1997 Dodge Neon Transmission Problems

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

I JUST BOUGHT THIS 97 DODGE NEON WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THE A/C HAS A LEAK IN THE COIL , THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING . THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT THOSE FEW THINGS SO FAR . THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE CAR BEFORE ME WAS AN OLDER GENTLEMAN WHO DOES NOT WRECK HIS THINGS. I WAS WONDERING ARE THESE PROBLEMS, FACTORY PROBLEMS AND/OR RECALLS? *LA

NHTSA ID

10043303

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

Mileage

23,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8014585

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

NHTSA ID

8005218

Incident

Apr 20, 2000

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

754459

Incident

Jul 28, 1997

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 $3500.00 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

NHTSA ID

754438

Incident

Nov 6, 2001

CONSUMER TOOK VHEICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A BAD OIL LEAK. MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER 36 DIFFERENT CRACKS IN HEAD OF MOTOR.ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SHATTERED, VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS FULL OF PIECES OF METAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER REPLACED HEAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

895996

Incident

Jul 7, 2001

AUTO TRANSMISSION 3 SPEED I HAVING A PROBLEM THEY IS ALWAYS A BIG GERK WHEN TAKING THE CAR O UT OF GEAR OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THEY STS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT I HAVE HAD IT THERE 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. *AK

NHTSA ID

751142

TRANSMISSION MOUNT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

887407

Incident

Aug 1, 1997

ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL/DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT AND COME BACK ON AT RANDOM INTERVALS/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON/ DOOR AJAR ALARM WILL COME WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION, AND TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN GEARS AND ENGAGE FORCEFULLY. . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885526

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET, BUT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER TOLD CONSUMER HEAD GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED. ALSO, DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION PAN AND FLYWHEEL. VEHICLE NOT IN CONDITION TO BE DRIVEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

879086

Incident

Dec 18, 2000

TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH AND HEADGASKET LEAKING, TOOK TO DEALER. *AK TRANSMISSION IS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

874754

Incident

Aug 25, 2000

WELL LETS SEE THE FIRST DEFECT WAS A FAN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES BEFORE A WIRING DEFECT WAS FOUND NEXT WE HAVE "HARD BRAKES" WHICH CONTRIBUITED TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED 7000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 1 MINOR INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WE FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WHICH CHRYSLER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO RETURN 1/2 OF MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ALONG WITH WIRING DEFECTS AND AIR BAGS THAT DON'T COME OUT OTHER THAN THE FACT I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN EVERY OTHER CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED THEY MADE UP FOR THIS LEMON BY HAVING A BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOO.

NHTSA ID

735533

Incident

May 15, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 75,000 MILES. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID

870289

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE, AS WELL AS THREE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCHES BECAUSE THE BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THERE IS ALSO A CLNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END AND SAFETY TSB'S ON IT AND THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO CORRECT IT WHEN UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER, DODGE'S PHILOSOPHY IS WAIT TILL THE BUMPER TO BUMPER IS DONE TO HAVE THE PERSON PAY EITHER WITH THE DEDUCTABLE ON THE SERVICE CONTRACT OR OUT OF POCKET. LEGISLATION SHOULD BE PASSED TO HAVE A 3-36 WAR. ON ALL REPLACEMENT PARTS INSTALLED DURING A WAR. PERIOD INCASE OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

719022

AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK, REMOVING KEY FROM THE IGNITION, AND WHEN EXITING VEHICLE, GEAR SHIFT MOVED OUT OF POSITION, CAUSING UNWANTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING FORWARD. THIS CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

854749

Incident

Oct 31, 1999

THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH THIS CAR WAS THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR IT (THE $1000 WAS MY ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT COST TO REPLACE THE GASKET). THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY AND COIL PACK QUIT WORKING, BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I PAID $600 OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX THEM. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE WHEN ITS COLD. THE FOURTH MOST CURRENT PROBLEM IS THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY THE PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS PROBABLY SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE VACUUM SYSTEM. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS PER INFORMATION I OBTAINED FROM A WEB SITE CALLED LEMON- AID. ****** I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN!!! I'M SPREADING THE WORD. I COME INTO CONTACT WITH MANY PEOPLE EVERDAY. SO SORRY DODGE!!!******

NHTSA ID

715511

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

ALVIN DODGE STATES THAT I HAVE "HARD LIP SEALS" - SHOULD BE SOFT AND PLIABLE. INTERNAL CLUTCH FAILURE. OTHER PARTS SHOT. DODGE IS ONLY PAYING FOR PARTS.

NHTSA ID

711658

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

HELP ! IT WAS JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO I PURCHASE A 1997 NEON. I WAS SO HAPPY, I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A FAIRLY DECENT CAR. IT WAS 1998 AND I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A 1997. WITH A/C EVEN. HA. HA. HA. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW THREE WEEKS LATER I WOULD BE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS WAITING ON A PART THEY HAD TO ORDER. BOY DID THAT PUT A SOUR TASTE IN MY MOUTH. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND WANTED TO GIVE THE CAR BACK. I NO LONGER WANTED THE CAR. I KNEW THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. WELL YOU KNOW THEY SAID NO. GOOD THING I HAD THE 1595.00 EXTEDED SERV. CONTRACT I GOT THE PROBLEM FIX FREE . WELL NOT REALLY FREE IT COST ME 1595.00 FOR THE WARRANTY AND FIFTY DOLLARS EVERYTIME YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR CAR IN THE SHOP. I ONLY HAD 30.000.00 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDED IT A TRANSMISSION? HMMMM. IN DECEMBER WE HAD A RECALL ON THE CAR. IN JAN.1999 I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL FAILURE. IN FEB.1999 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. ALSO IN FEB. I TURN ON MY AIR CONDITING TO FIND OUT IT DOESN'T WORK. IT WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. I CALL CHRYSLER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. IT WAS GOING TO COST ME THE $50. WHICH I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR, BEING I JUST PURCHASE THE CAR IN NOV.1998. IN MAR. 12TH I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE INSPECTION BECUASE I WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR, THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT, WHICH THEY SAID HAD RUINED THE FRONT ROTORS. AND THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ROTORS AND D PADS. THEY SAID THE VEH. WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN CURRENT CONDITION. WELL THEY WANTED TO CHG. ME OVER $300.00 AND I JUST DIDN'T TRUST THEM ANY MORE SO MY DAD DID THE JOB FOR $100.00. M Y EXTENDED SERV. CONTRACT DID NOT COVER THE BRAKES. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LEMON FOR A CAR. I DON'T THINK THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE THERE IS ALL WAY SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. AND IT IS PUTTING A HOLE IN MY POCKET. SO MUCH FOR A NEWER CAR SO YOU CAN HAVE FEW

NHTSA ID

706564

Incident

Mar 25, 1999

HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE, VERY UNHAPPY. *AK

NHTSA ID

704825

Incident

Jul 15, 1997

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CHILD'S FOOT HIT THE GEAR SHIFT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET A BAG OUT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HITTING VARIOUS THINGS. DEALER CONTACTED AND INSPECTED VEHICLE. STATED OWNER'S MANUAL PARKING BRAKE SHOULD BE ON, AND KEYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED. CONSUMER SAID EVERYTHING WAS DONE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ID

832011

Incident

Nov 11, 1998

VEHICLE HESITATES, PRIMARILY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. MORE FREQUENT IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

780464

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY SPEED AND WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION BECOMES NOISY. *AK

NHTSA ID

824210

Incident

Jun 11, 1998

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BUCKS VIOLENTLY WHEN IN SECOND GEAR, UNABLE TO RECTIFY FAILURE AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS.

NHTSA ID

514959