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Vehicle safety record

2005 Dodge Neon Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 96 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Neon with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (17) and the acceleration & cruise control (15). Those complaints describe 23 crashes, 2 fires and 20 injuries. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in April 2009 for the exterior lighting. For comparison, the 2004 has 94.

NHTSA data checked

BFewer problems than a typical Neon year, for its age

#108 most complained-about 2005 vehicle

Complaints
96
Recalls
4
Crashes
23
Fires
2
Injuries
20
Deaths
0

Most common 2005 Dodge Neon problems

Share of all 96 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2005 Dodge Neon recalls 4

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Exterior lighting

09E01200016,270 vehicles affected

The 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.
The risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The 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.

Suspension

08E0330006,903 vehicles affected

The 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.
The 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.
The 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 lighting

06E04900027,176 vehicles affected

The 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.
The risk
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The 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 lighting

06E02600061,944 vehicles affected

The 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.
The risk
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The 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.

What owners say

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96 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Neon

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 4.

Electrical system

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.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11769664
Acceleration & cruise control

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...

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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 it would immediately go. I have researched recalls for years on this and have also discovered many reports of people losing control in this manner coincidentally going unaddressed. Until this occurred, I became very very apprehensive to even drive this car as I could have been held responsible for this damn malfunction costing many lives and injuries unknowingly and unprovoked. The car only has 60k miles and so far the entire dash board has cracked from sunlight falling completely to pieces that would crumble as I would drive causing distraction. The power steering belt prematurely needed replacing due to some sort of issue with the pulleys, not so long after that the alternator belt snapped needing the alternator and pulleys to be replaced again. The car during those repairs had just reached 50k miles, two batteries and the car still has electrical problems, power steering issues. This car was never involved in any major accident that would explain this other than a manufacture defect costing hundreds of dollars but there's no cost to the lives of myself but others that you can't put a price tag on. It's truly a crime and absolute obvious indication of negligence that none of these reports have called for any recalls on this vehicle!

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11481890
LightsAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

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!

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11480684
Equipment & accessories

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

Filed Incident Equipment · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11329820
Body, doors & structure

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.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11245509
Body, doors & structureEngine & cooling

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...

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(([redacted])). 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 smog check the next morning 6/27, and later the same day didnt start anymore for good. Seller send a text message to igor that same morning saying that car is overheating and water has to be placed in the radiator daily, but it's a very dangerous procedure as the water inside the tank is of a boiling temperature and can splash uncontrollably under pressure resulting onto an injury, which was a mockery as by that time a car was marked as inoperable by a mechanic and that was a miracle that it made it to the curbside. Currently it is absolutely dead metal. The car was fraudlently and intentionally made to work just one day specificly to make a sale. ([redacted]) intentionally gave out the false facts about the car and misled ([redacted]) towards the sale completion. ([redacted]) trusted the seller, false info and fake odometer pictures thats been forced at him, as he couldnt see things clearly in person and was misled and verbally manipulated. All records as documents on this car, add screenshots and text messaging between ([redacted]) and seller ([redacted]) are available as proof. Redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Structure · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11228789
Engine & cooling

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 60,000 MILES

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11083364
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.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11022536
AirbagsCrash3 injuries

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*lj

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10871092
SteeringElectrical systemDriver assistance

I was driving to downtown los angeles with my friends and all of a sudden there is smoke coming out of my dashboard right in front of my steering wheel something was burning. I then later notice my brake,fog,high beams, and turn signals light do not work. I went on a forum to see if it's a common problem and I saw cars that were burned and I saw that it was a connection that was faulty. I remove my turn signal switch and I found out that it was burned too the exact same place. We were lucky that the car didn't...

