1996 Dodge Neon complaints

HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED TWICE, CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAKS! *AK

HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. I SEE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL? THIS SAME ENGINE IS USED IN A NUMBER OF CHRYSLER CARS AND THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO THOSE OWNERS ALSO. HELP US OUT. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILING SECOND TIME - LEAKING OIL BADLY - HAVE LOST APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF OIL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH LEAKAGE FOR EACH FAILURE - WHEN WILL AN ENVIRONMENTAL RECALL BE ISSUED FOR THESE CARS - DODGE CLAIMS NO RECORD OF FIRST REPAIR BUT I HAVE RECEIPTS, DO NOT TRUST DODGE'S REPORTING OF THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM - WWW.NEONS.ORG SHOWS UP TO 1/3 OF THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING HEAD GASKET FAILURES. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT 600,000 GALLONS OF OIL HAVE ALREADY BEEN LEAKED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT - WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE TO END IT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ONGOING OIL LEAKAGE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML

THE HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH IN THE PROCESS IT RUINED THE SHORT BLOCK, CYLINDER THREE, AND THE RADIATOR

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL. *AK *ML

THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT. HAVE OTHER ISSUES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR . THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. CHRYSLER HAD KNOWN OF PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS IN NEONS, AND AGREED TO PAY FOR PARTS ONLY. *AK *ML

HAD AN OIL LEAK, MECHANIC SAID I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *AK

IT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE EACH PROBLEM. ALL PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE COMPLETELY TRUE. I CAN SAY WITH COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AFTER THE 75000 MILE WARANTY I BOUGHT WAS OVER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EGR VALVE WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED JUST TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. ALSO THE DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR WHICH AGAIN IS FAILING AGAIN. THE HORN/AIRBAG SENSOR WAS ALSO REPLACED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL REPAIRES BY THE DEALER WAS (A) BEFORE THE WARANTY HAD EXPIRED, AND (B) I HAD TO CALL CHRYSLER AND COMPLAIN JUST TO HAVE THOSE THINGS FIXED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SO I KNOW THESE PROBLEMS TO EXIST. THE DEALER, INSTEAD OF FIXING MY CAR, WHICH THEY WON'T DO, THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I COULD NOT BE MORE DISSATISFIED WITH A "NEW CAR" THAN WE ARE WITH THIS ONE. BELIEVE ME, IF WE WERE TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS CAR'S TRACK RECORD, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT. I GUESS THATS ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU.R *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P1856014 )

TWICE THE HEAD GASKET ON THIS CAR HAS BLOWN. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS AT 35,000 MILES, JUST SHORT OF THE WARRANTY SO IT WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. THE SECOND TIME THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WAS JUST 1 1/2 YEARS LATER AND I WAS QUOTED BETWEEN $800-$1,500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN. CHRYSTLER CORPORATION IS FULLY AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I CALLED A NUMBER OF DEALERS WHEN TRYING TO GET THIS CAR FIXED AND EVERY DEALER SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. MORE THAN HALF THE DEALERS RECOMMENDED I CALL CHRYSTLER CORPORATION TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST. AFTER RAISING ENOUGH HELL WITH CHRYSTLER AND THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED. I DO NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR AND A HALF. AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO...THIS IS A MAJOR, EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND THAT COMPANY SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRODUCT TO WARRANTY IT. *AK

THE VEHICLE SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHEN IN MOTION. HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR TO MOVE CAR IN MORNING. ENGINE TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS CANNOT DETECT PROBLEM BUT CONFIRM THAT IT EXISTS. *AK

HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST REPLACED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, I AM HAVING IT REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME NOW. *AK

THE VEHICLE STARTS AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE OF OIL LEAKAGE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 8, 000 MILES. CHRYSLER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. BUT IT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. AK.ET.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A 2.0L ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FROM MARCH OF 1996 TO PRESENT, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED REPLACEMENT OF 2 HEAD GASKETS, EGR VALVE WITH EET, OIL PRESSURE SENSOR/SWITCH, AND TRANSMISSION.*AK *ML

THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET . AT THE TIME MINE WAS BEING REPAIRED THERE WERE 2 OTHER NEONS IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS STATED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER MARK MENDEZ. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEONS THAT WERE PRODUCED BEFORE 1999 . MY CAR NEEDED WORK DONE AFTER MY 3 YEAR/36000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

THIS MUST BE THE LEAKIEST CAR AROUND! CAN WE RECOVER SOME REPAIR COSTS? NO SEAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. NO LIGHTS ILLIUMANTED ON THE DASHBOARD, INDICATING VEHICLE HAD CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NUMBER 676 CONCERNS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ODOMETER FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE, THE LAST TIME WAS IN FEB OF 99. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER RAPIDLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODYSHOP, WHERE THE HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE LAYING ON THE TOP OF EXHAUST TUBE, WHICH MELTED THE WIRES AND SHORTED OUT VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V026000 CHRYSLER/ELECT. WRING: HARNESS: FRONT UNDERHOOD. DUE TO VIN. *AK

IN COLD WEATHER CONDITITIONS HORN GOES OFF AND SOUNDS UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PARTS OF BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH WHEN THE THE FORWARD GEARS FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *SLC

THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN, THEY SEEM TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. *MJS

AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND RAN IT OFF THE ROAD INTO SHOULDER. CONSUMER HIT THE MEDIAN RAIL. NO INJURIES. *AK

WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY (NOW) 2 EXPERIENCES TO THE MIX OF MANY, IN REGARDS TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 DODGE NEON LINE OF VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO EASE THE COSTS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. AS I WAS WRITING THIS, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE 5-STAR CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP/SERVICE SHOP WHO IS DOING THE WORK FOR A SECOND TIME NOW (THE CAR WAS ALSO PURCHASED THERE), AND FOUND OUT I WILL BE WITHOUT THE CAR FOR ANOTHER WEEK BECAUSE THIS TIME THE DAMAGE IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE DUE TO WARPING. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY $100 ABOUT EVERY 20,000 MILES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I AM TOLD CHRYSLER IS ON THEIR 6TH REVISION OF THIS GASKET, BUT NO RECALL OR CONSUMER WARNING HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC. SEARCHING THROUGH THE INTERNET, IT IS STAGGERINGLY EASY TO FIND MANY OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS COSTS ME MONEY AND THE INCONVENIENCE OF BEING WITHOUT ONE OF MY VEHICLES FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

SUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ON A 96 NEON. I THINK AROUND 35,000 MILES (10/29/98) THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED AT A COST OF $100 COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AGAIN AT 50,000 + MILES (4/29/99) WE HAD TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN FOR A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IN ADDITION, I THINK THIS WAS THE TIME THAT WE HAD TO REPLACE SOME KIND OF FRONT OIL SEAL. WE ALSO HAD THEM TRY TO FIX THE SPEED GAUGE THAT HAD STARTED ACTING STRANGE. WHEN THE SPEED GAUGE ACTED UP SO DID ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASH COME ON FOR NO REASON. THEY REPLACED THE CABLE BUT WE SOON FOUND OUT THAT IT DIDN'T HELP. THIS WAS AT A COST OF $114.58 COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 75,000 (12/3/99) BACK AGAIN FOR SOME OIL SEAL AROUND THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE CHANGING SPARK PLUGS ETC. MOSTLY UNDER WARRANTY AT A TOTAL COST TO ME OF $134.41. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO I TOOK IT BACK FOR MORE CHARGES OF $197.43. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE SOMETHING IN THE DASH TO KEEP THE WARRANTY GOOD SO THAT THE TACHOMETER WOULD STILL WORK. I TOLD THEM TO GET THE PARTS ORDERED BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE MORE THAN FIVE DAYS TO GET THIS DONE AND MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS A RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. TWO DAYS AGO, I CHANGED THE OIL AND IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT SEAL (OR IT SEEMS TO ME). YESTERDAY THE SERVICE ENG. LIGHT COMES ON. I WILL BE CONTACTING BOB ALLEN CHRYSLER IN DANVILLE MONDAY TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO. MY POINT IS THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO HELP ALL OF US THAT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD

