1998 Dodge Neon Sport 2.0

Summary:

A huge piece of overpriced crap!

Faults:

Two weeks after I bought the car, I had a flat tire that needed replaced. One month after buying the car, I had it in for an oil change and tire rotation, and I was told that my I needed to replace two more tires. I probably should have bought some stock in the tire business!!

Approximately 4 months later, my rear brakes need replaced and the rotors needed filed down. Every time it rains, the brakes squeal loudly.

Appoximatley 5 months later, the window would not close all the way, and the trunk release button was not releasing the trunk! Another wasted afternoon at the Dodge Dealer!!

I had owned the car for a little under a year when the airconditioning stop running.

A few months later, while shopping in K-mart, I came back out to my car to go home, and the car was completely dead! No warning lights or anything, just a totally dead Neon! Again, I went back to the dealer, and I had to replace the battery.

Just wait, it gets better!

Around Christmas of 2001, I begin to leak a lot of oil in my in-laws driveway. I take the car to Pep Boys. They run a diagonostic check,. and send me on my way, telling me the problem is fixed. A few days ago, my oil light came on, so I checked the oil, and it barely registered on the dip stick. I fill it up, using almost 3 quarts! I took the car to Pep Boys today, and they tell me that oh, the last time you were in, we found a head gasket problem. You need to take it to the dealer. By the way, he said, those cars or notorious for having head gasket problems!

This brings me to today. I have a leaking head gasket. I am going to have to fork over 1 months pay to get this car fixed.

If Dodge is aware of this problem, they need to refund us our money. Please, fellow Neon owners, don't let them take advantage of us anymore, if we continue to just pay for it, they will continue to make crap and keep selling it!

I am the daugter of a proud union worker who encouraged me to buy American, an American's work! Well, Dodge, I will never ever buy your crap again!

General Comments:

I like this car, but I really hate dumping all the money into it. It costs me more money to keep it on the road then it is worth.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd March, 2002

19th Jun 2002, 07:43

This review on a 1998 Neon Sport is misleading because she bought the car with 23,000 miles on it. The car may not have been broken in correctly, it may have been abused during part or all of the 23,000 miles, etc. And then it sounds like Pep Boys didn't do their best job by not telling her, the first time, that the car needed a head gasket. I don't think they would have forgotten to tell her that. I don't think an auto review on a used car is valid.

17th May 2005, 22:49

Piece of advice... check the tires before you buy a used car!! How is that a defect of the car?

7th Mar 2010, 19:43

That's why you do the repairs yourself, and do not take it to the dealer, since the dealer usually does a bad job.

9th Mar 2010, 18:21

Not everybody has the knowledge or time to perform repairs on their vehicles.

I myself, agree with you completely, as I actually own and drive a '95 Plymouth Neon that I perform all my own maintenance and repairs on.

1998 Dodge Neon Highline 2.0

Summary:

A high price to pay for an inexpensive car

Faults:

While under warranty the motor on the sunroof had to be replaced. After the warranty expired the sunroof quit opening again, and the carriage and seals had to be replaced. The dealership paid for half of the second repair.

At 50,000 miles the head gasket was leaking oil. The dealership said the heads had to be resurfaced, the resulting bill was $1200. I was told by the dealer that I must have neglected regular maintenance, causing the engine to overheat and the heads to become "pitted". I spoke to the machine shop that performed the resurfacing, they informed me that this was a common problem with this vehicle.

General Comments:

This has been a good commuter car, generally a comfortable ride. But the head gasket problem, or heads pitting problem makes me think twice about purchasing another Dodge or Chrysler product. I believe there should be a recall on the heads.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 10th January, 2002

2nd Sep 2002, 18:59

I have a 1998 Dodge Neon ACR. At 67000 miles an oil leak surfaced. I inspected for several weeks, and finally decided it may be either the oil pressure sending unit or the head gasket. It was the head gasket, and repairs are stated at 1200.00. This is ridiculous. An engine shouldn't trash the head gasket at 67000 miles.

The dealer said there were no recalls, however, I have seen that there are voluntary repairs done at the dealerships for free if you raise enough CAIN. Well I'm about to.