Dodge Neon Complaints (1997)

390 consumer complaints on file.

#10095692October 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TOOK VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR SHOP AFTER NOTICING AN OIL LEAK. THEY TOLD ME AT FIRST IT WAS NORMAL LEAKING FROM ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THEN THANKSGIVING DAY 2001, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (75 MPH) THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. OIL WENT EVERY WHERE. I HAD OIL EVEN IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. TOOK TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, HE TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE WITH NEON'S. FINAL PRICE TO FIX PROBLEM 987.36, HEAD GASKET REPLACED COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED OUT, ETC. NOW I NEED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE OF IT. SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. MY FRIEND HAD A 1998 DODGE NEON THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED IN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED FOR FREE. OBVIOUSLY FOR CONSUMER SATISFACTION IT WOULD BE IN CHRYSLERS BEST INTEREST TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AT THE VERY LEAST, THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED A LESS THAN SATISFACTORY ENGINE COMPONENT IN THE 1997 NEON. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT SOME OF THE MONEY, IF NOT ALL, IS REFUNDED BACK TO US. OTHERWISE I AM SATISFIED WITH MY NEON. IT IS OUT OF COMMISSION RIGHT NOW DUE TO NEEDING A WATER PUMP. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DECEMBER 20TH, 1996 AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095267September 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET FAILED ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAD 44000 MILES ON IT. *NM *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088775August 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES SQUEL AND MAKE NOISE, CAR WON'T STOP ABOVE 50 MPH IN SAFE DISTANCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086871August 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL X 2 MONTHS. KEPT OVERHEATING AFTER 20 MINUTES OF RUNNING. ALLE THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED OUT. HAD RADIATOR FIXED. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, TOLD IT WAS FAN RELAY. HAD THAT REPLACED. NOW TOLD THAT IT WAS THE GASKET. THAT IT HAD A LEAK AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SOME THING ABOUT THE ALUMINUM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082046July 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PROBLEM WITH 1997 DODGE NEON.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079946June 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, STRUCTURE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE'S BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A BAD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, THREE TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, STICKING THROTTLE BODY, AN OIL PAN LEAK, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAD AN AIR LEAK WHICH WHISTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075856June 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HEAD GASKET AND FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT VEHICLE OVER EATED. DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS, AND 2 1/2 YEARS LATER ,THE SAME PARTS FAILED AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065182June 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER SAW OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON JUNE 3RD 2002, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT. THE MAIN GEAR HAD A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOOSE TEETH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE HEADS OF THE ENGINE WERE WARPED. THE DEALERS IN BOTH CASE ONLY CHANGED THE GASKET AND NOT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE HEAD WAS WARPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD IN THE MORNING, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS, THEN CLUNKS IN HARD AND IF DRIVING WHEN STILL COLD, IT SEEMED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. (AND SHIFTS HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND OVER REVS IN 2ND PRIOR TO SHIFTING) *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073352May 10, 2004
TIRES
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY, BOTH FRONT TIRES, DEFLATED DUE TO LOST AIR PRESSURE. THE DRIVER NOTICED A BUBBLE LOCATED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE. THE DRIVER CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THESE TIRES WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. COOPER TIRES TREND SETTER SE P18565R14/#DOT 7JCZH3900D2R. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066405April 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 DODGE NEON, COLOR LAPUIS BLUE, I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY OWNER. NOT ONLY HAVE I HAD A SERIES OF ENGINE REPAIRS BETWEEN 40,000 TO 80,000 MILES, THE SAME AS I'VE READ ON DOZEN'S OF OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I NOW HAVE THE PEELING LAPUIS BLUE PAINT WHICH STARTED SLOWLY PEELING A YEAR AGO. THE PAINT NOW BLOWS OFF THE CAR AS I DRIVE. THIS CAR HAS COST THE CONSUMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ALL THE DEFECTS IN THIS CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065298March 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, MAIN GEAR CRACKED, AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON RECALLS AND WHAT JUSTIFIES THEM. *PH THE MAIN GEAR EXPERIENCED A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOST RELATING COMPONENTS. