1996 Dodge Neon Highline Coupe review from North America
"A good buy for someone more concerned about price and reliability than comfort and luxury"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
New tires when I bought the car. I had to replace them after 2,000 miles because of the alignment. This was caused by a traffic accident that was not disclosed to me when I purchased the car.
The head gasket blew around 30,000 miles.
Replaced brakes at 32,000 miles.
At around 37,000 miles the brake line developed a hole from rubbing against the firewall causing the fluid to leak out and resulting in no brakes. (I got lucky and was able to stop using the emergency brake)
No more major problems until about 69,000 miles when the instrument cluster stopped working. Speedometer, odometer, fuel and temperature gauges all stopped working. They would work for a few minutes after starting the car when it was cold.
Right now at 120,000 miles the struts are in desperate need of being replaced and it needs new brakes.
General comments?
All in all this has been a pretty reliable car. It has had it's share of problems, but nothings perfect.
Windows do not seal correctly, causing wind and water leakage.
Rough ride (even with worn struts) enabling you to feel every little bump and crack in the road.
Handles well despite the rough ride.
Interior is cheap materials and not designed to withstand the normal abuse from the kids.
For a cheap car, you definitly get your moneys worth and then some. Low operating cost and for the most part, very reliable.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 Ltr 4-cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 6/10 |
| Comfort marks | 4/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 14000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 120000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Cavalier |
| Date of Entry | 2nd January, 2004 |

