10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,736 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

1997 Dodge Neon engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Dodge Neon Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #131

Oct 172002

Neon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states head gasket is leaking oil into the cooling system, damaging the engine. Dealer has been notified.

- Sebring, FL, USA

problem #130

Jan 252001

Neon

  • miles
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 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

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #129

Aug 052002

Neon

  • miles
Vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, and informed that vehicle had a blown head gasket. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #128

Mar 152002

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states vehicle has defective head gaskets causing oil leaks. Vehilce no longer under warranty.

- Mchenry, IL, USA

problem #127

Jun 122002

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
Head gasket failed, led to ruined cylinder heads.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #126

May 112001

Neon

  • miles
Vehicle was leaking oil.contacted dealer, problem due to head gasket going out.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #125

Apr 022001

Neon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Head gasket began leaking, consumer made attempts two months later to schedule repairs under an 8 year 80000 mile warranty, however dealer would not acknowledge the warranty, 2 months later the engine blew out because of the leaking head gasket, consumer is requesting reimbursement for repair costs.

- Ames, IA, USA

problem #124

Mar 212002

(reported on)

Neon

  • miles
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 violently at 45 mph, difficult to steer at under 45 mph, driver side rear view mirror fell off, turn signal defective, separation of lower control arm ball joint, wheelcover loss due to missing or loose bolts, rim replacements due to tires flying off, oil leak, glove compartment latch failure, poor design with no lights around lighter, and other minor problems. Chrysler is a negligent manufacturer and all Neons should be taken off the road.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #123

Mar 042002

Neon

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Derby, KS, USA

problem #122

Dec 082001

Neon

  • miles
Vehicle was leaking oil. Took vehicle to dealer, and dealer indicated vehicle needed a new engine block.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #121

Mar 152000

Neon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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]. 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).

- Lawrence, KS, USA

problem #120

Jan 152002

Neon

  • miles
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.

- Fremoht, CA, USA

problem #119

Apr 022001

Neon

  • miles
Head gasket began leaking, consumer made attempts two months later to schedule repairs under an 8 year 80000 mile warranty, however dealer would not acknowledge the warranty, 2 months later the engine blew out because of the leaking head gasket, consumer is requesting reimbursement for repair costs.

- Ames, IA, USA

problem #118

Apr 012001

Neon

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine head gasket started leaking at 60200 miles, vehicle has not been repaired yet.

- Webster, NY, USA

problem #117

Jan 012002

Neon

  • miles
While consumer was driving there was a noise, and then came smoke from engine. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and dealer noted that there was water leaking into oil due to a blowen head gasket.

- Warren Robino, GA, USA

problem #116

Aug 012001

Neon

  • miles
Six months ago severe overheating problems, told relay not functioning. Mechanic replaces switch, first time fan kicks in to cool engine, relay blows/shorts out, mechanic sends me to dealer because of warranty.dealer replaces relay, car continued to over heat. Dealer told me "mice" must have eaten through wiring, dealer replaced switch/wiring. Now head gasket needs replacing after four months of oil loss. Diaganosis w/black light, head gasket. Told relay and head gasket related as aluminum block prone to overheating, relay cooling disfunction possible cause of head gasket leak.

- Dover, NJ, USA

problem #115

Nov 292001

Neon

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine check light came on, and engine was running rough. Dealer determined egr valve had failed, and had to be replaced.

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #114

Jul 281997

Neon

  • miles
Ever since I bought the car used I have had numerous problems. Here is just a brief list: Incorrect gas mileage both city and highway, transmission problems, brakes squeaking, air coming through bad window seals, defrost not working properly, air conditioning not working correctly, 3 oxygen sensors replaced, 2 head gaskets replaced, and water coming into the trunk which has caused the jack and tire changing equipment to rust. Also the water then leaks into the back floor which causes the car to smell. The cs for Dodge will not agree to fix the problem with the original roof design which would correct the water from coming into the trunk. For the past year, about every 2 months something is going wrong with the car which has just a little over 62,000 miles and proper maintenance has been followed.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #113

Nov 062001

Neon

  • miles
I bought this pile of C... 2 years ago and had to replace the transmission with 38000 miles on it. Now the head gasket has failed. I was about to give the dealer $800 to repair it when the told me the engine has a crack in it. Now it will be $3500 for a new engine. It only has 71000 miles on it. And Chrysler doesnt care that this is quite possily the worst car ever made. It ranks right up there with a Yugo and a pinto

- Saugerties, NY, USA

problem #112

Jul 012001

Neon

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Oil was leaking from vehicle, consumer had to constantly put oil into vehicle. Vehicle was taken to dealer, and consumer was informed that head gasket was defective.

- Elgin, IL, USA

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