2000 Dodge Neon Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 54about this part
- Share
- 16%of 337 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 54 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2000 Dodge Neon, 16% of the 337 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought the vehicle 2 months ago. Since then I have put $750 into repairs and have estimates for $1000 more worth of repairs. The manufacturers problems included a rear main oil seal leak, an oil pan gasket leak, and a distributor switch leak. There was also a bent wheel, damaged tire, and bad starter. The dealer (dick morris chevrolet) will do nothing to fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #10137227, filed 2005-09, 60,000 miles“Trans died in middle of road. Dealer claims I need a new radiator to repair. Now I read here that this seems to be re occurring. Also, mechanic from another dealer I called indicated that this was the third he has seen in the past 2 weeks. This will cost me $ 500 for radiator replacement. Please help !”
NHTSA complaint #10053281, filed 2004-01, 84,800 miles“I have a 2000 Dodge NEON I bought at 32,000miles. Started over heating at 34,000mi. Only on really hot days. Now at 56,000 miles over heats all the time. Can't drive it. Found out it is a blown head gasket. Dealer estimates $2500 repair. (single mom, can't afford it) found out through research and mechanics that neons are prone to blown head gaskets between 30 to 60 thousand miles. Mechanic explained that the gaskets chemical compounds within the metals are not compatible. But they are no longer useing those gaskets and have replaced them with new ones that are compatible. …”
NHTSA complaint #10005793, filed 2003-02, 35,000 miles“I took our 2000 NEON (that I've had since late summer/early fall of 1999) to get an oil change and the mechanic said it looked like we had an oil leak. After further checking, he informed me that the head gasket was leaking and needed to be replaced. He told me it would cost approximately $1200. I am in the process now of calling other garages for quotes. A co-worker told me she had the same problem with her NEON and the dealer covered most of the cost since this is an on-going problem with neons. Please let me know any information you have on this on-going head gasket problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10018675, filed 2003-05, 98,376 miles“Head gasket blown. Large oil/fuel leaks and/or contamination throughout engine compartment, including captured in motor-mount bay acting as a resevoir dam. Google alone demonstrates some 111,000 reported NEON head-gasket items with a majority percentage sampled showing as problems with the head-gasket! Please help! Not only is this an expensive item ($450) to replace, but it is a critical safety issue!”
NHTSA complaint #10144317, filed 2005-12, 86,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10223854Sep 7, 2016Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies…
- 10191460Feb 26, 2016Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 12 | 13% |
| 2004 | 20 | 21% |
| 2003 | 18 | 9% |
| 2002 | 28 | 16% |
| 2001 | 17 | 12% |
| 2000 | 54 | 16% |
| 1999 | 55 | 47% |
| 1998 | 199 | 59% |
| 1997 | 222 | 57% |
| 1996 | 340 | 56% |
| 1995 | 294 | 30% |
| 1994 | 2 | 22% |
Other parts of the 2000 Dodge Neon
71 complaintsBrakes
69 complaintsElectrical system
43 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
28 complaintsSteering
27 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsSeat belts
19 complaintsTires
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2000 Dodge Neon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology