1996 Dodge Neon review from North America

The brakes were squeaky since pretty much day one. we replaced the rear brakes and they make a grinding noise when wet, but don't squeak all the time anymore.

The windows have no frames leaving a nice gap for wind and wind noise to come in even driving at 25 or 35 miles an hour.

My backup lights work when they feel like it, which is usually not when I need them and choose not to work when I do.

The transmission is kind of rough, but it works.

I had a decent engine oil and transmission fluid leak at about 75000 miles. found out I was 2 and a half quarts low on oil where my car only holds 4 and a half quarts. These leaks were cause of a blown gasket, apparently an all too common problem in neons. Nice job, Chrysler.

One of the strips on the rear defroster is fried and doesn't work, of course it's one of the center ones so I am left with a nice strip of frost in the center of my rear window.

Most recently, my car shakes when started, like it's going to quit running. It quit when I accelerated, but starts again when I let off the gas and idle at a stoplight or stop sign. Oil was found on one of the spark plugs, wonderful.

The speakers that came with the car were not good quality. the passenger front speaker never worked, and the front driver speaker blew within a month or two of having the car. I have since put in my own speaker system, but this past summer got a new CD player. While having it installed, the installer informed me there wasn't even a speaker in the front passenger door. Glad the dealership checked that out before selling it.

I would like to have a tachometer, the car takes a little while to shift gears I think.

The only good thing to say about the car really is that it has always started for me and has never broken down on me. Though I've been sure it was about too many times.

For the first year or so I had my neon I was quite pleased and proud of my car. But now, I wouldn't wish this car on my worst enemy. Well, maybe I would.