2000 Dodge Neon engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I BOUGHT A USED CAR FROM JD BYRIDER OF READING PA ,I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS SAFETY INSPECTED AND THE STICKERS ARE ON VEHICLE, COME TO FIND OUT FROM MY OWN MECHANIC THE CAR WAS NOT SAFETY INSPECTED PROPER BECAUSE THERE WAS ALOT OF THINGS FOUND DEFECTIVE ON IT LIKE ROTORS WERE WARPED BRAKE PAD FELL APART DRUMS NO GOOD BROKEN BOLTS TO OIL PAN AND REAR MAIN SEAL BROKE CAR VIBRATES WHEN AT A RIGHT LIGHT AND WHO EVER DID THE INSPECTION DIDN'T DO IT THE WAY HE WAS SUPPOSED TO WHICH I THINK WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10230209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT HAS A BAD SPARK PLUG BUT WEN YOU CHECK ONE IS FULL OF OIL ITS SHUTS OFF WHEN IT DOES THAT AND IT TAKES A MINUTE TO START BACK UP.

NHTSA complaint #10219800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WATER LEAKING IN BRAKE POWER BOOSTER CAUSE BRAKES TO FREEZE IN COLD; BRAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ABS SYSTEM DISCONNECT- NOT WORKING PROPERLY - CONTROLLER GIVEN OFF ERROR CODE - POSSIBLE NEED TO BE REPLACE; ALL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS ON IN CAR - NO DIAGNOSIS FOR PROBLEM; RATTLING NOISE IN DASH BOARD; HIGH HUMMING NOISE UNDER CAR WHEN DRIVE - UNABLE TO HEAR RADIO BETWEEN RATTLING & HUMMING NOISES; AC WORK BUT NO HEAT; WHEN DRIVING WHEELS SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF; RECENTLY FOUND OUT CAR FAILED NYS EMISSION TEST ON DATE OF PURCHASE; I FILED COMPLAINT WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING DEALER WHERE I BROUGHT CAR FROM - THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND.

NHTSA complaint #10184518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED,THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,150, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,200.

NHTSA complaint #10183532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MAKE: DODGE MODEL: NEON TYPE: PASSENGER CAR YEAR: 2000 SUMMARY: AS NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, WITH ANY HEAVY RAINFALL, THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEATS FILLS WITH WATER (UP TO AN INCH OR MORE). APPEARS TO BE ENTERING THROUGH THE TRUNK AREA, AS THE SPARE TIRE WELL ALSO FILLS WITH WATER. USING SPONGES AND A SHOPVAC TO SOAK UP THE WATER AND THEN LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN TO DRY IT OUT IS MY ONLY REMEDY TO THE MOISTURE AND ODOR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. THE DEALER IS OF NO HELP BECAUSE (MERCIFULLY FOR OTHERS) THAT DEAL WENT BANKRUPT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. I HAVE A LITANY OF OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE 2000 NEON. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE (CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY - PARTLY A PROBLEM WITH RECORDS AS THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE/INITIAL MAINTENANCE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS), EACH TIME I START THE CAR, THE FUSE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND LOOK OK. AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT I HAVE NO FUNCTIONING INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS OR EXTERIOR BACKUP LIGHTS. REPEATED EFFORTS BY SEVERAL REPAIR FACILITIES TO LOCATE THE CORRECT HARNESS HAVE FAILED. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 72,000 MILES OF RELATIVELY EASY CITY DRIVING (COMMUTE TO WORKPLACE) OR DIVIDED HIGHWAY DRIVING), YET MOST FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED (ALL STRUTS, SWAY BARS, ETC). TRANSMISSION FLUID HOSE OR CONNECTOR FAILED ON FEB 19, 2006, RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID.

NHTSA complaint #10150653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

HEAD GASKET BLOWN. LARGE OIL/FUEL LEAKS AND/OR CONTAMINATION THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING CAPTURED IN MOTOR-MOUNT BAY ACTING AS A RESEVOIR DAM. *NM GOOGLE ALONE DEMONSTRATES SOME 111,000 REPORTED "NEON HEAD-GASKET" ITEMS WITH A MAJORITY PERCENTAGE SAMPLED SHOWING AS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD-GASKET! PLEASE HELP! NOT ONLY IS THIS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM ($450) TO REPLACE, BUT IT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE!

