1995 Dodge Neon Sport from North America - Comments

Rear shocks replaced at 70K for about $400.

Alternator replaced after the car drank too much water. Total cost was about $350.

Car is currently in shop because the starter quit with absolutely no warning. A $200 part.

I can't change the fog light bulbs because the screws to get at them are rusted out.

Air conditioning compressor bearing seized, causing a nasty sound and an equally nasty smell until it was disconnected.

Dome light no longer illuminates when the driver door is opened.

Paint is starting to chip pretty bad.

Rust is forming under the doors and under the weatherstrips just below the windows.

The trunk qualifies as a swimming pool when it rains hard enough.

Tie rod end broke in a grocery store parking lot.

This is my first car and a learning experience. I know that every car has it's problems and every car breaks down, but my mom's Toyota has never had any problems.

I rarely change the oil because it burns up as fast as I fill it so I just change it that way.

The Neon has good performance and normally stellar gas mileage, but I wouldn't trust it on a long trip.

My next car will be a Honda or a Porsche 944.

AMEN BROTHER

I have a 1995 "Plymouth Neon"

I've had three years of hell!! It all started with a sudden stop of the engine one day while in traffic, I had to push it out of the way to the side of the road. The next day I found out that the pulley supporting the timing belt had sheared and the timing belt broke causing the pistons to come up and bend all my valves!!

Needless to say I had to have a head job done ($800.00) and a new pulley with belts and gaskets (another $300). I also had a severe oil leak which I had fixed, I replaced the oil pan seal, the the and cam shaft seals ($200).

As I was doing this I noticed my engine mounts were bad ($130) then my transmission went bad (another $800), oh yeah then the brakes which I did myself ($100). Then the alternator of course died ($150), and also some sensors ($25). In sumary I could have bought a new car!!!

So if you are reading this "STAY AWAY FROM NEONS AND TELL OTHERS"!!!

All I'm gonna say, is you went to the wrong place for parts. if you need a part, go to ebay motors. you can get a reconditioned head for less than $200 american. motor mounts, $35 american, pretty much a complete suspension if needed, for under $400 american. you just have to know where to shop. oem parts on ANY car are going to be rape. get good aftermarket, youll save litteraly hundreds, maybe thousands.

It sounds to me that all of your neons problems stem from driving your neon into a lake or some other large body of water...rust, seized moving parts, funny smells... it is a car, not a boat. I have 169,000 on mine, and on the original cardboard gasket to boot. Granted, it is not perfect, but I am NOT losing coolant and I have good compression. I think people just beat the daylights out of things without understanding what they are doing. Like driving into a river with their cars.

I bought my 1995 Neon Sport DOHC 5 speed in 2004 with 113000 miles on it for 3000 dollars. Seems high don't you think?

The mechanic who sold it, replaced the head gasket, timing belt, all the hoses, plugs and tune, new filters, struts, etc. My only problems were the gas filler tube rotted away ($220). A rear brake caliper replacement. New brakes and tires. It is still getting 34 to 36 mpg every tank full at 155000 miles.

I heard a lot of bad things about this car after I bought it and so far I got my moneys worth. It still seems solid and has great acceleration. I sure paid up front for the upgrades on this car. But from the comments, this car needs them. Not really willing to put any more major money into this car. I'm satisfied so far, but would not take a chance on another one. Mike.

My '95 Neon left me stranded yesterday on a busy highway, pouring rainstorm, dead of night. I can thank it for one thing though: It has finally convinced me the domestic vehicles SUCK. I'm going for a Honda.

"30th Nov 2009, 18:30

My '95 Neon left me stranded yesterday on a busy highway, pouring rainstorm, dead of night. I can thank it for one thing though: It has finally convinced me the domestic vehicles SUCK. I'm going for a Honda."

Yes, it is truly outrageous that your nearly 15 year old car with probably 200,000 miles on it is no longer perfect. Just curious --- when was the last time you changed or even checked the oil, engine coolant, or transmission fluid?

Wow, talk about unrealistic expectations.

Comment 12:16 is RIGHT ON!! I, too, was FURIOUS when the CV joints started making noise at a mere 239,000 miles in my Dodge. However I didn't regard it as a "piece of junk" and run to imports. In fact, our previous car had been one of those "perfect" Hondas. The CV joints went out on it at just 40,000 miles, and the engine seized at 99,000 miles. I'll stick with reliable domestics myself!!

"Yes, it is truly outrageous that your nearly 15 year old car with probably 200,000 miles on it is no longer perfect. Just curious --- when was the last time you changed or even checked the oil, engine coolant, or transmission fluid?"

It currently has 83,000 miles on it. I changed the oil 3 weeks ago. (Still have the receipt.) The coolant was last replaced when I had the headgasket replaced (about 5,000 miles ago.) And I change the transmission fluid yearly.

"Comment 12:16 is RIGHT ON!! I, too, was FURIOUS when the CV joints started making noise at a mere 239,000 miles in my Dodge. However I didn't regard it as a "piece of junk" and run to imports. In fact, our previous car had been one of those "perfect" Hondas. The CV joints went out on it at just 40,000 miles, and the engine seized at 99,000 miles. I'll stick with reliable domestics myself!!"

When all my Honda's have made 250,000+ miles, I think I'll stick with them. I've yet to have a domestic that even makes 100,000.

"2nd Dec 2009, 17:34.

When all my Honda's have made 250,000+ miles, I think I'll stick with them. I've yet to have a domestic that even makes 100,000."

Strange. I've yet to own an American car that did not pass 200,000 miles. I would love to see how this person treated their '95 Neon. I simply do not believe three head gaskets in 84,000 miles under regular (i.e. non-abusive) driving conditions. This review bears all the hallmarks of a car that was treated like the tire swing in the gorilla cage.

I'm honestly tempted to buy some of these much maligned cars for myself just to see if they are as bad as the owners say. I bet I could drive a '95 Neon for 100,000 miles with no major repairs, and yes, I would even include no warped rotors in that bet. On the other hand, I make cars last for so long, that I'm not sure I would want to be driving a Dodge Neon for the next 10 years just to prove my point that taking care of a car makes it last. There are so many other cars and life is too short.