Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-53
My tailpipe completely rusted within 3 months of owning the car.
I needed a new battery after owning the car less than 2 years and the car had less than 15,000 miles on it.
Now at 21,000 miles, my automatic transmission is having a horrible time downshifting when I come to a stop. It makes a horrible jolt. It just started doing it out of the blue. I have to once again take it to the dealership.
The interior is a horrible microfiber that stains every time you touch it and is impossible to clean.
The car idles way too high in cold weather, so much sometimes that the steering wheel begins to vibrate very hard.
I am sorry I ever bought this car and am already looking for a new car because I hate this car so much.
It sounds as if you are doing a large number of short journeys if you have rusted out the tailpipe in this short order and the automatic transmission problems sound like the gearbox oil breaking down.
Get the oil changed and take it for a few long runs and see what the engine feels like after this.
(I wrote the orignal review of this car) I drive my car on a highway (55 to 60 mph) 40 minutes everyday. (I put an average of 35 miles per day on my car) and I have taken it on longer trips.
Check your kick-down linkage on your throttle cable. it sounds like that's your problem.
Grrtkamine@yahoo.com.
I am the owner of a Dodge Neon 1995. I have owned it for the past 4 years. I have recently paid it off at $280.00 a month. In the past year it has had the transmission replaced the electrical harness replaced two fuel tanks and has now been in and out of the shop for 2 months to find out why it will drive fine for two days and then die on me nine times within a 20 minute drive to work! I do not have another car nor can I afford to buy one. I work two jobs and this is the only source of transportation other than continuing to bother every one for a ride. My engine light also comes on and off it has sense I bought it! I'm at a loss of what to do! Has any one else had this problem? How did you fix it?
I'm a 2002 sxt owner. I'm totally disgusted with car. I had this car 3 years now and it's been a nightmare. Since I had it I had a transmission leak, there is water leaks, trans has rough shifting, door problems,water in the spoiler, gauges stopped working, wiper motor sticks, and the biggest problem is,, the rough unsteady idle this dream has... stay away from the SXT..
I am the original owner of a 2004 neon sxt. currently have 34k miles on it and the single disk cd player works great no problems with the sub-woof. I drive it about 40 miles to day have never had a problem with the shifting or being able to get me out of crazy situations. I did get the 33k mile tune up. I did use to own a focus, but that can't compare to this car. this car is so much better I widh I bought the neon before the focus. however someone did hit my front end while they were driving drunk, but everything did held up only some repairs, but still drive likes a dream, but now I can't wait to "beef" it up.
Gkthanatos@sbcglobal.net.
For all car owners. Whether you own an American, Japanese, Korean, German or any other car. You should always service the transmission every 24k miles or 2 years whichever comes first. If you wait for the transmission fluid to get dark in color, then you should be prepared for a very big expense. You should always check your tranny fluid every week. If you see that the fluid is dark in color replace the fluid and filter. This service usually costs about60-70 bucks, which is bettter than thousands. For all chrysler owners. Your vehicles use atf +3 or 4. You should never use mercon or dexron. Those fluids are only used for gm and ford vehicles. You also shouldn't use synthetic as it is not recommended by the manufacturer.
I rented a 2005 Neon SXT for several days. While the car performed well enough I did notice a couple things. The car had only 9000 miles on it, yet the tailpipe was rusting very badly. Also, the fabric seemed to have a lot of stains on it. It looked very cheap.
It bothered me that whenever you rolled down the power windows the doors would bulge out. That never happened in any of the other cars I have owned.
I own a 2002 sxt, I have had the car for around 7 months, I have put 2 trannys in it, now my front 2 windows are stuck half way down because the battery went bad, the headlights are impossible to keep adjusted, over all I paid 5000.00 for it and have put 6000.00 in it just to keep it driving. The car was only made for the looks.
I guess you all should have read Toyota's review of the Neon when they first came out. Toyota wanted to know how Chrysler was producing such a low cost vehicle that had so much to offer in ammenities and power and such so they took one to their plant and disassembled it and boy they were shocked when they saw how shoddy these cars are put together and how many corners were cut in quality. That was enough for me never to buy one or even look at one. I know that it could have been a ploy by Toyota to hurt their sales, but I never did hear of a lawsuit filed by Chrysler based on the article. Hmmmmm. You get what you pay for. Sometimes a high quality used car is better than a new car like this one.
After test driving a Toyota, Honda, and VW, I purchased a new 2003 Neon SXT off the dealer lot in December 2003. Just passing 50,000 miles. Drive 50 miles per day to work. To date, I have replaced 2 front tires. Not a single other problem to report. I know the earlier models had lots of problems, but I think since the 2003's things have been getting better, at least that is what I have read at places like Edmunds. I must admit that Edmunds still does not consider the Neon a great car. Personally, I think there are better cars in this class, but I have had good luck with this particular Neon.
I have had a 2003 Neon SE for a year. the day I bought it, it had 31,000 miles. One week after I purchase it the check engine light came on because of a fuel leak, I had to take it to the dealership 3 times to get it fixed, but finally they fixed it. I do regular oil changes myself, and put 2 new sets of tires on it. Other wise I have done nothing to this car and it runs great. I mostly drive it long distances and it now has 79,000 miles on it. It is fairly comfortable for a small car and gets good gas mileage.
I bought my wife a 2003 Neon SXT and in the last 2 1/2 yrs. we haven't had any problems at all. The only thing is the exhaust is a little louder (haven't gone up under the car and checked for rust) but sounds like it might be the muffler. Either way my wife LOVES her car and I've actually been driving over 120 miles back and forth to work the past 3 weeks and its really a pretty fun little car. It has almost 35K miles on it and so far so good.
2003 sxt delivered 3 years ago new to me...4sp automatic transmission just failed AGAIN for the 3rd time... pile of junk!!
OK guys, it seems to me you guys either a.) are really bad at driving or b.) just have very very bad luck...
I own a 2003 Neon SXT.. I bought it brand new for my 16th birthday... enough said, I used to floor it out of every light, make crazy sharp turns at high speeds, and just harass the thing... I still own the car 3 years later and I have had ZERO problems with it.
The tail pipe is semi-rusted, but I'm getting a new tip so I'm not worried.
I've look at all the spec/engine parts myself and my cousin has as well.. and there is nothing wrong with it. I'm definitely mad they stopped making these... and here is to that toyota comment... those cars are garbage... talk about WAY under powered vehicles. If you're looking for something to last you a long time, then yes get a Toyota, but if you want something that's fun to drive, looks respectable and isn't a total embarrasment, stick with the american and european cars please.