Dodge Neon 1997

• Recall 85697 [USA]: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
  Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
  dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.In order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by dope, inc.The list can be found under "document search" located at the bottom of your screen. Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 50848 [USA]: Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
  Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
  aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
  this recall only pertains to aai motorsports aftermarket lamps and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the listed passenger vehicles.For more information on the lamp model numbers, click on document search and view document titled "lamp model numbers."customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

• Recall 51164 [USA]: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
  Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
  ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by the vehicle manufacturers.For more information on the lamp model numbers, click on document search and view document titled "lamp model numbers."customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

• Recall 13901 [USA]: Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
  The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.
  dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.
  owner notification began during july 1997. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

• Recall 1998053 [Canada]: Electrical
  These vehicles do not comply with c.M.V.S.S. 1103 - exhaust emissions. The solid state fan relay could fail because of heat related electrical over stress causing the fan(s) to stop and the vehicle to overheat. Both emissions and driveability may be impacted if the vehicle overheats. Correction: the solid state relay will be replaced and a diode jumper wire will be installed in the fan wiring circuit.

• Recall 1997102 [Canada]: Seats and restraints
  The circuit design in the air bag electronic control module may allow the potential for inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down. Correction: the air bag electronic control module will be replaced with a module that incorporates the latest production redesigned circuit to prevent this condition.

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Safety belt cinching latch plate investigation as of 20021106

  There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.While conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100k).The information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.Further allocation of agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
  

  Show Content

Common OBD Error codes specific to this vehicle.

• P0442 [1] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak)
• P0455 [1] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak)
• P0456 [1] Evaporative Emissions System Small Leak Detected
• P1494 [1] EGRCHK Solenoid Circuit Malfunction
• P1491 [1] Open Power To Ground VCRM
• P1856 [1] P1856

I am having a lot of problems with my 1997 dodge neon. The steering wheel has nothing but clicks. I am having so much problems turning on my signal lights. The problem has gotten worse. I am hoping that this is a recall so i won't have to pay so much money out of pocket. *tr

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

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

Passenger side air bag randomly deployed, while going 4 miles per hour, there was no impact to initiate the deployment of airbag. The deployment busted out the passenger side airbag with such force that it blew glass to the complete other side of the vehicle. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge neon. While placing fuel into the vehicle, the filler tube fell to the ground and caused gasoline to leak onto the ground. The dealer stated that there was no recall and the vehicle was taken to a repair shop. The mechanic stated that the filler tube had rusted out. The mechanic replaced the filler tube and the vehicle has been performing normally. The failure mileage was 120,000 and current mileage is 130,000. Updated 10/06/09 *bf updated 10/08/09

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

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.

Tl*- the contact was exiting the parking complex while driving the 1997 dodge neon at 5 mph, when the airbags deployed without warning. This caused the windows on both doors to shatter, and the dashboard and air conditioner vents to come off. The vehicle did not strike or hit anything to cause the airbags to deploy. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause. The vehicle currently has 108000 miles. *ak

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

My first complaint would be about the paint. My car has been peeling for the past 2 years now, it bubbles then peels and gets bigger and bigger every day. It is now peeling in 6 spots, the largest is the size of a watermelon. Very unhappy!!!! Second, the brakes are horrible, the squealing of metal on metal has been occurring since day 1 of getting my car. I was recently driving on a major highway and my steering wheel began shaking like crazy. I pulled over and everything seemed fine. I continued to drive but could not accelerate faster than 60km/hr. I tried driving my car to the mechanics but in the end did not get very far. I pulled over once again and noticed smoke coming from my drivers side front wheel. I also noticed the wheel well caught on fire due to the friction. My car was then towed and my mechanic diagnosed the problem as a ceased caliper. Beware, this was scary. My whole front end brake system had to be replaced. Too add, i find it's hard to see at night due to a defective plastic that covers the head lights. They are foggy and don't give out enough light. Lastly, i find that the sealants on the windows of my two door are horrible. I have to push on my window when closing it in order for the window to seal. This is a big problem, my car was stolen because of this problem. A recall should definitely be considered for the paint, breaks and headlight covers and windows/seals!!! *jb

Contact states: while driving approximately 35 mph the consumer swerved to avoid hitting another car, however his door was scratched, then the vehicle stalled and the air bags deployed. The consumer suffered a minor injury to his wrist due to the deployment of the air bag. *ak *jb

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..

1997 dodge neon developed a problem with the fan relay.***no answer required***. *mr there was an apparent problem with the radiator fan circuit. The vehicle had displayed diagnostic code P1491. The consumer replaced the engine temperature sensor and the solid state fan relay. There was no continuity on pin 18 of the back of the power control module connector. The pcm was defective due to the output on the pin. The consumer found a break in the wire at the c160 connector. The break was caused by the wire management clip chafing against the group of wires. The pcm connector number one and it's cover are now broken at the connection points and the cover will not stay on and the wires were coming out and are exposed to the elements. *sc

March 1, 2005, stopped on a hilled highway intersection of frankford avenue and solly ave, philadelphia, pa 19136. Light was red turning to green. Driving 1997 dodge neon. Rearending by 99 ford tauarus impacted dodge neon throwing forward two door neon. Seat belt did not hold driver. *ak

While driving, the consumer's vehicle t-boned another vehicle at 23-25 mph. Upon impact the air bags did not deploy. *ak *sc *jb

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

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

The vehicle's head gasket failed although it only had 44000 miles on it. *nm *sc *jb

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

Problem with 1997 dodge neon.*mr *nm

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

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

While the vehicle was parked in the drive way, both front tires, deflated due to lost air pressure. The driver noticed a bubble located on the inner side of the tire. The driver called roadside assistance and they replaced both front tires. The driver drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that these tires was not under a recall. Cooper tires trend setter se P18565r14/#dot 7jczh3900d2r. Please fill in additional information. *jb

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

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

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!