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HEAD GASKET. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062009March 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056509February 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FOR THE SECOND TIME THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE AND I FEEL IT'S TOO MUCH TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY DODGE DOESN'T ASSIST WITH FIXING IT RIGHT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057294February 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 2 YEARS LATER. THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054943January 26, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE NEON. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE PAINT HAS SUDDENLY STARTED TO PEEL AND BUCKLE AS IF THE PRIMER NO LONGER HOLDS IT. I HAVE NOTICED THE PAINT ON OTHER NEONS AS I AM DRIVING ARE ALSO PEELING THE SAME WAY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054529January 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1997 DODGE NEON - A MODEL (AND APPARENTLY, THE DODGE BRAND ITSELF) THAT HAS A REPUTATION FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKETS AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES BECAUSE OF A POOR COMPOSITE MATERIAL THE GASKETS WERE MADE OUT OF. *AK JUST TODAY, I FOUND THE TELL-TALE SIGN OF FLUID MIXTURE (OIL IN MY COOLANT LINES) THAT INDICATES A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT BASED ON MY CAR'S YEAR AND THE MILEAGE (APPROX 54800), THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I'VE SCOURED THE INTERNET AND FOUND COUNTLESS TALES OF "SECRET WARRANTIES" AND "CUSTOMER GOODWILL MONEY." STORIES ABOUT CHRYSLER PAYING FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF A REPLACEMENT, $100 DEDUCTABLES, 50/50 SPLIT POLICIES, AND OF COURSE, DOWN-RIGHT REFUSALS AND DENIALS OF THE PROBLEM ITSELF, WHICH CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED IN A SERVICE BULLITEN, LOCATED HERE: HTTP://WWW.NEONS.ORG/NEONTSB/TSB/09/090598.HTM THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT CONTINUE TO DENY CUSTOMERS THE APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS THEIR FAULT. I'M GOING TO CALL MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERS TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANY DIFFERENT ANSWERS FROM THEM, BUT I DOUBT IT. MY COMPLAINT STANDS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071052January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING. IT IS SO COSTLY TO REPAIR EVERYTIME. I NEVER CONTACTED THE DODGE COMPANY SINCE I THOUGH THAT I GTO A BAD CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071271January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILURE
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069754January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FIRST OF ALL, MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR QUITE A FEW MONTHS NOW ...I JUST KEPT PUTTING A QUART IN EVERY NOW AND THEN. WELL, WHEN I WENT TO GET THE CAR INSPECTED AT PEP BOYS, THEY SAID THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THEY RECOMMENDED ME GETTING AN ESTIMATE AND THE WORK DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALER. I WANT TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION OR FROM DODGE ON THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS THAT DODGE NEONS HAVE. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. I HAVE NO REPAIR DATE OR COST YET. I WAS HOPING TO GET INFORMATION BEFORE I GET AN APPOINTMENT/FIXED. CAN'T THIS BE A RECALL? IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR NEONS WHY DOESN'T DODGE FIX THEM? I AM PAYING A CAR LOAN ON THIS AND IT NEEDS FIXED ALREADY...AND IT IS A MAJOR FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070560January 15, 2004
STRUCTURE
PROBLEM: WATER LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK THROUGH THE TAILLIGHT FILLED THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND SOAKED INTO THE BACK SEAT. WE NOW HAVE A MUSTY SMELL INDICATING A MOLD PROBLEM, PROBABLY FROM THE SEAT. WE HAVE USED PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SUPPLIES TO TRY ELIMINATE THE SMELL. THE CLEANING DID HELP BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. SINCE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE ASTHMA, AND ARE ALERGIC TO MOLD, I WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BACK SEAT. COST UNKNOWN. I STARTED SEARCHING THE WEB FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH NEONS LAST NIGHT AFTER A NEIGHBOR, WHO ALSO OWNS A NEON AND KNEW ABOOUT OUR PROBLEM, CAME TO TALK TO ME BECAUSE THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED TO THEIRS. PROBLEM SHOWED UP LAST SUMMER (2002)AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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