1996 Dodge Neon complaints

FAULTY HEAD AND GASKET CAUSING MAJOR OIL LOSS, LEFT TURN SIGNAL TURN ON WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED. BACK UP LIGHTS DON'T WORK. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT RECALL#96V075000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 687, AND DEALER SAID PARTS WILL NOT BE IN FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. *AK

NEAR MISS INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE HORN TO ALERT OTHER DRIVER CROSSING INTO MY LANE. NEEDED TO TAKE HAND OFF STEERING WHEEL TO OPERATE HORN. CHOSE NOT TO USE HORN AS IT WOULD COMPROMISE DRIVING AND INSTEAD ACCELERATED AND SWERVED. HORN LOCATED IN CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT REQUIRES ONE HAND OFF STEERING WHEEL IN TYPICALLY A SITUATION WHERE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE BOTH HANDS ON WHEEL. SUGGEST STANDARD SHOULD BE THUMB/TRIGGER STYLE HORN SUCH AS ON MANY JAPANESE MODELS.*AK

BRAKES AND HAVE REPLACED TWICE AND STILL CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE BRAKES, AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED WITHIN 5 YEARS.

CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED IN MY CASE AND CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF A NEON THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADGASKET AND THE SPEEDOMETER. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THEM.*AK

WIRING HARNESS SHORT CIRCUITED DUE TO CONTACT WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE.*AK *JB

VEHICLE WILL STALL IN WARM WEATHER AT ABOUT 55 MPH; ALSO, WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. THERE IS A RECALL 96V026000 ON WIRING HARNESS; BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE C/S OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED A LEAKING FRONT CAMSHAFT SEAL. THE DEALER'S REPAIR INVOICE LISTED THE PROBLEM AS "FRONT CAM SEAL FELL OUT". THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVEWAY. CAMSHAFT SEALS DON'T 'FALL OUT' OF PROPERLY DESIGNED ENGINES. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ENGINE DESIGN DEFECT HERE.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD MOMENTARILY SLIP BEFORE ENGAGING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RVEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, CAUSES OIL AND COOLANT LEAKS AND OVERHEATING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF IT WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

SPEEDOMETER IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY , CONSUMER CANNOT DETERMINE CORRECT SPEED ,POSSIBLY DUE TO A LOOSE CONNECTION. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH. HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED , CHRYSLER HAS REDESIGNED HEAD GASKET, BUT IS CHARGING OWNERS FOR NEWLY DESIGNED GASKET.*AK

TALKED TO MANY OTHER DODGE NEON OWNERS WITH SAME PAINT PROBLEM. THE BLUE (PERIWINKLE) PAINT CHIPS OFF.NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING NOTICED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKING INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED HEAD GASKET NEED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE LEAKS OIL, AND HEADGASKET IS BLOWEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CHANGED HEAD GASKET. BUT SOON AFTER HEADGASKET BLEWOUT AGAIN.*AK

BEING REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP. THEY DON'T SEEM TO THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM NATION WIDE WITH THE GASKETS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS WAS CONSUMERS FOURTH TIME OF HAVING HEAD GASKETS FIXED. ON 02-25-1998 HEAD GASKETS AND CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED AT 24,194 MILES; ON 04-30-1998, CYLINDER HEAD & SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AT 25,509 MILES; ON 10-5-1998, ENGINE OIL LEAKED, CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL WAS REPLACED AT 28,847MILES; AND ON 0 3-27-2001, GASKETS/ VALVE COVER, AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 48,800 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET TO BOTTOM OF PROBLEM, AND FIND OUT WHY THIS KEPT HAPPENING. *AK

NO SUMMARY FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON VEHICLE. *AK

MAIN SEAL WAS REPLACED BY DEALER, BUT IT NEVER STOPPED LEAKING. CONSUMER BELIEVED DEALER NEVER REPLACED SEAL, ONLY HAD VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS/ SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IN REVERSE. THIS WAS WORSE WHEN 20 TO 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL 55-60 MPH, BUT 1 AND 2 WERE OKAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT LOCAL CHICAGO NON-SELLING DODGE DEALER AT MY COST OF $1,200. THE DEALER ADVISED FRONT PUMP SEAL FAILED CAUSING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. THE SERVICE WRITER ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES. REVIEWING WEB SITES (INCLUDING THIS ONE) I SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SET OF SYMPTONS. I HAVE RECENTLY REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM DODGE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND YET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. HAD NO INTERIOR OR OUTSIDE LIGHTS. HAD SOME LEAKAGE FROM TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPAIRED LEAKAGES/STARTER/HEAD GASKETS/ OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*AK WATER LEAK FROM THE TRUNK TO REAR FLOOR BOARDS CAUSED CORROSION. ALSO, SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED TO GO OFF. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BEFOR E PURCHASE. *YH

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 71,000 MILES DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *AK *SLC

BLOWN HEAD GASKET EACH TIME. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK AS THE RESULT OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE, OIL MIXED WITH THE COOLANT. THE DEALER CLEANED THE RADIATOR AND FIXED THE HEAD GASKET. *YH

CAR WAS SERVICED FOR OIL/FILTER CHANGE, 4 CYLINDER TUNE UP, TRANSMISSION SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 29, 2000. DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED. CALLED DEALER TO INFORM THEM OF SITUATION. TOWING SERVICE WAS CALLED. WAITED ONE HOUR FOR TOW TRUCK. VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVING TO OWNER'S RESIDENCE. CALLED TOWING SERVICE AGAIN ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 1, 2000. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HENDRICK DODGE. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL. COIL WAS REPLACED ON MARCH 1, 2000. OWNER PICKED UP VEHICLE ON THE AFTERNOON ON MARCH 1, 2000. VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE HENDRICK DODGE. TOWING SERVICE WAS CALLED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO HENDRICK DODGE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS AND CAM/CRANK SENSOR. ON MARCH 8, THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPLACED THE FAULTY MECHANISMS AND CREDITED THE OWNER THE COST OF THE UNNECESSARILY INSTALLED DISTRIBUTOR COIL.

