1997 Dodge Neon Engine Problems

I MADE A SHORT TRIP TO A LOCAL STORE AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND I HAD TO STOP AND PULL OVER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE.WHICH COST $920 TO REPAIR. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OLD (1997), IT ONLY HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN TO CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THAT SEVERAL NEON OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE 1995-1997 MODELS HAVE BEEN PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND THEY WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258833

Incident

Feb 9, 2009

Mileage

39,000 mi

SAFETY/EMISSIONS REPRT STATES RECALL ON MY VEHICLE/ DEFECT NUMBER: DR-1158. THE SOLID STATE FAN RELAY MAY FAIL BECAUSE OF HEAT RELLATED ELECTRICAL OVER STRESS CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250099

Incident

Nov 28, 2008

WHENEVER I SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY, OR LOOK FOR A PARKING SPACES, OR SIT IN TRAFFIC...THE CAR'S TEMPERATURE GAGE GOES ALL THE WAY TO HOT. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID THAT ITS THE FAN CONTROL MODULE OR RELAY...BASICALLY THE FANS STOP WORKING. *TR I HAD A NEW WATER PUMP PUT IN, A NEW THERMOSTAT, A NEW RADIATOR PUT, AND I"M BEGINNING TO THINK THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMING UP WHEN THE FANS STOP WORKING. IT HAS 145000 MILES ON IT, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IS NOT A COMMON THINK ON THIS MODULE. I'M GOING TO GET REPAIRED, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224850

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

144,000 mi

1997 DODGE NEON CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE ANY INFO AVAILABLE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE FIRES IN THE MID NINETIES MODEL YEAR DODGE NEONS. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*JB

NHTSA ID

10219454

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

THROUGH THE LIFE OF OWNING THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET SEVERAL TIMES 3 TIMES IN LAST 2 YEARS ALONE AND REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET STILL LEAKS AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIX IT EVEN THE DEALER. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEONS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216755

Incident

Feb 2, 2007

Mileage

89,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE NEON. THE HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS REMAINED DIM. OIL WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEN LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND, CAUSING THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GRAYISH-COLORED SMOKE EXITING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,301.

NHTSA ID

10214211

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

97,000 mi

HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AFTER 45,000 MILES.. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2002.. BBRAKES ARE HORRIBLE.. BRAKES MAKE NOISE, SYSTEM OPERATING NORMAL FAN RELAY SWITCH .. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.. AND WAS ALSO RECALLED.. IN ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO.. AND NEVER NOTIFIED.. FRONT END ALWAYS CLANKING.. WHEN U TURN..

NHTSA ID

10129445

Incident

May 2, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

OIL LEAKAGE, HEAD GASKET REPLACED 2X IN 1997, AGAIN HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, CAM AND TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE ALSO. CAR HAS ALWAYS LEAKED A BIT OF OIL DAILY; HOWEVER, OIL CHANGES EVERY 2000 MILES COUPLED WITH WEEKLY LEVEL CHECKS MAINTAINED ABILITY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. AS OF 2/05, OIL LEAKING PROFUSELY VIA PASSENGER PORTION OF ENGINE GASKET. MECHANIC CONFIRMS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE NEONS AS A WHOLE. I HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT REPAIR HEAD GASKET AT MY EXPENSE AT THIS TIME. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN OCT. 1996, AS A NEW YEAR NEON FOR 1997. I MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE METICIOUSLY, AND BOTH THE BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (BODY HAS NO RUST). CAR HAS 88,000 MILES CURRENTLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN DODGE'S LACK OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY IN PRODUCING A QUALITY CAR. I BOUGHT THIS NEW AND HAD HOPE TO TRANSFER IT TO MY DAUGHTER WHO WILL BE LEAVING FOR COLLEGE SOON. REPLACING A HEADGASKET TWICE SHOULD ASSURE ME, THE BUYER, THAT I CAN MAINTAIN MY CAR WITHOUT SUDDENLY FINDING OUT THIS WAS A DAMAGED VEHICLE FROM THE GET GO, AND NOW I HAVE TO FIND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WHILE I SET TIME ASIDE TO QUICKLY FIND ANOTHER CAR. SHAME ON DODGE!*AK

NHTSA ID

10112556

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

88,000 mi

ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED IN 1999. NOW THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AGAIN AND MECHANICS HAVE SAID THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102559