I have a 1997 dodge neon. Within the last couple of months the paint has suddenly started to peel and buckle as if the primer no longer holds it. I have noticed the paint on other neons as i am driving are also peeling the same way. *la

1997 dodge neon - head gasket leaked - was replaced for a small fee once dealer was contacted. Now we have a problem with the paint on the truck and side peeling and bubbling off. What can we do? Can we contact the dealer to have the car repainted? I've noticed several complaints online regarding this problem with neons. *la

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

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.

I had bought 2 new dodge neons, 1997 & 1998. First 1998 neon had engine gasket problem, daimlerchrysler fixed it &i paid $100.00 as i had extended warranty. Now 1997 neon with lower mileage has same engine gasket problem. Two cars same problem. Requested daimler-chrysler to fix the problem as this is manufacturing problem daimlerchrysler is refusing to fix it. Please make daimlerchrysler fix this for all neon owners this is similar to the jeep car problem after you all got after them they are fixing the jeep problem for the jeep customers without any charge. The engine gasket problem is an inherent problem with neon cars. *la

Engine head gasket oil leak.*ak

Independent shop replaced twice the front brake pads/rotors, and the caliper pin. Also, engine head gasket was leaking oil. *ak

Steering knuckle sheered off of right front wheel with no collision or accident. Right front hub cab fell off as well. *la

When driving vehicle would not accelerate in reverse, it would only accelerate forward. Dealer had been notified. *ak

Consumer stated her brakes failed. There was a multi-car accident on the beltway. As she approached she saw the truck in front of her apply his brakes, she then applied her brakes. Her vehicle did not stop and the vehicle rear ended the truck in front of her. The air bags did not deploy, and she received some musculoskeletal injuries and was very sore. Her vehicle was totaled. Daimlerchrysler won't claim any responsibility for the defect on the vehicle. *ph *scc *jb

I purchased this vehicle 5-15-03 and noticed an oil leak the size of a 50 cent piece every time the vehicle was driven. When purchasing i asked if the head gasket problems had been taken care of on neon's, and was told it is not an issue anymore. I had an oil change today 7-18-03 and was told that i needed a new head gasket and it was an often done repair at a cost of $700.00! After researching on the internet and finding hundreds of complaints about head gasket failure on this particular model, i am more than slightly displeased that dodge, knowing of the problem, and even having a service bulletin out regarding this very problem is interested in taking care of it's owners, i will not be buy a dodge, chrysler, or plymouth ever again! *jb

Consumer states that the speedometer does not work correctly. Dealer notified.*ak

Plastic headlight lens became foggy after 3 years of service. Included cracking and glazing. Result was reduced light intensity available for night driving. Headlamp assemblies required replacement to regain ability to operate safely at night. *nlm

Head gasket failure

Dashboard lights and gauges started to act funny and then it started to smoke. I got out of the car and it caught on fire and is a total lost. *jb

This is the 4th time the paint is peeling from my lapuis blue neon. Why won't they repaint the entire car?*ak

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

First of all, my car has been leaking oil for quite a few months now ...I just kept putting a quart in every now and then. Well, when i went to get the car inspected at pep boys, they said that my head gasket was leaking. They recommended me getting an estimate and the work done at an authorized dodge dealer. I want to find out more information from your organization or from dodge on the head gasket problems that dodge neons have. I didn't know this until very recently. I have no repair date or cost yet. I was hoping to get information before i get an appointment/fixed. Can't this be a recall? If so many people have this problem with their neons why doesn't dodge fix them? I am paying a car loan on this and it needs fixed already...And it is a major fix.

The consumer has replaced 3 head gaskets since the vehicle was purchased. The last blown gasket caused irreparable damage to the engine. *nlm

Purchased car in october or 1996. Replaced head gasket in 1998 due to oil leaking in spark plugs. Then again in 2001. Now 2003 and oil in spark plugs again.*jb

The vehicle overheated without warning.*jb

The vehicle was towed and the mechanic stated the head gasket had blown, and the radiator fan relay switch needed replacing. Please provide any further information. Ph

My daughter just turned 16 and bought a used 1997 dodge neon with 60,000 miles. The dealer told her of what had been done and replaced. One of his selling points was a new head gasket had been installed. Well it's been just over the 3 month, 3000 miles and the head gasket blew, spilling oil all over the highway. I went to the web, and to my horror this has happened to alot of people. The roads are being made hazardous with slippery oil and people are getting ripped off by a badly designed engine. Chrysler should recall them. I know you are well aware of the problem and hope your agency can make chrysler recall this accident waiting to happen. *jb

While driving average speed 40 mph, the head gasket ruptured, with a major leak. The owner was informed this by a mechanic. Please provide details. Ts

Consumer states head gasket is leaking oil into the cooling system, damaging the engine. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts

Consumer states that when brakes where applyed the pedal went to the floor, and the brakes did not hold. Driver had to pull on the emergency brakes to stop vehicle. *mr

Engine is leaking oil, and vehicle is running hot. Dealership is aware of problem.*ak

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

The spark plugs that are in the car was done illegally. And i have tried to contact the dealership numerous times and not have had a respond. I have been leaving messages for 1 wk. Dt

Problem: water leaking into the trunk through the taillight filled the spare tire well and soaked into the back seat. We now have a musty smell indicating a mold problem, probably from the seat. We have used professional cleaning supplies to try eliminate the smell. The cleaning did help but the smell is still there. Since my wife and daughter have asthma, and are alergic to mold, i will most likely have to replace the back seat. Cost unknown. I started searching the web for similar problems with neons last night after a neighbor, who also owns a neon and knew aboout our problem, came to talk to me because the same thing just happened to theirs. Problem showed up last summer (2002)at approximately 50,000 miles.