PROBLEM WITH A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSING OIL LEAKAGES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED REPAIRS WAS NOT UNDER A MFR. RECALL. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAK, ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON/EVENING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE NOISE GOES AWAY BUT IS VERY LOUD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC STATED, THAT MOISTURE GETS IN THROUGH THE HUB CAPS OPENINGS, WHICH MAKES BRAKES SQUEAK. *CJ

WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALL PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 DODGE NEON DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED, LEAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL INTO THE POSTERIOR PART OF THE ENGINE. THROUGH RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON, AND AT TIMES HAS RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRES. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND I AM WONDERING WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I ALSO FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FAILURE AND NEEDS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *AK

I HAVE HEARD RECENTLY THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS VERY COMMON WITH THE DODGE NEONS AS WELL AS OTHER CHRYSLER CARS. I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING LAST WEEK SOMETIME, AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS COMING FROM TEH HEAD GASKET. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT SO MANY OF TEH DODGE NEONS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IF DODGE MADE A GOOD PRODUCT. IF THEY KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS RUMOR OF A SECRET WARRANTY OUT THERE IF YOU RAISE ENOUGH FUSS, DOESN'T IT SEEM FAIR, AND LAWFUL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE CARS AND FIX TEH HEAD GASKETS ON THEIR PRODUCTS BEFORE FURTHER TROUBLE IS CAUSED. IF I WAS OBLIVIOUS TO TEH LEAK COULDN'T I HAVE CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD CHRYSLER NOT CUT CORNERS AND MADE A CHEAP GASKET TO BEGIN WITH? IS IT MY FAULT THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT EVENTUALLY I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE CHRYSLER DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MAKING A STRONG HEAD GASKET, AND WANTED TO SAVE A LITTLE MONEY. I FEEL AS IF I AM BEING SCREWED HERE, AND I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST COMPLAIN BEFORE CHRYSLER ISSUSES A RECALL. A RECALL THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY. *AK

REAR BRAKE FAILED. YH

ENGIN EHEAD GASKET BLEW OUT EVERY 6-8 MONTHS/ BRAKE CALIPER COLLAPSED , AND INSTRUMENT PANEL DEAD; NO ASSISTANCE FROM DODGE. *AK

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK THROUGH THE VALVE COVER WHICH COULD SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND START A FIRE. DEALER SAID HEAD GASKET AND VALVE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: AIR FLOW KNOB FAILED, VALVE COVER GASKETS 3X'S, HEAD GASKET, SQUEAKING BRAKES, CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL FAILURE, SPARK PLUG O-RING, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, REAR SUSPENSION CAME LOOSE, LOUD EXHAUST. SHOW US YOU CAN DO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED YOUR HELP SOME GOOD. GET US SOME ANSWERS!!!!!!

THE 1996 DODGE NEON SHOULD BE RECALLED. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

, BUT I CAN NOT FIND ANY WET CARPET OR SEATS. I HAVE HAD THE INTERIOR STEAMED CLEANED AND DEORDORIZED, BUT THE SMELL RETURNS IN A DAY OR SO. MY DAUGHTER,WHO DRIVES THE CAR,SMELLS FROM BEING IN THE CAR. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ANY LENGHT OF TIME. *AK

PREMATURE FAILURE OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CRUNCHING NOISE, AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY RACK AND PINION STEERING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

THE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEARS MODEL ACCORDING TO LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGED FOR THE NEXT YEARS MODEL.

AFTER A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM... SOMEONE SUGGEST A REPAIR UNDER THE SECRET EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER... I'M GONNA TRY IT... PRICE TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET: 700 DLLS AND UP.

OIL IS LEAKING BAD FROM THE HEAD GASKET... I SEE THAT YOU ALREADY GOT QUITE SOME COMPLAINTS... WHAT ABOUT A RECALL??? OIL LEAKING IS CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD... COULD CAUSE SOME FIRE... RECALL...

NO SUMMARY

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A STAND STILL ACCIDENT APPROX. 35-45 MPH, CAUSING CONSUMER'S BACK REST TO COLLAPSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *YC

NOTICED OIL LEAK DUE TO A BLOWEN OUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET DUE TO POOR DESIGN. CONTACTED DEALER . *AK