2002 Chrysler Neon LE review from North America

I purchased this vehicle used and after a month of driving (42000km) and adding only a thousand kilometers on it, the fuel pump ceased to operate.

The air conditioning assembly stopped working at 50000km and was replaced under warranty. This was causing the car to stall and shake violently, most notably while in reverse.

At 56000km both front tie-rod ends needed to be replaced. This was not covered under warranty.

At 57000km the stalling issue started again. Multiple visits to the dealership to correct this problem have not worked and the shaking has come back only 10x worse. The dealership told me this was normal.

The automatic transmission is slow up/down-shifting, often revving out the engine to the red line while it searches for the gear.

The muffler rusted out very quickly and there are now several holes in it.

Buyer beware! I have several friends who own the same year and model as my car, and none of them have had very many problems.

I suggest if you are looking to purchase a Neon take it to an independent shop and have them look it over. Neon's seem to be hit and miss when it comes to reliability and dependability.

The interior is not as bad as most domestic automakers, but still uses too much cheap plastic.

The car does handle great, but it handles even better when you upgrade the tires.