Brakes squel and make noise, car won't stop above 50 mph in safe distance. *jb

Consumer states while driving and with no warning the brakes locked up causing a collision. Cause unknown dealer notified.*jb

Speed control speedometer doesn't work most of the time. Replace the sencsor but still doesn't work. I will never buy a dodge again. I've also had to replace the brakes and rotor,catalytic converter. Now i'm having trouble with the paint. It's bubling and peeling off in layers all over car.*ak

After frontal impact, air bag took 2 minutes after the impact to deploy. Liquid in air bag caused drivers shirt to catch on fire, and burned her arms.*ak. Consumer stated he hit a utility pole.*jb

Engine has been replaced twice within past three weeks. There is oil leaking, and when getting oil changed, dealer recommend that engine be replaced.*ak

Consumer often finds water on floorboard whether it rains or not, and does not know where it is coming from. Dealer has a brand new automobile on the lot and it does the samething. Cannot find the cause.*ak

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. *tt

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Mine is the same complaint as the other 200 that i have read. Its a recurring problem in all 97 neons. Mr

Recall 97v080000/air bag: while driving, the bell alarm went off and then the air bag light senor came on and went off, dealer informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under recall due to vin.*ak. Consumer stated the dealer replaced the module.*jb

The vehicle overheated and made a loud noise when in reverse, also the engine light illuminated, the engine was replaced, however it continued to overheat and the engine light reappeared, the dealer then informed consumer a radiator and thermostat was needed, however the problem was still not resolved.*jb

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

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.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Power steering unit makes noise when starting or when making turns. Vehicle at dealer shop. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.*ak

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. *ak

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

Vehicle is sitting idle for about 15 minutes and temperature gauge goes to hot. Vehicle overheats. Once vehicle is moving gauge goes back down. Dealer has been contacted. *ak *tt

Engine check light came on, and engine was running rough. Dealer determined egr valve had failed, and had to be replaced.*ak

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

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

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Vehicle just shut off while stopping at a stop sign, and would not restart. Also, battery light and seat belt light came on.Consumer had vehicle towed to dealer.*ak

Replaced 3 head gaskets in 1997 dodge neon. Fewer than 33,000 miles at replacement of third head gasket. *la

Driving at 35 mph, a pickup truck pulled out in front of and i crashed into the drivers side door. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy, the seat belt did not restrain me from slamming forward, and the seat lock did not engage. The chrysler investigator claims that all three restraint systems worked properly yet the dealer replaced both the seat belts and the seat locks.*ak

I can not believe there hasn't been any recalls on this car for the engine, with the number of complaints you have listed. When i got this car it started with cylinder # 1 misfiring, then the r & r compressor was faulty, power steering pump was loose, the fan relay switch blew and now after my last payment the head cracks and cylinder # 2 doesn't hold enough pressure. I haven't had a pleasant experiance with my dodge neon.*ak

Dealership refusing to pay damages for defective head gasket. *ak

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. *ak

I have gotten the head gasket replaced twice in a span of a year and a half.*ak

Clip that goes into the buckle of seat belt has a plastic catch that locks. Plastic clip that locks seat belt around person when disconnected plastic clip pops off.*ak

While in reverse, barely coasting with no bump in road, both airbags deployed. No injuries.*ak

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

Oil was leaking from vehicle, consumer had to constantly put oil into vehicle.*ak vehicle was taken to dealer, and consumer was informed that head gasket was defective.*slc

Trunk is soaked with water every time it rains, causing all carpeting to be mildewed and moldy, jack and spare tire rim to rust.*ak

Both rear retractors will not lock properly when brakes are applied in an emergency situation. Dealer was notified, and unwilling to assist because vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer's recall. *ak consumer needs seat belts that lock due to needing child safety seat belted in securely. *slc

Head gasket needs to be replaced. Dealership examined vehicle and found that radiator fan relay switch circuit shorted out which could have allowed engine to overheat, and crack head gasket. Please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak

Vehicle had been using a lot of oil, had vehicle inspected, and was told by mechanic that head gasket was blown. Vehicle not repaired yet.*ak

Numerous complaints of head gasket failure on this model car. Please consider a recall. *ak

Trunk leaks, causing back seat floor to flood. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further details.*ak

Head gaskets are leaking coolant onto engine. Dealer has been notified. *ak chrysler offered to pay half of the repairs. *slc

Vehicle was leaking oil.Contacted dealer, problem due to head gasket going out.*ak

Vehicle would overheat if it was sitting at stop light. Dealer replaced jumper wiring and radiator fan relay.Also, manufacturer had a technical service bulletin. Consumer will add additional information relating to tsb. *ak

While making a dead stop was rear ended by another vehicle, and at same time consumer rear ended vehicle in front. Upon impact, none of air bags deployed.*ak

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. *slc

Engine head gasket started leaking at 60200 miles, vehicle has not been repaired yet.*ak

I bought this neon in august of 1998, it has been nothing but problems since purchase. I have had to have the electrical system worked on twice. When you go over 60mph the steering wheel rattles. The speakers for the radio work sometimes. The overhead light comes on while driving. When it rains the front floor boards get soaked with water. Last month the i needed to replace the headgasket, and after several calls the the manufacturer they paid half, but the next day the engine started to knock severly.

