Comments: 1-15, 16-18
In the same month I purchased the car (after putting about 1,000 miles on it) the head gasket blew - estimated cost of repair $800+. After doing online research discovered that it was a KNOWN issue with the 1996 - "new" Neons. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website had several postings from owners of these cars stating they had to have the head gasket replaced MULTIPLE TIMES.
Called Daimler/Chrysler and they wouldn't admit anything and blew me off. The car sat in front of my house (still making $220/month payments on it to the bank and keeping full insurance on it because it's financed at $100/month) for another 5 months without me driving it until I was able to locate a Dodge 5 Star dealership that only charged me $200 for the repair and billed Chrysler for the rest (In my opinion I shouldn't have had to pay a dime).
About a month later I had a bearing blow, and another gasket - I went BACK to the service center where they kept my car for 2 weeks and finally replaced the short block altogether (they didn't charge me because it was related to the head gasket blowing).
I drove the car for another 3 months and then my spark plugs fried (just figured this out last night) - I'm also getting clicking sounds around turns which is leading me towards worn CV joints. The car is now completely gutless compared to the first few weeks after I bought it. It is starting to shift extremely hard, it has major hesitation, and it's making a "THUNKING" sound on hard acceleration.
The trunk leaks like a sieve.
The fan is EXTREMELY loud.
A smell (not unlike CAT URINE) comes from the air conditioning (which is also mentioned at the NHTSA website).
Going through puddle the undercarriage gets wet and the steering ceases to function (I nearly ran into a cop because I couldn't steer - thank god the brakes actually worked).
In my opinion the car isn't worth more than $50.00 - and I'd get rid of it in a heartbeat if I could find someone to pay as much as I owe on it.
I've had the car for about a year now, and I've had more problems (primarily MAJOR) with it than with a beat up 1983 Honda Civic 1500 that I drove for 5 years - not to mention having it wrecked twice in that time. It still runs better than the NEON.
Authorized Dodge service people have told me that the "NEW" Neon has a different engine in it, so it will not have the same problems as the '96 - '99 models.
Supposedly the head gasket issue was more centered around the DOHC engine.. it happened with the SOHC as well, but not nearly as often.
My wife and I also made the Neon mistake. We purchased a 1995 dealer demo Highline in 1996. Nothing but trouble. The horn was replaced 5 times. It went out everytime it rained. The dealer told us that the horn was installed upside down at the factory.
The wipers quit working towards the end.
The car was extremely loud as it approached 25,000 miles.
We also had a very bad experience with the a 5 star Dodge dealership.
Finally lucked out and got our payoff and traded for a new 1997 Geo Prizm. Drove it for 3 years trouble free. Just traded it for a 2000 Chevy Tracker. No more Chrysler products in our driveway.
The 1995 neons are shown to be more troublesome than newer ones. I don't think you should count Chrysler out because of a bad experience with one car in its first year. The newer Chryslers are much better than the older ones, just as good as any other cars on the road. But, that's just my opinion. I made the neon mistake a year ago. I have no intention of getting rid of my trouble-free neon.
I just picked up a 97 Neon for $5000, you people are scaring me..
As for the air conditioning - You can buy at any auto store some stuff to spray in the ducts to get rid of that smell. It's normal in any vehicle with A/C. Just my 2 cents!
I just bought a 97 neon,2 door (sohc),automatic, battery light is on and the service engine soon light is on and can't figure it out. i replaced the alternator, battery.does anyone have similar problem of the battery temperature sensor voltage bad? that's the code we are getting.
I bought a '97 neon in September from a neighbor. Right away we had to replace the ignition switch! We replaced the spark plugs 3 times in the space of 5 months! Finally, we were told that the problem was that the valve springs needed to be replaced, and this was a problem in all neons up until 1998! It is a $700.00 touch here in Canada!
We tried to trade it in to a dealer, but they only offered us $5,000. I'm seriously considering it, though. The dealer says that would solve our problem. After reading the other comments, I highly doubt it!
I guess I should have checked HERE before buying... : (
I have a 1997 Dodge Neon High line DOHC. It also had the Oil leak problem. I tried to contact the dealer and dodge and no one would help me since my warranty was up. So I paid $800 to have it fixed. The only problem I'm having besides that is that my check engine light stays on and every time I hit a bump my speakers go out. As for performance I LOVE my Neon. IT NEVER BROKE DOWN ON ME YET (Knock on wood!)!! I've had it since february 2000.Mine cost me $6995. I will keep it for ever as a work car or add some more stuff and make it a street car. But I'll never buy another one unless it's a 2003 and up. My next car will be a 2003 MAZDA 6!! tynrose@peaknet.net.
