Comments: 1-15, 16-25
No problems at all, the car is as reliable as a trained dog.
Some adjustments had to be done (as in every car).
In my opinion people who are whining about the Neon, shouldn't probably own a car in a first place :-/
I don't see why some people are whining about the Neon. You take care of the car and the car takes care of you, simple as that. Neons do not need big reparations if you can handle them right, - but if you mess with them, it's no wonder they break, like any car does.
The Neon is not a noisy car as many people claim; the magic is in the tires, buy proper tires, and the car is silent. Again, use your brains and the car works fine for you. Chrysler makes good quality and uses materials which last.
Design inside and out is cool, and the overall feel is reliable, sporty and elegant. There is enough space and the back seats can be taken down if necessary.
The automatic gear box works as a clock, silent with a help of a powerful engine.
Power steering and handling feels reliable and good.
Everything you need is in a logical place and is marked properly for everyday use.
This car is competing in the same series as the Toyota Avensis, Opel Vectra, Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord, Nissan Primera and Mitsubishi Charisma... and think about that list for a while, and then say Neon doesn't cut it, - it does.
Something amiss here - people complaining about Neons or Chryslers are almost always be from America/Canada; Chrysler appears to have average reliability in the UK (Lex Report) and Germany (Chrysler on the whole). I'm in New Zealand - no bad news spreading here either. Hang on -- are Chryslers for export outside Nth America assembled in a different plant with different components???
NO PROBLEMS?? I guess you haven't had your head gasket blow twice like most 95-99 neon owners with the 2.0L engine. There are currently 12 class action lawsuits pertaining to their faulty head gaskets and chrysler will not recall these gaskets. Its fine when your under the 36,000 mile warranty but they generally fail at 50,000. They have revised the head gasket and will replace them on cars under warranty but it still doesn't help 85% of the people that are at 50,000 miles. It doesn't matter whether you take care of your car with regular maintenence or not. If you own a 95-99 with the 2.0L sohc or dohc engine, be prepared for a new head gasket!!!
You obviously haven't driven anything else mate. I have a Neon at work, then I get into my Nissan Primera. Totally different ball game I'm afraid. The Neon is Noisy (engine) it is gutless, it is atrocious to drive, it has dreadful build quality, it is a nasty car. It looks OK though, shame about the engineering (or lack of)
Toronto, Can.
I have a 2001 Neon, bought the sucker brand-new!
Here is a list of the problems I have already encountered:
-16000km's Transmission almost blew because the "computer" malfunctioned leaving me STUCK IN 2nd GEAR on the highway!
-Engine Clamps replaced (it was shaking like an earthquake!)
-Had Transmission "re-built" TWICE!!!
-battery died
-Front Speakers Blown Twice?? not my fault..really!
-And now that I'm at 53000km's I'm hoping to GOD that nothing else goes wrong..I'm 7000km's aways from being in big trouble... my warranty is gone at 60,000...
I'm Just fed-up with the car..It's only a 3speed, it's slow and it gives me nothing but headaches... the only good thing about it is the interior... (i had to say something nice)
MY ADVICE... STAY AWAY FROM CHRYSLER'S!!!
I have a 98' Neon, and the head gasket just blew. The car has approximately 40,000 miles. I think as a group of consumers we should file a law suite against the company?
I bought a used Neon in 1999, it is a 1995 it continue to have problems with the head gaskets, and the brakes. the cost is very costly. what should I do.
I bought a 97 Dodge Neon in July 2000. When I was still
shopping for a used car, I was told the head gasket
problem of Neon. I thought it was OK because the owner
just changed the head gasket before I bought it
(it was 43,000 km then). Today (Nov. 2003) the car was
sent to the work shop again and was told head gasket oil
leaking again. It is 78,800 km only. It cost CAN $700.
I am thinking about selling it and do not think that I
will buy any dodge car again. Every one seems to know
the head gasket problem of Neon, but no recall from Chrysler.
I Agree with you about the car and your opinion on the people who own them. I do have to admit that my neon is not exactly flawless, but I also think that driver error is a big part of problems that occur during the owner ship of a car. Don't baby your car, but don't neglect it either. Also, everyone whose complaining about the automatic neons performance should get a grip. Don't get a auto if you want speed especially not the three speed you get in the neon. The only good thing about it is that you don't have to shift it yourself. My neon is fast and I can beat most preppared Civics I race here in PR. Also, Try doing your own work on the car even if it voids the warranty to make sure the dealers not shafting you. From what I hear the warranty isn't much help anyways.