I contacted chrysler daimler 800-992-1997, i was told that there is no repair assistance or recall. Although the service bulletin shows an upgrade and a change in the head gasket and additional installation requirements to be made. This became known in 1998, 1 year after my vehicle was built. This seems likely to be a defect and quality issue.*ak

Consumer noticed that there was some oil leaking. Consumer took vehicle in to a mechanic, and mechanic told him that head gasket was defective.*ak

Engine leaking oil/water mixture out through coolant bottle, average about 1 quart per engine run or 100 miles whichever is first.*ak

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 $600.00 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

Consumer can see oil dripplets on engine and on frame , and small puddles of oil on ground under vehicle. *ak

Upon impact the driver's side air bag deployed, upon inspection of the air bag there were noticeable holes in the air bag. Nlm

The head gasket went out of my '97 neon only 45 days after the extended warranty expired. I called the 800 # on the warranty card and they pretty much hung up the phone on me saying there was nothing they could do about it. I have done some investigating and it seems this is a very common error with this car, even the dealer told me it was a problem. It cost me $678.00 to repair a dealer design fault.*ak

I have driven this car for three years and it blows a head gasket at 60k costing a $1000 to repair. There are many others who have posted complaints on the web but not here. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Engine gasket has crack in rear,causing an oil leak in compartment. Dealer has been contacted. *ak original gasket was a fiber gasket and was a failure. The new neon's gasket contain a metal and fiber gasket. *yh

While driving approximately 35 mph and without any contact to vehicle both driver's side and front passenger's side airbags deployed. Deployment caused both driver's side and passenger's side windows to shatter. *ak

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

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

Shortly after buying this car it started to show oil on the floor, most cars leak a little thought little of it. January 15 i seen a large wet spot on floor and investigated it to find it was the left rear corner of the head. Talked to chrysler about this and was informed that it was very common. I reminded them that there was only 32000 miles on the car. Was informed i was out of warranty and they would go to 50% on the total bill. I've seen where there are a lot longer warranties that are kept secret from us, if this is so can you get me to the place that i have to be to find this info so that i might get this rectified? If no recall is going to ever happen on an item that has been known to be defective for a long time what are we to do?*ak

Oil is leaking because of a defective head gasket. *ak

Dealer notified and working to resolve $ expense with me and warranty dept. Head gasket failed and noticed numerous complaints in this area. Why hasn't a recall been made? Was this just a poorly designed engine?*ak

Head gasket is leaking oil from right hand rear corner of cylinder head. Viewing engine from flywheel end. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

After only 32,000 miles, head gasket blew causing oil leakage. This is an ongoing problem with the 97 dodge neon. It must be recalled.*ak

Driver's side head gasket broke. It was leaking oil all over. Dealer would not assist in helping with payment because chrsyler would not reimburse them. Dealer said it was a faulty design of head gasket. *ak head gasket was replaced at the consumer's expense. *yh

Noticed oil leak, took to mechanic, was told head gasket was gone. I have only 37,000 miles on this car and it has been routinely maintained. I am waiting for the dealership to look at it and decide when they will pay for it to be fixed. They are looking at these cases on a one on one basis, which should show that these cars need to be recalled or paid to be fixed by the dealer or chrsyler. *ak

Noticed oil leaking. Took to dealer and was told that head gasket blewout. *ak *slc

Head gasket failure. There should be a recall contacted chrysler and they said no!

Oil leakges after taking vehicle to dealer for an oil change, vehicle was returned to dealer for leakages, and dealer informed consumer that problem was due to a head gasket failure. *ak

Cylinder head needed to be replaced. Leaking oil. Replacement part was twice as thick as original part. *ak

Consumer noticed a puddle of oil forming in driveway. Dealer has repaired once, but engine is leaking again. *ak *slc

Consumer has to constantly fill up oil. When parking and moving one can see oil on ground. *ak

This is a known problem that daimler chrysler is well aware of. They should recall this and many other neons instead of making me pay for the repair myself. If one logs onto the internet it becomes painfully apparent with a quick search that thousands of people have the same experience as me.

I heard alot of head gasgets on 95-99 neon have failed and chysler has paid to repair them even when they are out of warenty. When i called them they acted like they never heard of the problem before i talked to the dealer and they just blew me of to . My bill was $900.00. I can't belive there was not a recall when so many head gasgets have failed.

Firestone tire peeled off when driving

Spare tire cavity was full of water. This caused the spare to be rusted as well as the floor under the tire and the jack. I have never had to use the spare so i dont know how long the water has been there. From the amount that was in there, i would say it has collected every rain drop since i have had the car. This caused me to have my car towed instead of being able to use the spare. This could have been very bad if i had been in a rural area or if i had no car phone. If there's anything you can do, please let me know. A rear taillight was replaced under warranty when i first got the car due to water intrusion. Maybe this is what caused the problem.

Consumer took vehicle to dealership. Vehicle was leaking oil from underneath/ also, there was oil inside spark plugs. *ak

Transmission is sluggish and headgasket leaking, took to dealer. *ak transmission is now completely failed. *yh

No summary

Six miles over my warranty my alternator went out. The dealership refused to fix it. My headgasket with less than 60,000.*ak

On sunday july 23, 2000, i was on my way home from a restaurant with my family, i came up to an intersection and stopped. After aproximately 10 seconds at the stop light, i noticed the air conditioner began blowing hot air. I immediately glanced at the temperature guage in the car. It had risen to aproximately 3/4 of the way toward the red mark. I immediately turned the ac off and then turned the heat on as to not raise the heat anymore than what it already was. I was within a mile of my mechanics , so i drove over there and dropped off the car. On the next day, my mechanic called me to tell me that my head gasket had blown. He then told me that these cars were known for this particular problem. I then called smithfield dodge ( where i bought the car ) they gave me the service manager and he told me that they were having alot of problems with the head gaskets on the neons. He told me to call the complaints line at dodge/chrysler and that even though it was no longer under warranty that they would probably repair it for free as they were on the verge of a recall with these cars. My wife called and left a message with the regional district manager who called me back and tried to strike up a bogus deal with me, offering to fix the car for 544.00 saying this was the best they were going to do. I had also heard from people over the internet who had also had this problem and they didn't have to pay for their repairs and, they too were also over the warranty. I also heard that this is not the same gasket, they have redesigned it to accomadate the problem. This alone should be recourse for a recall. I still owe two years on this car and i can't afford bills like this. I want a full reimbursement for the work i had done on the car. I have always maintained all my vehicles and kept them all in excellent running condition. This is a problem which is occuring constantly on these vehicles. Check the internet if you don't believe me. People are not happy with dodge. They're not !