I live in the UK. I used to live in Canada & wanted to buy something North Americanish (all the Chrysler's for Europe are built in Europe) except the Neon wich is built in the states & brought over here, they just call it a Chrysler Neon instead of a Dodge Neon... same thing...anyway I just sold my 17 year old Mercedes-Benz 230TE station wagon, I am really regretting it, I now have a 1997 Neon RHD 2L 16V Auto...WELL!!! what can I say I am really dissapointed with it.. for starters the paint wich is a "LAPIS BLUE" colour is falling off!!! it has 69,000 on it!! I paid £1,200. Somedays I drive it & it feels fine, other days when it's wet the brakes feel really squishy!!! The steering goes all crazy, today I drove it and the accelaration was awfull, yet yesterday it went like a bomb!!!Everyday I drive it I get a different response from the car!!! Very weird It almost feels like the brakes are going to fail, quite scary. My husband told me I have to keep the car untill next year HELP... I just want my 17 year old Merc back. I don't know if I will buy another Chrysler!!!
I bought a 2000 Dodge Neon with a 5-speed new. I drive 50 miles one way to work everyday on the highway at about 60-70 miles per hour. For the most part, I really like my Neon. I get 33mpg, it has great performance, and a great CD/stereo.
At 70,500 miles while coasting downhill at 65mph, it felt like I ran over something. When I looked in the rear view mirror, all I could see was a huge fire ball. The engine was still running, but the power was not getting to the wheels. I coasted to the side of the road and stopped and the fire ball went out. When I felt that the danger of explosion had passed, I walked back to the car and began to try to figure out what just happened. When I looked under the car, I found that there was a hole in the transmission that was large enough to fit my fist in.
I had the car towed to a local transmission shop and they said that this was the 5th time they have seen one do this. There is a pin that goes through a gear that walks its way out of the hole and allows the gear to come off of the shaft and fire through the transmission case. The transmission shop fixes this by welding the pin so it cannot walk out when they install the new transmission.
I had to fight with Chrysler for 2 weeks before they agreed to install a new transmission, but I still had to pay $250.00 for labor. The new transmission makes a howling noise, but is working good. I now have 120,000 miles on the Neon.
My girlfriend bought a 97 Neon a year ago. Poor unsuspecting thing. Had I known her then I would have never let her. I had already had experience with my 97 Stratus, so I was in the know when she proclaimed her Neon uses up one quart per week. "I think it has a oil leak, but there's nothing on the garage floor". Hmmm, I'm thinking head gasket, just like Stratus. Checked the radiator fluid and rear right side engine block. Sure enough. Chyrsler will have nothing to do with her since she bought it used and the warranty ran out 3,000 miles ago. Chrysler did replace my Stratus engine because I was the original owner. But, sadly, she is on the hook for these repairs. Do not, under any circumstances buy used Stratus/Neon.
For the guy that is having the alternator/battery problem in his 97 neon, I'm having the exact problem as well. even the dealership has no clue!! I think the problem is coming from the wire harness. please e-mail me at archivecollectibles@hotmail.com thanks, mike.
My 97' dodge neon highline began blowing it's fuel injector fuse 2 weeks ago. It blows every fifty miles or so. I had my car looked at by a dodge dealer. I was told I need to have the engine wire harness replaced, along with my motor mounts replaced. This is going to cost me close to $1500. If any one knows how to replace the wire harness please let me know, it could save me allot of money. Thanks, Rebekah.
Where is the reverse switch located on the 1997 neon high line I need to replace this soon for my sticker HELP!!!
I was just recently given a 97 lapis blue neon (that weird purplish blue color). I actually went through all comments and have to note that some of the same problems have happened to my car. The car had to be repainted already, the trunk leaked (we aren't sure if it still is) and I get a funky wet dog kind of smell when I use the vent instead of the A/C.
I was given the car at 98,000 (mostly all highway) miles and that little bugger has 103,000 on it without a problem (knock on wood). We haven't had any major repairs done to the car, but I have been warned about the timing chain (?) only lasting 50,000 miles. Mine was replaced at 90,000 and we haven't had an issue yet.
Can you well informed drivers give me any other warnings about this year, make and model? My father in law owned the car from day one and (I'm not lying when I say this) has recorded every thing that has been done to the car since he bought it in 1997 (even oil changes). Of course, it helps when he took it to Dodge for everything.
I love this car - it has not given me a problem yet and I would love to hold on to it until it goes to Neon Heaven - many many miles from now.
Thank you for your help.
2003 dodge neon
a deathtrap had just below 31000 miles car not purchased 3/12/03 new. car seizes while in motion at any speed Chrysler will not do good by it. each time fixed according to them car seized again and again and again. 10/13 now the car has been in their service dept for more than 30 days. they have paid for a rental approx 1000.00 dollars. car seized in major intersection tractor trailer by a miracle avoided my daughter she would have been dead. does Chrysler care no!!!
Car sits in driveway now paying monthly payment. no one cares!!! don't buy Chrysler they do not honor their products...!!!