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

MY FIANCEE BOUGHT A 97 DODGE NEON FROM A FRIEND AT 35,000 MILES. NOW AT 70,XXX THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LEAK OIL, I WAS PUTTING IN 3 QUARTS A WEEK, THE CAR RUNS VERY ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ANDI CANT AFFORD TO TOW IT TO A SHOP TO FIND THE PROBLEM (MAYBE CAUSE IVE SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON OIL DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING?) I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF REPAIRING MY SELF JUST TAKEING A BREAK FROM THE CHAOS AND MY BACK HURTS. MANY NEON HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURERS REDESIGNED A NEW HEAD GASKET, IS THIS THIER WAY OF SAYING " HEY WE AT DODGE MESSED UP BAD AND NOW YOU AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE CAN PAY $600.00 -$1,000 TO GET IT FIXED" ANOTHER BULLITIN FROM CAR QUEST SAY THE OIL LEAKS DUE TO THE CAM SENSOR COVER ILE FIND OUT SHORTLY I ASSUME AND IF THATS THE CASE WHY ARENT ANY OF THESE OTHER MECHANICS CATCHING THAT OR DO THE KNOW AND JUST SAY IT IS THE HEAD GASKET FOR MORE MONEY FROM YOU? AND I GUESS THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE MY PARENTS NICE NEW DRIVE HAS DODGE DIRTY OIL STAINS ALL OVER IT, THANKS DODGE !! -- @$#HOLES!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10102165

Incident

Nov 11, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

TOOK VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR SHOP AFTER NOTICING AN OIL LEAK. THEY TOLD ME AT FIRST IT WAS NORMAL LEAKING FROM ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THEN THANKSGIVING DAY 2001, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (75 MPH) THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. OIL WENT EVERY WHERE. I HAD OIL EVEN IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. TOOK TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, HE TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE WITH NEON'S. FINAL PRICE TO FIX PROBLEM 987.36, HEAD GASKET REPLACED COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED OUT, ETC. NOW I NEED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE OF IT. SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. MY FRIEND HAD A 1998 DODGE NEON THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED IN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED FOR FREE. OBVIOUSLY FOR CONSUMER SATISFACTION IT WOULD BE IN CHRYSLERS BEST INTEREST TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AT THE VERY LEAST, THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED A LESS THAN SATISFACTORY ENGINE COMPONENT IN THE 1997 NEON. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT SOME OF THE MONEY, IF NOT ALL, IS REFUNDED BACK TO US. OTHERWISE I AM SATISFIED WITH MY NEON. IT IS OUT OF COMMISSION RIGHT NOW DUE TO NEEDING A WATER PUMP. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DECEMBER 20TH, 1996 AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095692

Incident

Nov 27, 2001

Mileage

32,468 mi

THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET FAILED ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAD 44000 MILES ON IT. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10095267

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

THE CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL X 2 MONTHS. KEPT OVERHEATING AFTER 20 MINUTES OF RUNNING. ALLE THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED OUT. HAD RADIATOR FIXED. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, TOLD IT WAS FAN RELAY. HAD THAT REPLACED. NOW TOLD THAT IT WAS THE GASKET. THAT IT HAD A LEAK AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SOME THING ABOUT THE ALUMINUM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086871

Incident

Jul 22, 2004

VEHICLE'S BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A BAD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, THREE TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, STICKING THROTTLE BODY, AN OIL PAN LEAK, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAD AN AIR LEAK WHICH WHISTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10079946

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HEAD GASKET AND FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT VEHICLE OVER EATED. DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS, AND 2 1/2 YEARS LATER ,THE SAME PARTS FAILED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075856

Incident

May 21, 2004

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE CONSUMER SAW OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON JUNE 3RD 2002, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT. THE MAIN GEAR HAD A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOOSE TEETH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE HEADS OF THE ENGINE WERE WARPED. THE DEALERS IN BOTH CASE ONLY CHANGED THE GASKET AND NOT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE HEAD WAS WARPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD IN THE MORNING, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS, THEN CLUNKS IN HARD AND IF DRIVING WHEN STILL COLD, IT SEEMED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. (AND SHIFTS HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND OVER REVS IN 2ND PRIOR TO SHIFTING) *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10065182

Incident

Apr 29, 2003

Mileage

44,438 mi

1997 DODGE NEON, COLOR LAPUIS BLUE, I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY OWNER. NOT ONLY HAVE I HAD A SERIES OF ENGINE REPAIRS BETWEEN 40,000 TO 80,000 MILES, THE SAME AS I'VE READ ON DOZEN'S OF OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I NOW HAVE THE PEELING LAPUIS BLUE PAINT WHICH STARTED SLOWLY PEELING A YEAR AGO. THE PAINT NOW BLOWS OFF THE CAR AS I DRIVE. THIS CAR HAS COST THE CONSUMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ALL THE DEFECTS IN THIS CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10066405