Vehicle experienced overheating due to head gasket failure. Dealer/manufacturer notified. Feel free to provide any further details. *ak

Went to start vehicle in the mornings and it sound like something was clogging the engine. Looked underneath the vehicle and noticed puddle of oil. Contacted the dealer, who was aware of the problem.*ak

Oil from leaking head gasket and valve cover gasket leak directly onto exhaust system, specifically the catalytic converter causing fire under the hood. I have known and read of many,many others with this same problem. Oil leakage in excess of 3 qts. Per week. The smell of burning oil inside of the car is noxious. I have a 3 month old baby, a 5 year old, and my wife and we can hardly take a 30 minute trip without having to stop for fresh air. There is a definate possibility of the driver or passengers losing conciousness. Smoke has been visible inside the car before from the burning oil. *ak

Temperature gauge alarm went off, warning consumer that vehicle was running hot. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, and mechanic told consumer that head gasket had blown . *ak

Dash warning light came on, and then car overheated, consumer pulled over, and vehicle would not start again. Had to be towed.*ak

When consumer took vehicle to get oil changed was notified that head gasket was leaking .*ak

Consumer had found oil on driveway. Took vehicle to a repair shop for oil leakage, and they said cause of oil leakage was a blown head gasket. *ak

While driving in city vehicle started overheating. Stopped for a little while to let the vehicle cooldown. Started up again and it worked fine. Then, it happened again two days later. Contacted dealer , vehicle was not under warranty. Took it to a local mechanic. He looked at it, and said that there was an engine head gasket problem. *ak

Point of impact was driver's side front. Neither airbag deployed, front passenger seat belt did not lock. Neon was declared a total loss due to suspension and engine damage. *ak

Engine leaked oil from the bottom where there always was smell as if vehicle caught on fire.*ak

Consumer was traveling 20-25 mph and coming down hill another vehicle was coming out of driveway & didn't stop, consumer rearended vehicle in front, and airbags didn't deploy. No injuries. Dealer will be contacted. *ak

Head gasket blew. Oxygen sensor blew. Left rear brake pad fell off and jammed in the drum rendering the vehicle unmovable. Upon inspection, had to replace both drums, both discs, and new pads on front and back both sides. Window seals have failed on the passengers side front window. Water leaks in and air leaks at highway speeds, slows car down immensley and causes more fuel consumption. Driver's side window harshly scratched. Gets worse as time goes by, have seen other neon's with the same problem. Fuel filter went, causing the entire fuel injection system to have to be replaced.

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

Paint has bubbled, cracked and peeled off leaving the metal bare. Rusting has already started in several spots and it getting worse. Have been informed that paint peeling is a factory defect but chrysler is denying fault.No safety defect listed in the summary.

Every time it rains our trunk gets soaked and the water moves through the floor board carpet and soakes the floor from front to back. *ak

Head gasket and camshaft position sensor failed resulted in oil leakage. *mjs

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]. *ak 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).

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Oil light comes on all time,and there were puddles of oil on ground. Took vehicle to a dealer, and they said that engine gasket had an oil leak.*ak according to the investigation done by consumer, the cause of the problem lies on detective head gasket used by the manufacturer of the vehicle. *yh

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

Vehicle experiencing problem with oil leaking onto exhaust manifold. Dealer notified,and informed consumer that the problem was due to a blown engine head gasket. *ak

Vehicle experienced oil leakage. Vehicle taken to an independent repair shop. Consumer was informed of a blown head gasket. Dealer was not notified. Vehcile has also had electrical problems. *ak

Vehicle experienced a blown engine head gasket while traveling on highway at 60 mph which caused an oil leak. Dealer notified and repairs are being made at consumer's cost.

Noticed oil leaking from engine 1 mo. Ago. Premature head gasket failure in three year old vehicle. Air bags also failed to deploy when vehicle was involved in a rear-end collision. Dealer will be contacted, however chrysler should be responsible for repairs since these problems appear to be overwhelmingly common.*ak

Engine cylinder head gasket failed, causing major oil leak/head also badly pitted. *ak

That is only some of the problems i have had with my neon, the speedometer sensor went out at 14,000 miles, the paint has been peeling even after car completely repainted at my cost paint peeled again va beach dodge told me it is a defect in the metal and paint that the car would have to be treated with a chemical and repainted again for the third time, head gasket blew and head severly pitted my mechanic saw 5 in the week mine went out all leaking from the same area, engine looses power constantly, transmission slams into gears and sometimes does not want to change gears causing engine to race, car overheats periodicly since head gasket and head shaved, interior sensors for doors work randomly but mostly do not work, back up lights blow out every 2 months, cam sensor backs out of engine periodicly, front end makes clunking noise during turns was told strut bearings were bad and causing noise although after replacement noise continues, brakes always noisy cleaning and replacement does clear noise up, airleaks in windows of the car causing noisy ride, car does not like to start in cold weather, power loss was not able to be corrected even after mechanic had the car for 3 months and could find nothing causing it but could recreate the problem, and an o-ring on the fuel line connectors to the "fuel accumilator" blow out (happened 6 times so far) causeing gas to poor out on to road while vehicle is moving and engine to cut out.. Neons in general are lemons, chrysler even after contacting over several problems with the car refuse to help any with cost of repairs due to warranty expired. Would love to get rid of this car but can not due to only transportation and putting all money into it to fix it and repair chrysler's defects in design.*ak

The head gasket blew out in my car as i was driving in town. The oil light came on all of a sudden and i pulled over thinking that i was just low in oil. So i added three quarts and proceeded to drive. The next day it was already low again. This is when i decided that something was wrong. This is a defect in the head gasket and in no way my fault.

