1998 Dodge Neon from North America - Comments

Computer problems: misfiring, required two trips to the dealership for correction.

Misalignment on the door caused the inside dome light to stay on, required a trip to the dealership for correction.

Battery failed at 24000 miles, and the dealership replaced it.

Oil leaks diagnosed at the engine switch and head gasket; this occurred shortly after the warranty had expired. Am now looking at a very expensive repair job at 32,000 miles. Independent mechanic tells me this is a very common problem with this model and that most people decide to get rid of the car rather than invest big bucks. Just finished paying a dealership $400 for other miscellaneous work on the throttle!

Shoddy workmanship/design on the engine appears to be cause of major repair expenses; beware of Neon head gaskets!

If you purchase a Neon, be sure you get an extended warranty; I didn't because I drive very little and never anticipated a time bomb under the hood.

This is an addendum to my "Buyer Beware" review: 5-Star Dodge dealership here in town agreed to fix the gasket problem for $150.00 deductible, no questions asked, in consideration that I had purchased the automobile from them. The car was ready for pickup the next day.

My car had just passed its warranty also when my head gasket blew. I did some research and found out that Chrysler has this thing called a Technical Service Bulletin. The one for the head gasket talks about how they know that the head gaskets are bad. So, they came up with this thing called the "Goodwill Policy", the dealerships know about it, but the consumer does not. The consumer should only have to pay a $100 deductible, if you are the original owner and if your car is still under 50,000 <-- (I think?).

Visit my website at www.geocities.com/norman_neon to find out how to get a copy of this service bulletin's id # (ask the dealership for a copy of it!) and they will know that you mean business.

And print out a copy of my receipt, it states that I was covered under the 'goodwill policy'.

Add another headgasket to this list, mine went and the dealership cost me the 100.00 and added the price of the oil change to it so it cost me $134.00 total. I have read people who have said that theirs was changed and it went at 10,000 after so we may not be out of the woods yet, even with the service.

I too, have another comment to add to this. I had every oil change that was needed on the car (3,000 miles or so) In June I had a complete tune up everything costing close to $407. Than I started noticing an oil leak, so I would add some myself. In September, another oil change by a reputable service center. Four days later, I needed to bring it back for another oil leak. Told me that the engine sensor was bad -- replaced $147. Week later, another oil leak, service center add more oil (no charge). In November, oil leak, causing engine to over-heat resulting in water pump replacement$550. Two weeks later, oil light comes on again, told it was an engine senor replaced sensor camshaft and drain plug $194.00. One week later, another courtesy oil fill. Less than a week later, brought it back again, was told I needed an oil pan gasket $364. Didn't have it fixed yet. Two days later, no oil again, was told that it was a rear main seal leak and would cost $ 393 plus $ 364 for the oil pan gasket, and could be more if they found any additional problems. Just paid for the car. Can't afford to fix it, been out of work for 9 months. If this is a major flaw in Dodge Neon's than we should form a class action suit and sue.

Would I buy a Dodge Neon again --- Not on your life.

This car has cost me more in repair costs that any car I have ever owned in my life. The first problem of Misfiring (in cylinder #3) appeared at 15,000 miles. This has continued 35,000 miles later. The dealer flashed the PCM computor to run a richer mix, but the problem continued. Then the dealer changed the spake plugs & wire, problem still continued. After doing some research on the internet. I think I have found the answer to the problem. The original Camshaft sensor is bad. Chrysler Changes the part # & dropped the price because they knew this was an issue with many Neons.

I also had to change the Head gasket at 43,000 miles due to a huge oil leak that suddenly left my engine with almost no oil at all. This cost me $765 at my local repair shop. The Starter died at 43,300 and cost me $332. The Turn signal switch broke at 33,000 (covered under warranty).

The Moon roof broke At 29,000 miles (est. repair cost $1050).

My 1998 Plymouth Neon Expresso DOHC is a complete engineering time bomb. The entire car completely self destructs around 30,000 miles or 3 year. This is just when the Chrysler warranty ends!

This is another addendum to my original comment "Buyer Beware"-----my 98 Neon now at 40,400 miles and overheating badly, engine light on constantly. Took in to dealership and am told valve springs need replaced--with estimate of "around $600 or so, parts and labor." Absolutely no reason why this should be, other than the car's "tin can" engine and shoddy design and obviously inferior manufacture. (This is after head gasket blew at 32,000 miles.)