1997 Dodge Neon review from North America
"A good car with sealing problems"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I got breaks and shocks replaced after I bought it.
The first major repair was the catalytic converter at 78,000 miles.
I have had problems with water leaks. The rear seat wells filled up with water after driving in a hard rain. I found some vents above the wheels in the trunk that the water was getting into. A tube of silicone sealant over the vents and around the tail lights (just to be safe) took care of that.
I have had two radios stolen because the windows push out so easily. There is no door frame above the glass (not a good design).
The two rubber window guides inside the driver door have worn and I get a lot of wind noise.
General comments?
The overall performance has been good.
The car starts every time, I have not needed any engine or transmission work.
Good acceleration and speed.
I put on 1000 miles going to Minnesota and back for the weekend and there were no problems other than a run away hub cap.
Sharp looking car.
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 | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 DOHC Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 70000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 84000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 12th July, 2003 |