Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Dodge Neon
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Dodge Neon has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 202 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E033000 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 72 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 48 complaints
- Power Train 28 complaints
- Air Bags 20 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 18 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 17 complaints
Of the 202 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 20 a fire; across all 202 complaints, owners report 25 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Poor
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Dodge Neon has a poor reliability rating due to excessive electrical system issues and exterior lighting recalls. The vehicle is plagued by a high number of owner complaints across various components, suggesting poor build quality and reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 40,000–70,000 miles | $300–$800 | very common |
| exterior lighting | 30,000–60,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| power train | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| air bags | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
| service brakes | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection every 10,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 50,000 miles
- Timing belt replacement every 90,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Persistent electrical issues
- Frequent lighting fuse failures
- Rough shifting or transmission slips
- Airbag warning light stays on
- Uneven or reduced braking efficiency
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Dodge Neon at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.