1997 Dodge Neon review from North America
"Decent value for the money, but be prepared for problems"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The head gasket has been replaced at least 3 times.
The engine was replaced at 150,000.
The transmission malfunctioned when the parked vehicle was put into drive causing the vehicle to accelerate without the gas pedal being touched, resulting in a serious accident.
The shoulder harness clip on the seatbelt disengaged at impact.
The air conditioning only worked briefly and was back to the dealer several times during the warranty period. Finally I gave up and contented myself with driving without air conditioning.
General comments?
The car was very affordable, just unreliable.
When it was working properly it had, for a small car, lots of power.
Recommended reviews
| It looks and sounds good, parked with the motor off |
|
| Cheap "beater" daily driver car possessed by demons and has gremlins living under the hood |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 180000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Dodge Caravan |
| Date of Entry | 11th September, 2002 |