This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Engine head gasket, second failure. Head gasket was replaced on extended warranty at 61,222 mi. Second head gasket (redo) had to be replaced at 97932 mi. Dealer "split the cost" with me, charging $520.08 for repairs. The vehicle was left dirty for me to pick up, oil & coolant dripping from undercarriage, fenders and steering wheel greasy.
Leak was noticed 1 week after purchased and was repaired at my cost. 1 month later still a leak this time was told it was an oil pan leak, was repaired and still had a leak. Took it to Dodge dealer this time head gasket replaced 2nd time at 577 dollars cost. Leak was still present so it was replaced again by dealer no cost to me. After repair leak was still present this time dealer put new head on vehicle. Still had leak this time it was a main rear seal, so had it replaced and it was still leaking. They replaced rear main seal again and the leak went away now the car is shaking violently and making funny noises. And engine light is on now.
Headgasket failure.......started with coolant bubbling and the repair shop diagnosed it as the headgasket. Dealer charged me $1000 to fix problem that he acknowledged was a defect in the cars design. I need help getting my money back!!!
Since the purchase of my Neon in may '95, I have had nothing but costly problems. This past year, alone, the repair, towing, and car rental expenses have exceeded $5000. This car is costing me a fortune to maintain, as these are major components that are malfunctioning. The items I have registered complaints on are just a few of the items I am having problems with. In just over a year, I have had to have a head gasket replaced, my air compressor seized, almost resulting in a fire, my throttle body had to be replaced, they still can't determine why my brakes squeal constantly. Although I have heard that this, among other things, is a very common and dangerous problem with the '95 Neons. My my engine controller had to be supposedly updated, my engine skips, but the dealer says nothing is wrong with it. My warning lights don't work, with these problems, you would think that you would have some kind of warning. And now, I have had to replace gear shift cables, and as of yesterday, I had a clutch cable snap which may have caused transmission damage. I have been told that the clutch cable has been updated 3 times for the '95 Neon because of problems with it, I will be investigating this further. My air compressor has malfunctioned twice since I have had the car, as well as the evaporator. For what it has cost me to repair this car, because Chrysler refuses to admit fault, although it is obvious that this model and year is a lemon, I could be driving a Mercedes Benz!! I have never been so disappointed in a vehicle as I am with this Neon! and obviously I am certainly not the only person with constant problems and astronomical repair costs being incurred. It is quite obvious by this database that there are many other people who are in the same boat I am in. Chrysler has made not only a poor product, but also a dangerous product. I can't believe that they would knowingly sell a vehicle to so many people with the problems that the Neon has had. Thieves!
Car leaking oil finally got worse, diagnosed as head gasket was told by other Neon owner that problem was being fixed for free. My dealer considered it a warranty work but charged a deductible - twice what he would have charged had a been original owner. Complaint more with dealer than Dodge.
In may of 1995 I purchased a new Neon sport coup, on October of 1998 my head gasket was leaking oil. I asked them if this should be happening to a car as new as mine and they told me no. Chrysler agreed to pay half of the cost for a new head gasket on my car. I also asked if I would be back in another 2 years to replace the new head gasket that they had replaced and they syated "no". I am now back a yea and a half later with the same problem. I called Chrysler again and they agreeed to pay half again. Now it is 3 weeks after I have had my head gasket replaced and I now have oil coming out of my radiator and they are not sure what is wrong so they are keeping my car over the weekend to try to figure it out. I also have had this car in for a bad cig. Liter, weather striping on my left door, loose window (twice and it is still not right), and other problems. I feel like I am stck with a lemon. I have already put out over $3,000 in repares on this car.
The month I bought the car I had to get the motor mounts replaced and the transmision. The motor mounts were busted and I shouldn't have been driving the car on the transmission. Since I bought the car the paint job has been peeling. I have no paint on the roof. I had to sand down what was left and primer it. The rest of the paint on the car is peeling everywhere. Recently the gauge cluster went out. When I would turn on the car the gauges wouldn't do anything. Then it stopped, now the speedometer won't move along with the odometer. So I have no idea how fast I am going. Last, whenever I get out of my car from driving it smells like someone farted, I have a constant check engine light that tells me its the O2 senser but it's not we tested those. The catalitic convert is bad on the car and I have to replace it.
I have an appt with kuhn Chrysler to diagnose problem by the number of complaints I have read I say it is pretty obvious that I am right and it is the head gasket. Obviously, this is a very wide spread problem. T he dealer that I talked to said that Chrysler is offering partial reimbursement on some of the repairs. Partial reimbursement!! this is obviosly a manufacturing problem and they should be paying for full replacement. I was told that since I am not the original owner they may not pay anything at all and it is my problem.. get a clue look at the complaints!!! I am getting very disguraged with everyone that I have talked to and about ready to sell the car, cut my losses, and know better in the future never to buy a Dodge again!!!
Engine head gaskets have prematurely blown out, causing the engine to completely malfunctions. Head gaskets failure caused the vehicle over heated, engine kocking and steam, bubbling/cracking of coolant container. A/C malfunction and fan motor becomes lhot when turning on.
Engine head gasket was replaced at 46,000 miles because it was leaking oil. Head gasket was leaking oil and needed replacing a second time. This caused the vehicle to shut off. The current mileage is 78,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jackson, MI, USA