Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-53
I have had my 2003 Dodge Neon SXT since about Fall of 2005 and have noticed that it doesn't get very good gas mileage, I am getting typically 190-200 miles per tank when my gas light comes on. This seems really low to me, I drive about 50 miles each day most all of it is by freeway and I don't consider myself to me a speed demon by any means. I was just curious how much other owners are getting per tank of gas???
Thanks.
I owned 2 2003 neon and my daughter still has hers. I bought them both at the same time new. In August of 2006 I had a radiator problem that fried the transmission. Car was 1200 miles over warranty. Got no satisfaction ended up trading in car for truck. This past week the same thing happened to my daughter car. I called Detroit direct and did get some help. Of the $1200.00 bill they picked up $930.00. Asked your dealers for the number. They just don't offer it. Start calling people.
I bought a 2003 Dodge Neon brand new from the dealership back in 2002. One month after my warranty ran out one of my fog lights went out. The fog light switch also is shorted out. It turns on and off by itself. I had the oil changed every 3,000 miles and also had the transmission oil changed. It currently has 78,000 miles on it. I took it into the dealership for a tuneup and they charged me $400 to change the spark plugs and spray cleaner in the intake manifold. That's all they did. It was a ripoff. Ironically today is the first day 1/13/08 that the transmission light is staying on. It is also getting harder to shift between gears and my engine is cutting out. Well this car has almost lasted me 6 years and has always had poor gas mileage. My 67 VW Bug was way better on gas. My VW mechanic told me all Dodge Neons are crap after 100,000 miles. He was right. My car is dying lol.
I currently own a 95 Neon. I bought it four years ago and it had 130,000 on it. It had cosmetic damage, but after I bought it for $800, I got it replaced. I have not had one problem with it, except for normal repairs like brakes. It now has 205,000 on it and is still running just fine! How your car runs is how you maintain it. Also if you get a car with a manual transmission, you won't have near as many problems.
I have a 2000 Dodge Neon and I bought it new. I have had no major work done. I just had to replace little things like the bulbs or fuses. After eight years this car is still running great and looks great on the outside. People can't believe how old it is. It is great on gas too. I am so glad I didn't get ripped off with this car.
I bought a 2003 Dodge Neon SXT in February of '06. I have a transmission fluid leak that requires pulling the engine and tranny to fix, and I had to replace the radiator a few months back. Now it starts to run hot after driving just a few miles. I have to add antifreeze or water to it about twice a day. Can't figure out where the stuff is going...
I have bought a 2003 Dodge Neon SXT, only cause the gas was going up and I heard it was cheaper to maintain, which now I know is a lie. I bought it with 44,000 miles and now has 79,000. I've replaced the cam sensor, 2 front bushings, both front tie rod ends, and have bought 6 brand new tires, and now has a transmissions leak of some sort. I have had nothing but trouble with it. It was a mistake to buy; now I know and will never buy another one.
I have a 2003 Dodge Neon, and the same thing happened to me, I had a trans leak, and it was all in my coolant and in the reservoir. The dealership had to call the manufacturer to have a specialist look at the car because they couldn't figure out why the trans was leaking, and it only had 25,000 on it.
Also please let me know if any of you had any problems with the idle needle dropping when you're stopped at a light, or just driving and come to a stop, does the idle needle drop? I took it to the dealership and they say they can't find anything wrong with it, I guess it's a good thing I paid for the extra warranty.
I agree the 03 Neon has bad gas mileage, my 96 had more gas mileage than my 03. Please let me know if any of you had the problem with the idle dropping and it feels like the car is going to stall out.
You know the funny thing is... I just traded my Toyota for an 03 Neon SXT, cause the yoter just had problem, after problem, after problem, and etc. Yep, good old Japanese cars...
2003 Dodge Neon, I have the same problem with the radiator leaking into the tranny. The car only has 40K miles but is past the warranty. Any suggestions to get some help $$ from Dodge. Thank you.
First off as it was said, the Neon's use Japanese motors/transmissions. And second, if everyone is gathering in one place like this talking about all of the problems they have with the same car, of course it is going to look like there are nothing but problems. Same goes for any car. I know many people that drive these so-called superior Japanese cars that have nothing but problems.
I have had a ton of Neon's, mostly 95-97's and mostly manual transmissions. I just sold a 95 my girlfriend had that had close to 300,000 miles on it, and it still got 35+ MPG. It was not taken very good care of, but was maintained fairly well. Very little problems ever, even with little maintenance which she could not afford. Fuel pump at 270,000 along with a water pump and timing belt (neglect here).
I also have an 01 manual trans that runs like a scalded dog, gets 38+MPG with 160,000 miles on it and the engine looks like new on the inside, and it hasn't had the best of care either.
I have had at least 10 Neon's over the years and have had very little problems with them. Cheapest car I have ever owned that will run forever with little care as long as you have a manual trans. Automatics aren't that much worse.
If it isn't running right, fix it. It doesn't matter what make it is. Bad goes to worse to disaster if not taken care of. Cars are not race cars, if you drive like you stole it all the time, expect problems. I see this everyday and people expect them to last forever. I hear this all the time "I don't have enough money for oil, it shouldn't use oil", Hmm, well then you don't have enough money to own the car or you better get your priorities straight because it is going to throw a rod through the block shortly and you won't have a car.
I have had the same problem with the trans and radiator leaking. They fixed it once and it happened again. Was like a whole year. I told the people at the dealership it had a problem and they said that is the way the car runs.
Yeah, the car seized up on the Howard Franklin bridge in Tampa. Good thing I was in the right most lane and pulled over. The car stopped, dead. They fixed it and put a rebuilt in it. Then I had to change engine mounts $800. Ever since the trans problem I have the same funny problem which I thought was unique. When I stop at a light, the idle drops to 500 in two steps and vibrates. If I turn the steering wheel a bit, it idles smooth, and if change to neutral, the same, put the air on, the same. I changed the IAC, ran smoother but same problem.
Sucks so much. Did anyone fix this problem? And for those who have so many positive things to say, did you ever encounter this problem and did you ever fix it?
By the look of things, my wife is going to get burned with the 03 Neon she bought. I told her to stay with a GM product. Anyone know where the switch is to turn on running lights? Thanks, Unhappy Dodge Neon buyer.
Looking to buy a 2003 SXT Neon. Just looking on what things to ask the dealer about the car. I have have 2 Toyota's and 3 American cars, both Toyota's, where 85 one still is running great and the other died. Finally a water pump went. I did very little maintenance on that one hence the failure. If I could afford a Toyota right, now I'd get one and not the Neon.