I bought the car when it had 60,000 miles on it. Ever since I got it, I've taken it in a hundred times to get the brakes looked at. They squeal ALL of the time, ESPECIALLY if it's raining out or rained the day before. Everyone that's looked at it said there's nothing that can be done--it's just the metalic brakes and that's what they sound like. With all my other cars, I always knew when my brake pads were wearing down because they'd start to squeal. Well, with this car, there's NO way of knowing when the pads are going bad, unless you actually take it in to get it checked out and pay that fee all the time, because the brakes squeal all the time. I would have NEVER purchased this car had I known about this prior to buying it! I've never heard of any other makes/models with this same problem!

I got my 2000 Neon brand new the summer of 1999. After having it for one-year, the squealing from the rear of the car began. Always the first couple times I braked after it had been sitting for a while, and about 50x worse if it was raining or humid. Took the car to the dealership, wanted the problem fixed. They checked the brakes, said they were perfectly fine and the squealing was just the "nature of that kind of brake." Fast forward - 1 year later. Summer of 2001. Brakes are still squealing. Took the car to the dealership AGAIN. Given the same line - AGAIN. I go away unhappy, but with seemingly safe, yet loud, brakes. 1 year later - Summer of 2002 - I decide to take the Neon to a brake specialty shop NOT affiliated with Dodge. Same old line - nothing's wrong with the brakes. But, oh, by the way, your front brakes are 80% worn. I shell out $300 for new front rotors, but the problem that has been plaguing me is STILL THERE. Summer of 2003 - Thank GOD! It's time to get rid of the Neon. I turn it in, happy to have a new car that doesn't scare small children every time I stop. Then comes the bill from my leasing bank. $150 estimated to repair the squealing brakes. What?! The brakes I tried to fix once every year for the 4 years I owned the vehicle? OH NO. I tried to fix this problem 3 times, to no avail. I am not paying for it now. Currently, I am waiting to hear from a Dodge zone rep to try and get THEM to pay for this charge (the bank won't waive it, even though I have the paper invoices from all the times I took the car into the shop). I have 2 friends who have had the same problem with the Neon, and that is why they got rid of theirs. I am an EXTREMELY unhappy person. I'm so glad I didn't get another Chrysler product. I warn anyone who's leasing a Neon - beware. This'll probably happen to you.