1997 Dodge Neon complaints

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE PAINT IS PEELING FROM MY LAPUIS BLUE NEON. WHY WON'T THEY REPAINT THE ENTIRE CAR?*AK

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5-15-03 AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK THE SIZE OF A 50 CENT PIECE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN PURCHASING I ASKED IF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON NEON'S, AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT AN ISSUE ANYMORE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE TODAY 7-18-03 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET AND IT WAS AN OFTEN DONE REPAIR AT A COST OF $700.00! AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FINDING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, I AM MORE THAN SLIGHTLY DISPLEASED THAT DODGE, KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, AND EVEN HAVING A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM IS INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF IT'S OWNERS, I WILL NOT BE BUY A DODGE, CHRYSLER, OR PLYMOUTH EVER AGAIN! *JB

SPEED CONTROL SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. REPLACE THE SENCSOR BUT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTOR,CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PAINT. IT'S BUBLING AND PEELING OFF IN LAYERS ALL OVER CAR.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HEAD GASKET WAS WARPED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS BECAME FOGGY AFTER 3 YEARS OF SERVICE. INCLUDED CRACKING AND GLAZING. RESULT WAS REDUCED LIGHT INTENSITY AVAILABLE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO REGAIN ABILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY AT NIGHT. *NLM

DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND GAUGES STARTED TO ACT FUNNY AND THEN IT STARTED TO SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IS A TOTAL LOST. *JB

THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 3 HEAD GASKETS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE LAST BLOWN GASKET CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *NLM

PURCHASED CAR IN OCTOBER OR 1996. REPLACED HEAD GASKET IN 1998 DUE TO OIL LEAKING IN SPARK PLUGS. THEN AGAIN IN 2001. NOW 2003 AND OIL IN SPARK PLUGS AGAIN.*JB

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, AND THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

DODGE NEON 1997, I FOUND OUT TODAY THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED, I WAS TOLD BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, 2 WERE DODGE MECHANICS, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS FIXING THE HEAD GASKETS AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE GASKET WAS TOO THIN, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES THE CAR WAS NEVER RUN HARD AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A OIL LEAK THAT MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

MY DAUGHTER JUST TURNED 16 AND BOUGHT A USED 1997 DODGE NEON WITH 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD HER OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AND REPLACED. ONE OF HIS SELLING POINTS WAS A NEW HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. WELL IT'S BEEN JUST OVER THE 3 MONTH, 3000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO THE WEB, AND TO MY HORROR THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE. THE ROADS ARE BEING MADE HAZARDOUS WITH SLIPPERY OIL AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BY A BADLY DESIGNED ENGINE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THEM. I KNOW YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOPE YOUR AGENCY CAN MAKE CHRYSLER RECALL THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE, ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REAPPEARED, THE DEALER THEN INFORMED CONSUMER A RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED.*JB

THE SPARK PLUGS THAT ARE IN THE CAR WAS DONE ILLEGALLY. AND I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOT HAVE HAD A RESPOND. I HAVE BEEN LEAVING MESSAGES FOR 1 WK. DT

WHILE DRIVING AVERAGE SPEED 40 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET RUPTURED, WITH A MAJOR LEAK. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THIS BY A MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. TS

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM, DAMAGING THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLYED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER HAD TO PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *MR

MINE IS THE SAME COMPLAINT AS THE OTHER 200 THAT I HAVE READ. ITS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN ALL 97 NEONS. MR

PAINT DEFECT. MR

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND MOAN WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES YET IT REOCCURS. MANUFACTURERS HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM *YH

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND REPAIRED THROUGH LOCAL DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. WE CONTACTED THE MAIN OFFICE AND GOT NOWHERE. WE WERE TOLD IT'S NOT A RECALL SO WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WAS VERY RUDE AND HUNG UP ON US. IT COST US OVER $600.00 FOR THE REPAIR. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM DODGE NEEDS TO BE RESPOSIBLE. WE WERE VERY LOYAL DODGE OWNERS BUT FROM NOW ON WE ARE NOT. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS BUT WE WERE TOLD IF IT'S NOT A RECALL WE CANNOT HELP YOU. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NLM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL, AND VEHICLE IS RUNNING HOT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT/ SMOKE AND LIQUID STARTED POURING FROM VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS COOLING FAN RELAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING A COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF SHAKING,/VIBRATING, AND PERFORMING ERRATICALLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 74,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO INTERACTION FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LED TO RUINED CYLINDER HEADS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL.CONTACTED DEALER, PROBLEM DUE TO HEAD GASKET GOING OUT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO DESCRIPTION.*JB