OIL LEAK, HEAD GASKET. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FOR THAT YEAR.*AK

THE HEADGASKET AND CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED AT 37687 MILES WHICH IS CLEARLY PREMATURE . THE ESTIMATED REPAIRS PLUS THE NECESSARY TOWING CHARGE WERE IN EXCESS OF $600 . AFTER A COMPLAINT BY TELEPHONE THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COVER THE FULL AMOUNT. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT NOT FOR MY OWN BENEFIT ,SINCE MY COST OF REPAIR WAS COVERED , BUT TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE DODGE NEON'S 2.0 L ENGINE HAS AN APPARANT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET ASSEMBLY. THE CAR LEAKS OIL. OUR PARTICULAR CAR RECEIVED DEALER SERVICE ONCE ALREADY FOR THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT BUT THE OIL LEAK PERSISTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO APPARANT LEAK. CLOSE AFTER THAT OUR FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. OUR CAR NOW LEAKS ALMOST A QUART OF OIL EVERY DAY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONE ISOLATED TO JUST OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES OF FAILED HEAD GASKETS RECORDED AND SHARED BY NEON OWNERS. ACCORDING TO A USER WEBSITE "NEONS.ORG" 32% OF ALL NEON OWNERS HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE DEFECIVE PART WITHIN 30,000 MILES OF THE VEHICLE'S LIFE; MOST AT THEIR OWN COST. PLEASE DOCUMENT AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES NEON OWNERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO BUY A RELIABLE LITTLE CAR. THANK YOU.

THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURING ON A DAILY BASIS ARE: THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK,THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE MILEAGE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING.SOMETIMES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE LIGHTS(SEAT BELT,ETC.)WILL POP ON MAKING THE DINGING NOISE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS ON(LIKE WHEN YOU 1ST START UP THE CAR)BUT NOTHING STARTS WORKING THEN BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE.WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE PUT IN OUR CAR,HOW FAST WE ARE GOING,OR IF THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT OR COLD.AT ONE POINT WE WERE HAVING TO GET JUMP STARTS ALL OF THE TIME. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT I NOTICED YOU HAVE HAD A RECALL ON BUT THIS VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED.SINCE IT IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE.THIS IS REDICULOUS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE,SAME YEAR AND EVERYTHING BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY 15,000 CARS DONE AND OUR CAR COULD HAVE BEEN THE 15,001 CAR ON THE ASSEMBLY AT THE TIME WE HAVE TO SUFFER AND PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS MISTAKES.

HORN HAS BEEEN REPLACED TWICE. HORNS BLOWS INVOLUNTARILY. DEALER BELIEVES HORN PAD & AIRBAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE TIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

VEHICLE NEEDS TO HAVE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE OIL LEAKING PROBLEM WENT WORSE WND WORSE, EVEN AFTER CHANGING SOME POTENTIAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. *AK

FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED AT LESS THAN 36,000 MILES; COVERED ON WARRANTY. DODGE REFUSES TO COVER SECOND FAILURE AND CLAIMS "NO KNOWN PROBLEMS" WITH HEAD GASKET LONGEVITY WHEN CALLED. GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD ON VEHICLE; AV. 15-16K MILES/YEAR USE. *AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUG TUBES. *SLC

VEHICLE LEAKING OIL TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER JEEP'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE BEING RECALLED. THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAID CHRYSLER WON'T PAY FOR NEONS. THIS IS A DEFECT NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE THIS HELPS, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT.*AK

WHEN THERE IS A RAIN STORM TWO INCHES OF RAIN COMES INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

HEADGASKET IS BLOWN,

VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET. CONSUMER WAITING TO HEAR FROM DODGE. *AK THE LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN OIL DRIPPING ON TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FIXED. *YH

BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY DON'T HOLD PROPERLY, VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKES IT IS DRAGGING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK

I LEARNED OF MY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, I JUST PAID IT OFF, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK, THAT WAS THE SOONEST I COULD GET. I EXPECT THEM TO COVER IT 100% ESPECIALLY AFTER FINDING YOUR WEBSITE AND READING ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM W/ THEIR 1996 NEON. I WAS CURIOUS AS TO IF ANYONE HAS TAKEN LEGAL ACTION IN THIS MATTER?AK

HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 20,901 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION LET GO WITH 35,654 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED A SECOND TIME WITH 46,958 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT DARTMOUTH DODGE, 225 STATE RD., NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA. 02747, SINCE IT WAS CLOSER TO MY HOME, AND THEY WERE NOT IN BUSINESS AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER GAVE ME A $300.00 CREDIT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME, AND IT BROKE AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 26,000 LATER. APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO FEEL THAT A RECALL CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE INSTITUTED TO REPAIR ALL THESE VEHICLES SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM. *AK