NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
339 reportsMileage unknown · Apr 25, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
AFTER DRIVING MY NEON FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I AM FINDING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE SUN ROOF HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED. THE LAST ITEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS ARRIVED. FROM WHAT I AM LEARNING, CHRYSLER IS AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR …
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AFTER DRIVING MY NEON FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I AM FINDING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE SUN ROOF HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED. THE LAST ITEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS ARRIVED. FROM WHAT I AM LEARNING, CHRYSLER IS AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. THE COST IN THE REPAIR IS SOMETHING THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO BEAR. INSTEAD WILL CONTINUE TO PASS IT ON TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I OWN TWO OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS THAT ARE MUCH NEWER AND THEY TOO ARE TROUBLESOME. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016491
48,500 miles · Apr 23, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES HANGING UP GRINDING & SQUEALING. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER HAD TO RETURN CAR FOR BRAKES AGAIN. NOW BRAKES ARE HANGING UP & SQUEALING AGAIN STARTING IN DECEMBER OF 2002. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016402
48,568 miles · Apr 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 60,000+ MILES ON CAR GOT IT USED AND HAVE ONLY HAD FOR 1 YEAR 6 MONTHS. ACTUALLY PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2003. OIL DRAINING FROM AROUND OIL FILTER. HAD REPLACED FILTER AND OIL STILL DRAINING AROUND FILTER AREA. TOOK SHOP A WHILE TO FIND PROBLEM BUT, THEN SAID THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED…
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BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 60,000+ MILES ON CAR GOT IT USED AND HAVE ONLY HAD FOR 1 YEAR 6 MONTHS. ACTUALLY PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2003. OIL DRAINING FROM AROUND OIL FILTER. HAD REPLACED FILTER AND OIL STILL DRAINING AROUND FILTER AREA. TOOK SHOP A WHILE TO FIND PROBLEM BUT, THEN SAID THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPAIRED. APRIL WAS WHEN IT GOT INTO A SHOP, BUT CAR HAD SAT FROM JANUARY UNTIL APRIL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016399
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET SEAL AND THE RIGHT REAR OIL SEAL LEAKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN MANY DODGE NEONS. *MR *SCC *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015689
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. * MR ENGINE OIL LEAKED AT THE REAR CORNER OF THE CYLINDER HEAD BECAUSE THE PASSAGE SEAL FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FACTORY GASKET WITH A CHRYSLER NEWLY DEVELOPED MULTI-LAYER STEAL CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10012224
74,000 miles · Mar 28, 2003
Electrical System
THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A PART WITHIN THE COMPUTER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014697
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
OUR 1998 DODGE NEON HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE LAST 2 TIMES HAVE BEEN WITH IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010922
65,000 miles · Mar 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING I CHECKED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND REALIZED MY TEMP WAS EXTREMELY HOT. THEN THERE WAS A CLOUD OF SMOKE ROLLING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. BEING 50 MILES FROM HOME AND KNOWING THIS AREA TOO WELL I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE A COUNTY SHERIFF PULL UP BEHIND ME AND OFFER ME A RIDE TO WORK. MY CAR STAYED ON T…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING I CHECKED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND REALIZED MY TEMP WAS EXTREMELY HOT. THEN THERE WAS A CLOUD OF SMOKE ROLLING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. BEING 50 MILES FROM HOME AND KNOWING THIS AREA TOO WELL I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE A COUNTY SHERIFF PULL UP BEHIND ME AND OFFER ME A RIDE TO WORK. MY CAR STAYED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR 12 HOURS UNTIL I COULD GET SOME ONE TRUST TO COME AND TOW IT THE 50 MILES BACK HOME. THE CAR SAT FOR A WHILE UNTIL I COULD SAVE THE MONEY TO BET IT REPAIRED. IT WAS NOT EASY TO CONTINUE TO PAY A MONTHLY LOAN PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. FINALLY WHEN WE GOT THE MONEY I CALLED A LOCAL AND CHEAP MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT IN RETURN CAUSED OIL TO CONTAMINATE THE RADIATOR. IT WAS ONLY AFTER SPEAKING TO MY COUSIN WHO IS A CLAIMS ADJUSTOR FOR A NATIONAL EXTENDED WARRANTY CO. DID I REALIZED THAT I COULD GET "ASSISTANCE" THROUGH CHRYSLER TO FIX MY CAR. I HAD TO FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO GET THEM TO AGREE THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. FINALLY EIGHT MONTHS LATER MY CAR IS IN THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRED AT ONLY 50% OF THE COST AT MY EXPENSE. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM, CONTACT THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION OFFICE IN MICHIGAN AND TELL THEM YOU WANT A DISTRICT REP TO COME TO YOUR DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH "ASSISTANCE" THEY WILL PROVIDE YOU. DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. THEY WILL PAY FOR PARTIAL REPAIRS. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10010141
32,000 miles · Feb 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL, THE DEALER REPLACED IT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10009384
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAL OF THE CRANKSHAFT WHICH IS LEAKING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
NHTSA ODI #10004302
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