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…
2005 Dodge Neon airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2005 Dodge Neon have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 72,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
13crashes
15injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Dodge Neon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Thirteen complaints center on airbags failing to deploy in frontal collisions. Owners describe crashes at speeds ranging from 10 to 45 mph hitting other vehicles head-on, rear-ending, striking guard rails, and hitting fixed objects—all scenarios where frontal airbags should activate. In each case, the airbags remained inactive.
Occupants absorbed impact directly on the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, and knees. One owner's son suffered knee impacts into the dash and wrenched back. Another owner hit his head on the windshield, cracking three ribs. A third sustained permanent injuries requiring future surgery. A fourth reported severe head injuries, bruising, and back injury requiring hospitalization. One account mentions the seat belts also failed to lock. Some vehicles were totaled; mileage at failure ranged from 3,500 to 272,000 miles.
DaimlerChrysler's manufacturer response varied: one owner received a claim denial with no explanation and was told further discussion was futile. Another owner was promised an investigator who never appeared. Most complaints show no manufacturer investigation or response at all.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in frontal crashes
Front airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal impact collisions across a range of speeds (10-45 mph) and impact scenarios. Owners report striking other vehicles head-on, rear-ending vehicles, hitting guard rails, and colliding with fixed objects. In all cases, the airbag system did not activate when occupants needed protection.
When: At time of collision; mileage ranged from 3,500 to 272,000 miles with failures across the vehicle's lifespan
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during frontal impact collision; Occupants struck steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, and knee areas without airbag protection; Vehicle sustained severe front-end damage totaling the vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #1: DaimlerChrysler investigated but denied claim without explanation. Complaint #11: Dodge promised to send investigator but never followed up. Most complaints indicate no manufacturer response or investigation.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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…
My wife struck another vehicle in the back @ approximated 45 miles per hour with substantial front end damage to the front end (total loss) none of the air bags deployed. I contacted Dodge with this issue they had a lot of excuses and promised to send out a rep. To investigate the incident but never did.*jb
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…
Airbag failed to deploy! I was in a 6 car accident, front and rear ended followed by another hit! My 2005 Dodge neon sxt was total right off at 33,000 miles. Not only that the airbag failed to deploy but the locking mechanism on the driver back seat had gave causing me to be tossed backwards! The locking mechanism on the steering wheel tilt also broke causing the steering wheel to drop in my…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Dodge Neon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Dodge Neon?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 27,000 and 151,000 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,000; a quarter make it past 151,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Dodge/Neon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.