Comments: 1-15, 16-18
The engine when started cold makes a loud knocking sound for about two minutes. (Piston slap?).
When shifting into second gear from first there is often a couple second delay.
Squeaky brakes even though they appear to be just like new.
When driving with the defrost on the car bucks and makes it look like I cannot drive a standard.
Oil leak between engine and transmission.
I like the way the car looks and handles, but I wish that it didn't have so many things wrong with it for being so new, and having so low kms.
My wife and I each bought one at the same time because the price was so good, but now two years later I wish that we spent a little more and bought a toyota or honda instead.
Is the Neon marketed under the Chrysler nameplate in Canada?
Here in the States after the demise of Plymouth, it is only marketed as a Dodge. Chrysler markets the PT Cruiser as its only small car.
Neon LE.
The comments made by other Neon owners read so true.
Nice looking car, great stereo, but unreliable and costly.
Brand new car was in the shop 5 times in less than 3 months. Two transmission over-hauls in less than one year.
Hesitates, doesn't slip into gear, shutters, stalls. The car was covered under warranty and we still lost thousands in repairs.
I too wish I had bought a Honda or Toyota even though they may not be as pleasing to the eye.
I have to agree with the two previous comments. I have had the same problems with my Neon. I am really glad that I bought the extended warranty or else I would have put out a lot of money in this car. The car stalls when the weather is damp or wet. I have had to have the ignition wires changed twice. I have also had the catalytic converter changed as well. The car is currently in the shop for a knocking noise in the engine.
It is a nice looking car however, I do regret not spending a little more and buying something else.
I purchased a Neon about a year and a half ago, the 1.6 SE. I have to disagree with the other comments as I have had no problems with my Neon, since it`s purchase. I am very pleased with the vehicle. I have test driven lots of other vehicles, but none can compare to the comfort and power of the Neon. I`m just a little worried about why it`s value drops so quickly in South Africa. Very good care all in all. Would definitely and intending to purchase another.
I as well had my Neon in the shop every 6 months. Was great for the first year since purchased new. Dealer has been no help. I as well wish I spent a little more on the Honda. Numerous repairs on major components have made the Neon a very costly car.
I am the person who had bought the two 2002 neons and I am now pleased to say that I am Chrysler/Dodge free at last. My wife and I smartened up at last and now after 8 years of neon we now have a 2004 civic si and a 2003 accord, if the cars weren't enough pleasure now going to honda to get an oil change or anything is just like night and day, I did not know that a dealership could actually treat you like a person instead of someone that they can rip off. (Honda more money more respect!!!)
Has anyone figured out what the knocking noise is in their 2002 Neon LE? I am currently still paying mine off which I just bought last year and that noise has been there since a few months after I drove it off the lot. I don't know what to do I plan on going back to school.
To the person who was wondering what the engine noise was...
It is normal engine noise when idling. My Neon makes the same noise and the engine works great. As soon as you get the revs up, it seems to become smoother. Also, the engine has awesome performance! I don't regret buying a Neon.
My 2002 Neon had a bad knocking noise and I complained directly to Chrysler as the dealer here said it was "normal". In a short time, the Service Manager came to my house and said they would replace the "short engine" under warranty. That solved the piston slap causing the knock.
02 Neon
5 years and 105,000 miles (US) and still going strong!
My neon shakes when it reaches 70 km/h then it suddenly stops once it reaches 80 km/h does anyone else experience this.
I'm really glad I stumbled across this website. My Neon too does the knocking noise when first started in the morning, but after driving, it stops. I have changed belts, water pumps etc. etc. etc., because they really don't know what it is, and keep giving me the "could be". But I've also had endless problems with everything to do with the wheels. Now the A/C isn't working and it's really not worth replacing since the car is only worth $1000-$1500 black booked.
I love my car, but I'm pretty disappointed that it's only a 2002 and I'm looking to retire it next year (if it survives). For what we paid for it, unfortunately I wouldn't recommend it.
I bought a 2002 Neon LE back in October, and don't have much for bad comments to say about it other than the engine noise when I first start it up in the morning, and the brakes screeching like a banshee, even though the front and rear brakes are new on it.
And I wish it had a manual tranny instead of automatic.
I bought a used 2002 Chrysler Neon from a used car dealership around my area. When purchased it had 98,000 Km/s on the odometer and is now at 120,000 Km/s. So far the only thing I've had to replace on it was the starter and a tie rod. I also did the tires and brakes, but that's just regular wear and tear.
I've got honestly no complaints about the car, other than the knock when cold (IT IS PISTON SLAP, DO NOT TAKE TO A MECHANIC TO FIX IT, IT IS UN-FIXABLE UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT AN ENTIRE NEW MOTOR INTO IT. MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS NOISE WHEN BRAND NEW! ALSO, THE TICKING AT IDLE IS NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT AT ALL, ITS JUST THE FUEL INJECTORS).
The Neon is a noisy car, no doubt, but a beautiful car. The LE version, black with dark tinted windows looks INCREDIBLE.
I would for sure recommend this car to a friend for purchasing.
Some extra power wouldn't hurt though :)
The knocking noise which has also been referred to as piston slap is likely the timing belt tensioner. Had this sound really been "piston slap" it would continue throughout the day. Try replacing your timing belt tensioner as well as the timing belt & water pump (since your in there) and it should alleviate the problem & give the motor another 100k miles (so long as the head gasket does not go).
My 98 Chrysler Neon CS with 27k miles on it is the worst car I ever owned, even surpassing my second worst, my old 89 Chrysler Conquest TSI Turbo. It too had head gasket issues with only 60K on it (But it was fun to drive :) ).
Taking third is my 95 Mustang GT purchased new. Will never buy another ford.
Fourth place was my 96 Pontiac Sunfire (not bad for a 10 YO used car). I'd buy another and regret selling it today.
The best cars I have had were all GMs.
1st place goes to my 95 Corvette 6 speed with LT1 motor (even with the Opti spark going at 32k miles I love the cars reliability & performance.
2nd my 88 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera.
3rd my 88 Buick Century.
4th my Pontiac Sunfire SE.
Come to think of it, I actually had two worse cars, but I was too young to know better & left them out. 1st car was a Triumph Spitfire & 2nd car a 78 Jaguar XJ6 with a Corvette engine. The transmission went on both, and electrical gremlins devoured them, but they were both fun to drive.
The way I judge a car is on a whole. The Mustang for instance was purchased new & had a good motor, but a lot of other issues like the rear end constantly needing attention, speakers blowing out, power drivers seat failing, convertible top not working, auto transmission going out at 30k (covered by warranty) and again at 80k & the list goes on. So I can't say this car was reliable in the course of 10 years of ownership. I'm sure a manual would have been a better choice. I pampered this car, yet it kept me in the shop & did not age well.
The Corvette in contrast had one problem, which I found a permanent fix for, and it's a car anybody can work on. Same can be said about the other GM models I had except the Sunfire. Even with that all I had go wrong was the water pump. Access to it is like the Neon (too complicated to do yourself without a garage & costly to have done (but that depends on your situation). Still it was fairly fun to drive, albeit its handling is nothing like the RT or CS Neons, & its build quality is better than the Neon's.
Sorry for going off topic. Hope you enjoyed the read.
Final thoughts:
All cars should have timing chains, and if a car has head gasket issues it's junk.