CONSUMER OFTEN FINDS WATER ON FLOORBOARD WHETHER IT RAINS OR NOT, AND DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. DEALER HAS A BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILE ON THE LOT AND IT DOES THE SAMETHING. CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE.*AK

ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN PAST THREE WEEKS. THERE IS OIL LEAKING, AND WHEN GETTING OIL CHANGED, DEALER RECOMMEND THAT ENGINE BE REPLACED.*AK

AFTER FRONTAL IMPACT, AIR BAG TOOK 2 MINUTES AFTER THE IMPACT TO DEPLOY. LIQUID IN AIR BAG CAUSED DRIVERS SHIRT TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BURNED HER ARMS.*AK. CONSUMER STATED HE HIT A UTILITY POLE.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ROOF IS LIFTING WATER LICKING INTO CAR. *AK

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY"--AT 20,871 AND 54,049 MILES. NOW SUPPOSEDLY ONLY DEFECTIVE CAMSENSORS ARE THE PROBLEM. OTHER DEFECTS BEGINNING 20,000 MILES: RADIO/TAPE PLAYER, VIBRATION, CLINKLING/CLUNKING SOUND, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE, "TOE" PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE TIRE CONSUMPTION (TIRE & WHEEL RUN OUT), ABS FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, BRAKE HOWLING, BRAKE METAL TO METAL CONTACT, NEED FOR LARGER BRAKE DRUMS, TRUNK WEATHERSTRIPPING DEFECTIVE, FAULTY DESIGN RESULTS IN LEAKS TO INTERIOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE, CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, TIRES COLLAPSE AND FLY OFF, AC FAILURE (HOSE LEAKS, COMPRESSOR REPLACED), NEW BATTERIES REPEATED REPLACED ( AAA CALLED 12 TIMES AND RECHARGER PURCHASED) NOW A TBS SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RKE TRANSMITTER, 02 SENSORS, VARIOUS SEALS LEAK, WIRING DEFECTIVE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED (NOTHING BUT SHARDS OF METAL LEFT--ON DISPLAY AT TRANSMISSION SHOP), TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED, OIL LEAKAGE, LIFETIME BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTHS, INSUFFICIENT POWER ON INCLINE, WITH PARKING BRAKE AND FOOT BRAKE ON CAR ROLLS OR LURCHES WHEN IGNITION TURNED OFF, STEERING COLUMN SHAKES VIOLENT

VEHICLE IS SITTING IDLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. VEHICLE OVERHEATS. ONCE VEHICLE IS MOVING GAUGE GOES BACK DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *TT

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS CAUSING OIL LEAKS. VEHILCE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND LEAKING OIL, CONSUMER REPLACED THERMOSTAT WHICH SUFFICED FOR 2 MONTHS, BUT VEHICLE STALLED OUT COMPLETELY, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, THIS WAS THE SECOND GASKET THAT WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS INSTALLED BY RECALL. *TT

WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES LOOSE. VEHICLE SHIFTING BY ITSELF DUE TO A STICKY CABLE. OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. DEALER FOUND HEADGASKET FAILURE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. CAMSHAFT REPLACED. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHILE BRAKING. WEATHERSTRIPPING FELL OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP. BATTERY CLAMP LOOSE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO STAY ON. *AK *TT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK.*AK

RECALL 97V080000/AIR BAG: WHILE DRIVING, THE BELL ALARM WENT OFF AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENOR CAME ON AND WENT OFF, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE.*JB

NEON HEAD GASKET BLOWN, HAD TO PAY 680$ TO HAVE REPLACED. THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS, AND WHAT SHOULD I DO. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE TAKEN METICULOUS CARE OF IT, INCLUDING ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE COST I'VE BEEN QUOTED TO REPLACE THIS HEAD GASKET IS APPROXIMATELY $977. A PART LIKE THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE... NOT 61,000 MILES. JUDGING FROM ALL THE POSTINGS I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE MODE FOR THE NEON ENGINE AND I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BEAR SOME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PART LIKE THIS THAT IS FAILING PREMATURELY.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING AT 60200 MILES, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.*AK

I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH NEONS MADE IN 97 AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. ALSO THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. I HAVE SEEN MANY NEON'S SINCE I BOUGHT MINE, WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. . NO SAFETYD EFEC TMENTIONED. *AK