Which is cheaper to maintain, the Dodge Neon or the Dodge Neon?

Based on 5-year routine maintenance labor at a $150/hr indie shop rate, the Dodge Neon is cheaper to maintain — about $6,928 less over 60,000 miles. Parts cost is not included.

What's the labor difference between the 2.4L Turbo I4 and the 1.4L I4 T-GDi?

Across 33 common maintenance jobs, hours vary by drivetrain and engine layout. See the side-by-side table on this page for each job's labor hours and estimated cost.

Are there any active recalls on the Dodge Neon or Dodge Neon?

The Dodge Neon has 4 open NHTSA recalls. The Dodge Neon has 0 open recalls. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

2005 Dodge Neon vs 2026 Dodge Neon — Labor Times, Costs & Recalls

Specifications

Year

2005

2026

Engine

2.4L Turbo I4

1.4L I4 T-GDi

Drivetrain

FWD

—

Transmission

automatic

Fuel

gas

Powertrain

Engine output, acceleration, top speed, handling, braking — and Nürburgring if either car ran one.

Horsepower

230hp

—hp

Torque

245lb-ft

—lb-ft

0–60 mph

5.9s

—

Quarter Mile

14.2s @ 99 mph

—

Top Speed

153 mph

—

Skidpad

0.86 g

—

60–0 Braking

124 ft

—

70–0 Braking

—

Curb Weight

2,850 lb

—

Performance specs synthesized from manufacturer figures and instrumented magazine tests (Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track). MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Numbers flagged as "low confidence" by AI generation are conservative estimates from related platforms.

Cost of Ownership

5-Year Maintenance

$16,541

0.28 $/mi

★ WINNER

5-Year Maintenance

$9,613

0.16 $/mi

🏆

ADVANTAGEDodge Neon — Saves you $6,928 over 5 years (42% less in routine maintenance labor)

Routine maintenance only. Cost = labor hours × $150/hr × estimated 5-yr frequency. Parts cost not included.

Maintenance Breakdown

Hours per common service. Lower is faster (and cheaper) at the shop.

Rod Bearing Failure / Spun Bearings

— hrs$3,250 / 5yr

— hrs

Oil & filter change

0.5 hrs$1,380 / 5yr

Tire rotation

0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr

Front brake pads

1.4 hrs$580 / 5yr

Rear brake pads

1.4 hrs$560 / 5yr

Differential fluid

1.2 hrs$440 / 5yr

Head Gasket Failure

— hrs$875 / 5yr

— hrs

Clutch Disc Glazing / Pressure Plate Failure

— hrs$813 / 5yr

— hrs

Wiper blades

0.3 hrs$300 / 5yr

Brake fluid flush

0.9 hrs$300 / 5yr

12V battery

0.5 hrs$275 / 5yr

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure

— hrs$536 / 5yr

— hrs

Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle / Failure

— hrs$525 / 5yr

— hrs

Timing belt service

5.8 hrs$508 / 5yr

— hrs

Fuel filter

0.6 hrs$240 / 5yr

Spark plugs

0.9 hrs$215 / 5yr

Cabin air filter

0.3 hrs$210 / 5yr

Water pump

2.9 hrs$194 / 5yr

Oxygen sensor

1.7 hrs$188 / 5yr

Coolant flush

0.9 hrs$185 / 5yr

Intake manifold gasket

3.5 hrs$185 / 5yr

Oil pan gasket

4.0 hrs$163 / 5yr

Transmission Mount Collapse

— hrs$325 / 5yr

— hrs

Engine air filter

0.3 hrs$150 / 5yr

Serpentine belt

0.7 hrs$140 / 5yr

Alternator

1.7 hrs$139 / 5yr

Valve cover gasket

1.7 hrs$126 / 5yr

Power steering flush

0.6 hrs$110 / 5yr

PCV valve

0.5 hrs$95 / 5yr

Starter motor

1.7 hrs$91 / 5yr

Ignition coil

0.9 hrs$86 / 5yr

Thermostat

0.9 hrs$61 / 5yr

Exterior Lighting Harness Corrosion

— hrs$96 / 5yr

— hrs

Active Recalls

Open NHTSA Recalls

4 open

★ WINNER

Open NHTSA Recalls

CLEAR

🏆

ADVANTAGEDodge Neon — 4 fewer open recalls from the NHTSA

Fluid Capacities

Dodge Neon

brake · Mopar DOT 4 Brake Fluid

coolant10.00 qt · Mopar OAT Coolant (Purple)

engine_oil5.00 qt · Mopar 5W-20 Synthetic Blend

power_steering1.00 qt · Mopar ATF+4

transmission_auto10.00 qt · Mopar ATF+4

washer3.50 qt · Windshield Washer Fluid

Dodge Neon

brake · FMVSS 116 DOT 4

coolant6.00 qt · MS-12106

engine_oil4.00 qt · MS-6395

power_steering · N/A

transmission_auto10.00 qt · MS-9602

washer3.50 qt · All-season or winter-rated

The Verdict

🏆

THE WINNER

2026 Dodge Neon

1.4L I4 T-GDi

Dodge Neon is cheaper to maintain (saves ~$6,928 over 5 years)
Dodge Neon has 4 fewer open NHTSA recalls

Based on objective maintenance and recall data. Driving feel, looks, brand loyalty, and ownership experience are separate (and very valid) considerations.

Open the full dashboard for either truck

Labor times, torque specs, fluid capacities, DTC codes, repair procedures, recalls, common platform problems.