almost two weeks later the vehicle required another quart and was losing oil and coolant at an alarming rate (pouring out of the vehicle). Dealer has insisted problem doesn't exist and has accused me of putting oil into coolant overflow tank. This is a blatant lie on their part to avoid warranty liability. He insist that there is no way for oil to find its way back into the coolant system. I have researched this statement and it is utterly false (either the head gasket or the water jacket could be responsible, among other things). …
I have a Dodge Neon 2002 with 10,000. Miles on it. Recently my car idles now between 4-500 RPM. Driving my car; came to a stop light my car stalled. Now sitting at red lights/ stop signs the RPM's dropall the way to 300 RPM car starts to act like it is going to stall. Took it to the dealership and said nothing is wrong with it. One the tech's who took the car for a road test said there is something wrong with the computer. The car is deciding on its own for the RPM's to drop but does not show up on the computer analyses. The dealership said they are waiting for a "flash upgrade to be installed"; also the cd player in the car heats up the cd's burned my hand when I tried to take it ou. On 7-9-03 they gave me a loaner and on 7-12-03 they took it back. They said the only reason they gave me the loaner is because I was upset. …
I work in the miami area and was going home after eating ; it had been raining that day and there was some small puddles on the roadways. I went through a small puddle; then through a red light ;when my car quit in the intersection with no warning and would not start. So I had to push the car off the road and get a taxi home until morning when I could try to determine the problem. My car is a 2002 Dodge Neon which I purchased on jan 17,2004 at capital Chevrolet in montgomery alabama. After investigating the next morning I could not determine the problem and had the car towed to the maroone Dodge dealer in miami fl. They determined that the car had slung a rod which the warranty refused to cover their stated reason was that the car took on water through the air intake which seized the motor and caused the rod to break. …
This car has used more than 10 quarts of oil since new (not counting changes). It has just over 20K miles now and still uses oil. It does not smoke or leak. The fuel mileage is nowhere near the advertised mileage. The dealer was contacted regarding no brake lights just after purchase. After two trips to the dealer (and the service writer telling us that we removed the cigarette lighter adapter wrong), they discovered the wiring harness for the backup lights was crushed by the shifter in reverse and shorted the lights. After complaining about poor starting and shuddering after a cold soak, the dealer replaced the injector o-rings, which solved the shudder, but not the mileage. Nothing has helped the oil usage, not even the two trips to the dealer to replace a baffle in the valve cover and an "oil consumption" test, which we performed. Yes, it uses oil. …
Vehicle is exhibiting hesitation problems when engine is at operating temperature while accelerating from a stop and while under load such as climbing a medium grade road. Engine feels like it s starving for fuel. Had one case where engine stalled while stopped at a traffic light for no reason. Another issue that concerns me the most is while accelerating from a stop into traffic, the engine bogged down with no power at all making it difficult to get out of the way of on coming traffic. The dealer said that they understood that Chrysler was aware of the problem is to come out with an update for the engine computer but after 1 years and 20000 miles, I have not seen a solution for the problem. This condition has existed since the purchase of the vehicle in April of 2002.
June 1, 2004. On my way home from work the car started idling real rough and I didn't really think anything of it. I would stop at a stop light and it would idle real rough. Finally the oil light flashed on and the car died. Called for a tow truck and they took it to a dealership where they could not find anything wrong with it. A month later on July 2 the car started idling real rough. I didn't even bother driving it out on the street cause I knew it would break down on me again. I shut it off and started it again about four times and each time it would idle real rough. Got it towed to the dealership again where I was told all they could find it needed was a tune up. I got the tune up done to it and ever since then it has a hard time going past 60 MPH.
Engine complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2002 Dodge Neon?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2002 Dodge Neon, 19% of the model year's 173 complaints. The component named most often is engine (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Neon engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2002 Dodge Neon. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Neon engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.