Several machanics have mentioned similar problems in/on dodge neons. No safety defect listed in the summary. *ak

Like so many others, the head gasket on my young neon has blown.I have also had problems with brakes squealing, power steering locking up in wet weather and the turn signal now only works when it feels like it. The radio had to be replaced the first year i owned the car - and it took the dealer nearly a month to get that done.

When appying the brake pedal to stop vehicle, brakes will not stop into a few feets away, and the pedal feels hard and high. *ak

Only had car for 2 1/2 years, shouldn,t be having thse problems. No safety defect listed in summary. *ak

This auto purchased used, unknown if any prior headgasket replacements. *ak

Vehicle was traveling 30-35 mph was involved in a head-on collision in which neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bags deployed. Consumer has contacted dealer. Please provide any further details. *ak

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

Violent deployment of passenger and driver side air bag resulted in windows exploding and cutting drivers face. Driver also sustained burns to arm from the airbag. Consumer was told that the air bags should not have deployed during a side impact crash. Nlm

Consumer had taken vehicle for repairs because oil was leaking. Technician told consumer that it was due to the engine head gasket blowing out. *ak

Faulty, leaking head gasket, srevice dept. Says all neons have same problem, leak causes loss of oil pressure while driving

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!!!******

Kept having a leake. Took in vehicle to be serviced, tire to be rotated. Car inspected, and they noticed engine head gasket was leaking, coming from the o-rings. *ak

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

My sister in tn has a neon the dealer fixed her head gasket these cars i have been told by one auto repair that he fixes these head gaskets at least one every other week dodge should have done a recall or at least fix the problem i can not get any one on the phone at chrysler and i live here. They should pay the cost they know that its a problem. The up and down stream sensors went bad it cost me $300. To fix. I know a gentleman that had the same problem his went bad twice and the car dealer paid for his. I on the other hand could get no one help with this either. Chrysler needs to be accountable for the problems with there neon's and pay to correct these problems i will not buy another one. If chrysler wants me to buy there product again they need to make the first one right. Thank you for your time and concern.

Dodge neon has serious problems with engine head gaskets- attempts to repair them ( 4 x's in just 7000 miles ) were futile- chrysler should recall these vehicles. *ak

Similar complaints have already been filed wit regards to oil leaks at the head gasket. Attempted repair were made approx. 1 1/2 months after leak was discovered. Two attempts to replace the leaking gasket were made by a lisenced mechanic. After these attempts were made, it was recommended that i take it to the dealer for repair. *ak

Consumer states vehicle is experiencing a oil leak that may result in a fire. Dealer notified. Please provide additional information. Ph

Defective head gaskets malfunctioned, causing hesitation and stalling which may result in a crash. Please provide further information. *ak

While driving wheel went flat. Started to change the tire & noticed the studs had broken completely. Had vehicle towed to dealer & was informed by the mechanic it was owner's fault. *ak

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

While driving oil leaks out of the engine, causing the vehicle to overheat . Please provide any futher information. *ak

Oil is splattering out of engine. Consumer has to continually put oil in vehicle. Chrsler told consumer to go to an authorized chrsler dealer. *ak

Weeks after routine oil/filter change i noticed oil pooling under vehicle, especially while running. Found head gasket blown.

While driving noticed a ticking noise. Consumer was told by mechanicthat may need a new engine. *ak

Want to know why airbags did not deploy

Consumer noticed an oil leaak. Took car to dealer, and dealer said that head gasket needed to be replaced. *ak

Head gasket blew somewhere between 42,000 and 43,010 miles. It was noticed because oil was dripping underneath left front of car and oil was very low. No indicator lights had come on. Took it to dealership where they determined that the head gasket had blown. Because of this they also had to do an engine flush, clean the engine, replace the pcv valve, and change the oil and coolant. This cost me a total of $825.00. My car is only 2 1/2 years old! Since this occured i have found out by talking to repair shops and to other neon owners that this is a common problem and obviously a defect in the way it was built.

While driving there is a space between the motor, causing the oil to blow out of the engine.When the car stops the oil really spills out. *ak

We took this vehicle in to a dealer in sierra vista in 1998 and were told that the problem was fixed. After several months, the same problem reoccured and now the oil leak is more severe. The dealer did not let us know if the head gasket was actually replaced or not.

Rear right side latch plate broke in half twice, which wont securely hold a css. In event of a crash, css may fly out or won't restraint an occupant. Please provide further information. *ak

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.