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catch fire. I went to a junk yard to see if I could get one and all the dodge neons that I got to they were all shots and burned. I want to get a recall for this that cannot be possible that all the cars even my friends car has that too and it's a dodge neon. Can something please be done about this

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 10870087
Acceleration & cruise controlBrakesCrash

I shifted my car into reverse and it accelerated by itself. Shifted into neutral and could not stop crashed thru my neighbors garage door. There s no check engine light and could not stop when applying the brakes even in neutral. I checked and there was nothing under or blocking the gas pedal. No mats in car.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Service brakesNHTSA 10863951
Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10863702
Electrical system

I have a 2004 dodge neon, my turning signals sometimes work and sometimes they don't. I have to bang the steering wheel for them to work properly. Also my horn stopped working all of sudden. I have checked all of the fuses and the horn it self and there is nothing found.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10820338
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge neon. While the vehicle was parked in inclement weather, the contact noticed water on the front and rear passenger side floorboards and the trunk. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10787944
BrakesCrash3 injuries

On 10/6/15 my son was involved in a car accident. He was merging onto the parkway when the suv he was following came to a complete stop due to the car in front of it doing the same, but when my son tried to break the breaks were completely out causing him to hit the back of suv he was following, with his quick thinking he pulled the emergency breaks to prevent hit suv again as it was pulling over.

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 10781464
Acceleration & cruise control

I was driving along interstate 480 and deployed cruise control on my neon at 60 mph. I had to slow down briefly, and then engaged the "accelerate" option on cruise control to speed back up. The car immediately revved up towards a much higher speed and I had to quickly shut off cruise control. I have seen other reports of this same incidence, and am surprised nothing has been done about it. I am a freelance writer with a huge network of friends. I would hate to have to write a bad review of my experience, and call out dodge for not fixing what I would think is a very serious, possibly deadly, problem. Thank you.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10717703
AirbagsBody, doors & structureEngine & coolingCrash1 injury

My 2005 dodge neon entered into a collision with a 2001 ford taurus on 7/4/2014. My vehicle hit the ford taurus head-on into the passenger's side of the ford taurus at about the middle of the taurus. My seat belt had kept me in my seat, but the air bag had failed to deploy, resulting in permanent injuries which will require pain management and surgery at some point. The posted speed limit was 45 mph, and I was estimated to be traveling at around 40 mph at the time of impact. *Tr

Filed Incident Air bags · Structure · EngineNHTSA 10664387
Acceleration & cruise control

While having the cruise control on, the engine will all of a sudden race/accelerate beyond what it should. *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10663486
Acceleration & cruise control

The 2nd time in two years that I have had to replace the cam shaft position sensor . The check engine light comes on and there is no power in acceleration. *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10663485
AirbagsCrash1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge neon. The contact stated the air bags failed to deploy when the vehicle crashed into the guard rail. The contact sustained severe head injuries, bruises on the body, and back. The contact received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,600.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10662248
AirbagsCrash1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 dodge neon. While driving approximately 10 mph, another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained bruising on the chest from the seat belt which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The vin was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 272,000.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10648435
Electrical system

A total loss of electronic no power the emergency flashers would not work the transmission down shifted and all systems stopped working. I pulled over and turned off the ignition and back on and hit the power window button and the power came back on. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10640969
Electrical system

A total loss of power engine lossed power but came back and it happen again at a traffic light everything shut down and did not restart until I mayed the window go down then the power came back on then I was able to restart the car. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10633329
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

I have a dodge neon 2005 and I know a few other people that have them to. I have been getting like a stall and engine light coming on so I took it to auto zone and they say it's the cam sensor. Three out of the five people I know with neon say they had the same thing happen and when I research it it's all over the internet why is this not a recall since so many people are having issues with it. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10628498
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge neon. The contact stated that water would enter from the side of the vehicle near the glove compartment when it would rain. The failure caused the frame to become rusted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician diagnosed that there was debris in the evaporator drain. The drain was cleared and the windshield was replaced but did not rectify the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 62,000.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10588923

Dodge Neon: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
2005964232Engine & coolingB
2004945193Engine & coolingB
200320252320Electrical systemC
20021846293Transmission & drivetrainC
200114610351AirbagsC
All Neon years

2005 Dodge Neon vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2005 Dodge Neon

Does the 2005 Dodge Neon have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2005 Dodge Neon: exterior lighting (April 2009); suspension (April 2008); exterior lighting (May 2006); exterior lighting (March 2006). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Dodge Neon?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (17), acceleration & cruise control (15), transmission & drivetrain (14).

How many complaints has the 2005 Dodge Neon had?

96 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 14, 2004 and the latest on October 7, 2026. Of these, 23 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 20 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2005 Dodge Neon a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 69 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Dodge Neon year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Dodge Neon years have the most complaints?

1996 (621), 1997 (396), 2000 (361). See every Dodge Neon year compared.

What should I do if my 2005 Dodge Neon has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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