Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Neon. While proceeding to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side door of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver and passenger sustained whiplash injuries that required medical attention. The driver in the other vehicle sustained chest and face injuries due to the air bags. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,373. Updated 06/29/16
My son was driving our 2005 Dodge Neon on hwy. 50 when a 2003 Dodge dakota 4x4 made an unsafe lane change in front of our car. The driver of the dakota slammed on his brakes before being completely in my son's lane and my son rear-ended the dakota (front end damage, most of which was caused by the dakota's trailer hitch punching through our Neon--trailer hitch entered to the right side of the Neon's license plate by about a foot). Air bags did not deploy should have. My son was wearing his safety belt and due to the air bags not deploying, his knees were rammed into the dash. At time of impact, my son believes he was going about 20 MPH. Damage to the Neon, according to cal state auto and geico, is $7400.00. My son had sore knees and a wrenched back plus a very sore chest from the seat belt being the only thing that held him in place (could have been much worse).
It was another Sunday afternoon, we had just left church (me, my husband, and 2 year son and was on our way to see a friend and her newborn baby at the hospital. On our way to the hospital a truck pulled out from the access road from I-20 directly into our paths. We were traveling under 50 MPH and had the right of way....all we could do to avoid the truck was to hit the brakes. Unfortunately, that was not sufficient. Our 2004 Dodge Neon struck a chevyrolet avalanche pick up. The impact was on the front passenger side where it completely destroyed the right front fender, grill, headlights, and the hood is now a rainbow over the engine. The ugliest part of this though, is that I was the passenger in the front seat, the passenger's air bag as well as the driver's air bag never deployed. In addition, the seat belt never locked, and I was thrown forward with the impact of the car. …
While driving home one night on a dry 2 lane rural road, traveling in a 55 MPH zone at only 45 MPH, I swerved to miss a deer standing in the road in my lane. There was an oncoming car and I swerved back into my lane and the car fish tailed causing a counter action on my part and I hit the concrete bridge with a glancing blow, skidded sideways on two wheels on the bridge and almost flipped over. After the initial impact I realized that the airbags did not deploy. After a body shop inspected the car they discovered that the sensor had been hit and should have deployed the airbags. I am now suffering from whiplash and back strain. The car was totaled. I am now pursuing action against Dodge.
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.
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. Manufacturer and insurance company notified, but not willing to do anything. 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Neon. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The air bags did not deploy without warning. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was contacted, but the call was forwarded to voicemail. The contact left a voicemail message. The failure mileage was 106,696.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Neon. While driving approximately 5 MPH in the rain, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle traveling approximately 30 MPH in the parking lot. The contact then rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the failure. The contact sustained injury to her back. The police was not called to the scene. The vehicle was taken to an auto collision shop for repair estimates. The insurance company has not yet determined if the vehicle was completely destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 84,000.
Related recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some frontal (passenger side) air bags May not inflate properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag module on the passenger side.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.
NHTSA investigations
Oversensitive air bag deployment
There is no summary currently available
Oversensitive air bag deployments
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Neon years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (106), 2000 (71), 1996 (44), 1997 (41) and 1998 (34) model years. Airbag complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Dodge Neon airbag problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 99V-043 (frontal, Mar 11, 1999); 97V-080 (sensor/control module-inactive, May 16, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Neon airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (302 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (8).
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.