While driving engine valve cover began to leak oil, making the car lose speed and power . *ak

Trunk leaks when it rains mats and panel smell . It seems to be coming through the vents of the trunk . Dealer was contacted, but no coaperation. Manufacturer was called, but can't get through to them. *ak

I see where the air bag impact sensor is on the recall list you have provided, but i reported it also. My number one complaint is the way my vehicle and several other vehicles the same color as mine is peeling. My vehicle color is lapis blue and the paint is peeling all over. I've took it to three dodge dealers, and no one wants to take the responsibility for the paint peeling. When the vehicle first started peeling about a year after i had it, i took it to archer dodge in houston, tx. And i was sold some lapis blue touch-up paint by one of the service agents, and from that point my vehicle continued to peel , and to this date the paint peeling is unbelieveable. I was told that it's peeling due to the manufacturer's error. Like i said there are several lapis blue dodge neons that are peeling, and i do have at least ten other license plates numbers to the other lapis blue neons that are peeling. Here it is i'm paying a car note for a vehicle that looks horrible and it takes away from the value of the vehicle. This isn't fair to the consumers, being that this paint peeling is due to error of the manufacturer. The peeling of the paint has nothing to do with the mileage neither, as some are trying to connect together. I've seen older model vehicles that still have their original paint job , and there's no peeling at all. The paint peeling will speak for itself. I also was told at one of the dealer's i took my vehicle to that they could get the vehicle painted, but that i would have to pay half the cost, and there's no way myself consumers have to pay for something that's not directly our faults. This is a problem that the chrysler corporation should have addressed two years ago. Consumers should have to pay anything for something that we had no control over or r

The attachment which covers the airbag / horn assembly is loose and can be pulled off. *yc

Mechanic advsd of problem w/head gasket on neon & to call chrysler. Chrys paid 50% of charge, but now pay 100%. Dealer advsd of problem w/orig vendor producing faulty head gasket. Contact chrysler for assistance.

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.

I have had my car checked out by a mechanic and he has stated that the oil leak is coming from the cylinder head in the back of the motor. He also stated that this is a manufacturer defect & that i should take it back to a dodge dealer to get repaired. This is not a safety related issue, but it is a costly mechanical repair issue that i feel needs to be looked into for possible recall to repair. *ak

Instrument panel has a short, causing malfuncation of gauges/indicators. Please provide further information. *ak

Exhaust manifold has failed twice within six months. Radiator fan relay failed and dealer stated there was no recall or t.A. On fan relay i had to pay for part at 39101 mi.???

Evaporator coil, expansion valve & hoses replaced; freon added x4; ac still fails; has failed 4 times since august, 1999. Does not blow cold air.*ak

Head gasket failed. Dealer refuses to help w/costs. Please help! *ak

Started as small oil leak, kept getting worse. Told 3-4 weeks ago there was a bad head gasket and a chrysler zone rep would be contacted. Has not been contacted yet but i'm waiting for a call on monday. I was told there were 3-4 other neons in the shop when my car was being checked the first time. Also told that all vehicles with same engine are having problems but given no further details. Told not to put money into my car if i was going to get rid of it.

Mechanic said it was a commom problem. No safety defect mentione din summary. *ak

Under the dash electrical wiring short out, causing a fire, resulting in total loss of vehicle. *ak

While in the house heard a big boom noise. Went out side and the front window was in flames. Took to mechanic, and and mechanic said that a previous dealer had punctured the air bag and some fluid was leaking into car for 8 month., dealer believed this was what caused the fire. *ak

My car has had to have a circut board, fuel pump, fuel filter, and new gaskets at only two years old and 39280 miles. I feel that the circut board could cause crash or injury because i cannot tell how fast i am driving or if i have gas in my car. I was told at the dealer that there was a neon with the same problem (circut board) that they had fixed just the week before.

The engine head gasket failed on two occasions causing oil leakage. *mjs

Driving 55mph & noticed smoke coming from under hood. Pulled to side of road. Smoke noticeable heavier inside vehicle. Lifted hood & flames were around engine area. Fire dept called & put flames out. Was hard to determine origin of fire, but indicated it was electrical wiring. *ak

The first issue with the blown head gasket, occured around 32,000 miles. It was fixed without any problems. I am now having the same problems again; oil leaking, extremely rough idling, and have scheduled an appointment to get my car in. Hopefully it will be covered under my added warranty. The second problem is with the paint job. The original paint is lipis blue and is peeling and flaking off in many places. At 35,500 miles, they touched up the problem areas, told me of the defect in the primer, and then informed me they could not paint the entire car, only the panels which did not pass the tape test. I have contacted them again more recently because of other peeling problems. It is my belief the car should have been painted completely when they informed me of the defect.*ak

Head gasket blown, consumer believes vehicle should be recalled. Nlm

After driving the newly purchased neon (purchase used, as is) we noticed a leak under the car after being parked. We had the problem looked at and it was determined to be a major oil leak from the head gasket of the car. Being a fairly new model, i feel that this may be a defect in the parts and i want to know if this complaint has been logged before for this model. I am already furious that a dealership can get away with selling a vehicle in this condition, and i would like to know what recourse, if any i have. *ak

Turned on the car with foot on brake, put car in drive, removed foot from brake and car accelerated and hit head on a 1999 dodge dakota. Pressed on the brake as car sped across the lot and nothing happened. Engine made high pitched whirring noise. Airbags did not deploy. My incident resembles the one posted on the nhtsa web site odi id# 535732. *ak

Had received recallon radiator. While it was being repaired at dealer's, mechanic noticed head gaskets had blown on engine. Manufacturer informed owner head gaskets had nothing to do with radiator. *ak

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

Battery light came on and won't go off. Vehicle is hard to start due to a short within ignition switch. Consumer has to wait until vehicle will start up. Dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *ak

The head gasket was leaking and had to be replace it took two weeks to get the part because they said that most of the 97 neons head gasket was blown

While making a turn, a vehicle hit the side of the bumper, causing the vehicle to turn and hit a pole on the front end, in which driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy. Did not protect the occupant in this accident. Cause unknown. No one has inspected the vehicle as of yet. Please provide further information. *ak

Hi volume motor oil leak, seems to be coming from hi up on rear side of engine. Mechanic says it's faulty head gasket, $600 repair job. Car has 46k miles, leak started after warranty expired. Exxon valdez polluter, seems like mfg defect, should be recalled, dodge should pay repair cost

This car was overlooked as a severe problem at spitzer dodge. They thought they fixed it. Problem started again about 1 month later. Another dealership fixed it was the computer took 3.5 hrs to work on. That was on 03/12/99. On 09/30/99 the same problem developed.