I am posting this to help bring exposure to these problems, maybe getting Chrysler to admit and come clean for their shortcomings. I have 1997 neon; I bought new in the spring of 1997. It has been well maintained and not abused. In the spring of 2002, I had to have the transmission rebuilt. The main gear had a crack in the casting and started to loose teeth. It cost me almost $900 CND. The car was purchased in the USA new and only had 38,000 miles at this point. In the spring of 2003, I took it in because I noticed the casing of the transmission was wet. After they looked at it, they told me it was the head gasket, and again quoted me a price of almost $1000. I had about 44,000 miles at that point. I contacted Chrysler Canada, and was told they would not do anything for it. After seeing some more information on a news show, I decided to peruse it farther. I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 and logged a formal complaint. Everyone who reads this should log a complaint. Maybe if enough people are calling in, something will be done about it, and they will be forced to fix their problems as all of us do.
I have a 1997 Dodge neon with 90,000 miles on it my head gasket cracked probably at 85-87k when the thermostat fell apart in 6 pieces. I think Chrysler needs to recall the head gasket in these cars. When I went to the dealership to get a price on a head gasket, I was told that now they reinforce the head gasket FOUR times... unless there's something seriously wrong on their part why the heck would a company need to reinforce a head gasket that many times??? Obviously they know there's a problem with it and they won't do anything about it... I say we all send them messages to try and get them to recall the part.
OK have had two neon's, 96 LE and now 2001 SE, both have been fine, first did have some minor overheating problems... ahem... thought it was the head gasket, but after replacing that and no difference decided the problem may lie in the block, or head (which looked fine on removal) so traded it against the 2001 model, this one is a dream, not a problem just runs and runs. The original appeal was to own an American car. Second Neon is better, looks nicer, more stable and erm very unexciting so took the plunge and bought an '82 Camaro Z28... don't suppose any of you guys want some Thule roof bars to fit the early neons???
I'm from Canada. I have a 2002 Chrysler Neon with low mileage. I had a 1999 Dodge Neon before that & traded it in on this one because I wanted a yellow one ;o)
My brakes have been squealing & grabbing the first couple times I use them after the car has been sitting for a bit... Then they stop & the brakes seem fine... It doesn't matter if it's raining or not... they now squeal & grab every time when I first start off...
I mentioned this to the dealer the last time I had the car in for servicing in the spring.. They said the brakes were wet & that was common... But they haven't been wet & they're still doing it... anyone else having the same problem? I've read about squealing brakes with past models... any suggestions?
I also have a clicking noise coming from under the hood when I first start my car & back out of my parking space, then it quits... this is something new... Any idea what that is??
I've got an early 1994 LE model built in the USA (left hand drive), but imported to Europe as a test car for Rover. I've now done 108,000 miles without any significant problems other than normal wear and tear - cable operated clutch cable breaks regularly so I carry a spare. I've driven the thing all over Europe, including UK to Bulgaria, Romania and shortly I will be driving it to Macedonia. I think it's an underrated car - it's sporty and fast - good cruise at 120 km/h. My only serious complaint is the fuel tank is only 40l. One can only do about 300km before filling up again.
I have a 1998 uk neon lx auto 2.0l. The head gasket has just gone at 57,000 miles costing me 500 quid to get fixed. The car is cheap, it drives well and has been good value for money, but the gasket seems to be a well doumented problem.
I like the car, but wouldn't buy a chrysler again because of the unreliability in such important areas.
I got a used Chrysler neon 1997 almost one year ago from Cairo Egypt where I live, it looks great and sporty, gives you the feeling of powerful 2.0 liter engine, but... it was the worst car I have ever owned. Of course I changed the head gasket, engine voice is very high, need to replace the brake clutches very frequently, air condition is not effective in Cairo summer temperatures, replacement parts are very expensive at the dealer (radiator cost 700$) can you imagine!!, 40 liter tank in not good to a 2.0 liter engine so I need to refill the tank every 300 Km which is nonsense. When I first got it, I went to make a full computer check on the engine, but.. The computer was not functioning and they do the check manually!!! when I start the engine in the morning I hear some noises that quit after a while and I don’t know the reason until now..
I really hated my self for selling my Honda civic.it was such a wonderful car.