Incident

Apr 17, 2004

TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, MAIN GEAR CRACKED, AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON RECALLS AND WHAT JUSTIFIES THEM. *PH THE MAIN GEAR EXPERIENCED A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOST RELATING COMPONENTS. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HEAD GASKET. *SC

NHTSA ID

10065298

Mileage

38,000 mi

ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062009

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

Mileage

34,000 mi

FOR THE SECOND TIME THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE AND I FEEL IT'S TOO MUCH TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY DODGE DOESN'T ASSIST WITH FIXING IT RIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056509

Incident

Jan 28, 2004

THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 2 YEARS LATER. THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10057294

Mileage

80,000 mi

I OWN A 1997 DODGE NEON - A MODEL (AND APPARENTLY, THE DODGE BRAND ITSELF) THAT HAS A REPUTATION FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKETS AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES BECAUSE OF A POOR COMPOSITE MATERIAL THE GASKETS WERE MADE OUT OF. *AK JUST TODAY, I FOUND THE TELL-TALE SIGN OF FLUID MIXTURE (OIL IN MY COOLANT LINES) THAT INDICATES A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT BASED ON MY CAR'S YEAR AND THE MILEAGE (APPROX 54800), THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I'VE SCOURED THE INTERNET AND FOUND COUNTLESS TALES OF "SECRET WARRANTIES" AND "CUSTOMER GOODWILL MONEY." STORIES ABOUT CHRYSLER PAYING FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF A REPLACEMENT, $100 DEDUCTABLES, 50/50 SPLIT POLICIES, AND OF COURSE, DOWN-RIGHT REFUSALS AND DENIALS OF THE PROBLEM ITSELF, WHICH CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED IN A SERVICE BULLITEN, LOCATED HERE: HTTP://WWW.NEONS.ORG/NEONTSB/TSB/09/090598.HTM THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT CONTINUE TO DENY CUSTOMERS THE APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS THEIR FAULT. I'M GOING TO CALL MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERS TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANY DIFFERENT ANSWERS FROM THEM, BUT I DOUBT IT. MY COMPLAINT STANDS!

NHTSA ID

10054529

Incident

Jan 20, 2004

Mileage

54,800 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10071271

Incident

May 15, 2003

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING. IT IS SO COSTLY TO REPAIR EVERYTIME. I NEVER CONTACTED THE DODGE COMPANY SINCE I THOUGH THAT I GTO A BAD CAR.

NHTSA ID

10071052

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

43,000 mi

I OWN A 1997 DODGE NEON. PURCHASED JUNE 1997. THIS CAR TOO DATE HAS APPROXIMATELY 27,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. STARTING IN AUGUST 1999 I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED ON 3 OCCASIONS.I HAD TO HAVE THE SAME REPAIR JOB DONE AGAIN IN JULY 2001 WHEN I HAD ONLY PUT ANOTHER 7,108 ON THE CAR. MAY 2003 I HAD FOR THE 3RD TIME THE SAME REPAIR JOBE DONE WHEN MY CAR REACHED 26152 (7,166 MILES ADDED AFTER 2ND REPAIR JOB). TOO DATE THE MANUFACTURE HAS PAID THE REPAIR BILLS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A $100 DEDUCTIBLE I HAD TO PAY THE LAST TIME THEY REAPIRED IT. I PROTESTED HAVING TO PAY THE $100 BECAUSE I FELT THE MANUFACTUR SHOULD HAVE PAID THE COMPLETE BILL. THEY REFUSED TO REFUND MY MONEY. THIS CAR HAS ON ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. MY FEAR IS THE MANUFACTURE WILL REFUSE TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY LEGAL RIGHTS ARE BECAUSE I FEEL I HAVE A LEMON.IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM COMES UP AS SOON AS I PUT 7,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD ONLY PUT 14,000 MILES FROM THE FIRST TIME THIS REPAIR JOB TOOK LACE TO THE 3RD REPAIR JOB. I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO CHRYSLER ABOUT THE SECRET WARRANTY I FOUND ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED BY A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP.THAT THE SECRET WARRANTIES ARE ILLEGAL AND THEY DO NOT HONOR THEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THIS IS A WELL KNOW ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEON'S AND CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF IT. I WOUL APPRECIATE IF I CAN RECEIVE ANY ADVICE REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT MY CAR FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW CONSIDERING THE AGE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10070750

Incident

Aug 15, 1999

Mileage

11,878 mi