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Oil leak detected by myself at about 40-45,000 miles; had a non-chrysler mechanic look at it and told me it looked like the head gasket (50,000+ miles by this time) - couldn't afford the $400.00+ to repair at that time. When i finally had the money (8/10/00 and 88,000 miles) my mechanic referred me to o-reily's because he had heard of a recall. O'reilly's gave me the run around. I am pursuing every avenue to get this problem corrected including the attorney general's office. *ak

In the words of the chrysler fire investigator. "... Fire appears to have started after the vehicle sustained a hard impact to the front area of the vehicle..." the report goes on to say that the fire was not caused by a manufacturing defect. I am very concerned that if this vehicle had not caught fire it would not have been a total loss and that it appears to me that the reason it caught fire is a design defect involving the electric fuel pump. I would think that a provision should be made to shut down the electric fuel pump on an impact which breaks a fuel line. This seems to be a significant safety problem which should be looked at and corrected.

Circuit board behind instrument panel caught fire as i drove,sending smoke through dash both to left and right of speedometer-gauge area. No flame ever visible. Smoke stopped of its own accord. Gas gauge dropped to indicate "empty" - then returned to proper indication. I continued to drive home, then to garage, no apparent effect on any operating systems. Circuit board and gauge kit were replaced at no charge to me. (car still in warranty) service manager reported hole burned in circuit board 2 or 3 inches in diameter.

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.

During a collision front end was pretty smashed up: not drivable: no deployment of air bags. *ak

Oil leak for quite a while. Mechanic said common to 97 . *ak

When driving 0-10mph, frontal impact with another vehicle travelling 45mph, neither airbag deployed, the vehicle was totalled. Dealer not aware of the problem, problem cannot be duplicated. *ak

There is a blown engine head gasket which is causing oil leakage within the engine compartment toward the fire wall. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has yet to replace parts. *ak

Vehicle accelerated after letting off gas; driver applied brakes left front side locked up, causing the vehicle to turn over.

Vehicle was invovled in an accident in which vehicle rear ended another vehicle at approx. 35-40 mph impact/ both air bags did not deploy. Dealer/manufacturer notified. *ak

When the vehicle was purchased with head gaskets leaking oil, oil has been changed, problem still exists, manufacturer not aware of the problem, dealer contacted and no warranty, consumer's expense for repairs. *ak

While driving vehicle would stall out due to engine failure caused by spark plugs burned out for unknown reason. Vehicle have been in/out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problem cannot be resolved. Dealer notified. *ak

The driver and passenger seats do not lock so if someone is sitting in the back of the car and pushes on the driver or passenger seat then they can be pushed foward. So if i were to get into a car acciedent with people in the backseat and they push on the seat the driver and passenger will be pushed into the dash board. The seat belts for the driver and passengers will lock up at random times when driving and will not lock up when the driver slams on the brakes. The paint is peeling on the roof of the car and the top door panels on both the left and right side of the car. Every time i wash my car more and more paint peels off the main areas and smaller areas form.*ak

While driving 15 mph the vehicle had a direct frontal impact with a truck, causing the vehicle to flip over in which the driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, not prote *ak

The vehicle overheated when the air conditioning was on a engine at idle. Heater was turned on to cool vehicle.

While parked the front driver's side was hit by another car that ran it into a tree. Driver's side and passenger's side airbags did not deploy. Vehicle was totaled. *ak

Driver pulled into a parking space and the vehicle sat low to the ground which caused the front to hit the front wheel, resulting in deployment both of the air bags. Once the air bags deployed, the driver's and passenger's side windows blew out. The driver does not understand way the air bags deployed. *ak

Consumer says that only when driving under wet conditions that the power steering belt gets loose, causing problems with the power steering. Also, brake pedal gets hard and the steering will not retract when turning a corner. Dealer has been contacted. *ak

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

Consumer has had three incidents concerning vehicle steering wheel. On the last incident consumer was driving on a two lane canyon road, approx 45 mph, before coming to an approaching turn,consumer applied brake to slow down to 35 mph; steering wheel became stuck and hard to turn; consumer barely made the turn, causing danger to consumer . Dealer notified. As always informed the consumer that nothing can be founded.

In the fist month i had the vehicle it blew 4 oxygen sensors.When you go to brake the left turn signal comes on, also the car will shock you when you get out even when it is truned off. The locks on the seat belts in the back seat has broken off for ne reason. The back se

Door rubs against the hinges and is bent inward. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem. Door makes noises when opening and closing. *ak

The exterior paint of the 1997 dodge neon coupe in lapuis blue is peeling off the hood and top of vehicle. Very poor paint job as car is housed in a garage. No safety defect. *ak

Head gaskets have been replaced and the problem remains. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem. *ak

Power steering becomes inoperative periodically without warning,causing steering to go hard,difficult to maintain control. Dealer has tightened steering belt, and replaced some steering components. Defect is still occurring. *ak

Seat belts; front driver's/passenger's and rear belts are twisted and curved where they cannot be used. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem. *ak

Cruise control not operating properly. Stays on, and when brakes are applied, does not cut off. Dealer contacted, and cannot duplicate problem. Problem still exists. *ak *ml