1997 Dodge Neon

MY CAR HAD EXACTLY 12000 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. AT AROUND MILE 43000, THE CAR BEGAN TO LEAK OIL. I THEN TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE VALVE COVER GASKET. THE REPAIR WAS TO COST ME $800 UNTIL HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS REOCCURING IN DODGE NEONS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF IT. THEN, AROUND MILE 70000, THE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT TREMENDOUSLY, GOING DEAD EVERY TIME THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEGAN TO GO HAYWIRE, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND AS WELL AS THE THERMOSTAT. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND FOR THIS TO BE MY DEPENDABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, IT IS TRULY A JOKE. THE DODGE CORPORATION SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU!*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

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OIL LEAKS FROM MY 2.0L 16V ENGINE, AT 29,000 MILES THE DEALER CORRECTED THE OILLEAK BY REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET. AT THAT TIME I ALSO COMPLAINED OF A NOISE (LIFTER KNOCK), THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL AND I LET IT GO. NOW I HAVE 46,000 MILES ON THE VEHICAL AND THE OIL CONTINUES TO DRIP AND THE SO-CALLED NORMAL LIFTER NOISE NOW SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE WHEN IT IS COLD. IT IS NOW PAST ITS WARRANTY PERIOD. I WOULD LIKE TO LET THE MANUFACTURE KNOW ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND REFER TO AN ARTICLE CONTAINED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES NEWSPAPER DATED MARCH 24, 2000 PAGE F1 ENTITLED "CHRYSLER QUIETLY PAYS HEAD-GASKET BILLS ON NEON".*AK