NHTSA complaint #10144317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CAR IDLES VERY HIGH AND THEN ACCELERATES TO HIGHER SPEEDS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE IS A HIGH ACCELERATION BOOSTS AND SPURTS WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN NOT USED DAILY, SUCH AS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR, BUT NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND WITH EITHER PARTS UPON INSPECTIONS BY A MECHANIC. FRONT AXLES POP WHEN TURNING. KEY IS HARD TO DISENGAGE OR REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY SQUEALING AND WEAR EVERY 3-6 MONTHS REGARDLESS F HOW THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THOUGH IT MAY OR NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME, THE FOLD DOWN SEATS IN THE REAR SEAT DO NOT HAVE A DISENGAGE LEVER FROM THE TRUNK. OVER-HEAD DOME LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HAS FAULTY WIRING, SO THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED THE DOME LIGHT NEVER SHUTS OFF. THERE IS CONSTANTLY A FUSE LIGHT THAT FLASHES IN MY DASH, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL ARE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER, THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE WARNING LIGHT STILL FLASHES. THE UTILITY OUTLET/CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET DOESN'T AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2004. FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WATER LEAKS IN FROM RAIN OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAUSING MUSTY ODOR IN THE CAR. CAR CONSTANTLY OVER-HEATS DURING TRAVEL OVER 35-40 MILES AND LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE, THOUGH NO LEAKS OR PIN HOLES OF ANY KIND COULD BE FOUND. TRUNK STICKS MAKING IT HARD TO OPEN OR DISENGAGE, CAUSED KEY TO BE BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE TRUNK LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #10144012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE PUT $750 INTO REPAIRS AND HAVE ESTIMATES FOR $1000 MORE WORTH OF REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEMS INCLUDED A REAR MAIN OIL SEAL LEAK, AN OIL PAN GASKET LEAK, AND A DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH LEAK. THERE WAS ALSO A BENT WHEEL, DAMAGED TIRE, AND BAD STARTER. THE DEALER (DICK MORRIS CHEVROLET) WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10137227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

DT: BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE RADIATOR SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. HAD TWO DIFFERENT COMPARTMENTS FLUSH AND RADIATOR REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10126189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. CONSUMER COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10101104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10099579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE GROUND. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10097354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE RADIATOR. AFTER HAVING T HE VEHICLE TOWED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC STATED THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED OFTEN.

NHTSA complaint #10094880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CAM SENSOR LEAKED OIL. THE HEAD GASKET ALSO LEAKED OIL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING A LEAKING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10090330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10090204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

COUPLE ISSUES, FAULTY REPAIR DONE TO MY CAR FOR AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK, DEALER REPAIRED THERMOSTAT AND CAR STILL LEAKED. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME THAT SOURCE OF LEAK WAS THE HEAD GASKET, KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, CURRENTLY A CLASS SUIT OUT ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10060883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

TRANS DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. DEALER CLAIMS I NEED A NEW RADIATOR TO REPAIR. NOW I READ HERE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE RE OCCURRING. ALSO, MECHANIC FROM ANOTHER DEALER I CALLED INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD HE HAS SEEN IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. THIS WILL COST ME $ 500 FOR RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. PLEASE HELP !

NHTSA complaint #10053281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE ONCE. THE REPAIR WAS DONE WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN NEED OF PISTONS, THAT ARE BROKEN IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10048394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO OBD TEST FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10031331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THREE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE AND THE ENGINE FELL. THIS ACCRUED TWICE, SECOND TIME CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10027237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER, AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED.DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10026159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10024822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #10024516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

EXTREMELY LOW ENGINE IDLE WHEN STOPPED. ENGINE SOMETIMES DIES. VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE AND TEST SHOWED ALL SYSTEMS OPERATING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10020899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER WHICH LEFT THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10021900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I TOOK OUR 2000 NEON (THAT I'VE HAD SINCE LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL OF 1999) TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD AN OIL LEAK. AFTER FURTHER CHECKING, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1200. I AM IN THE PROCESS NOW OF CALLING OTHER GARAGES FOR QUOTES. A CO-WORKER TOLD ME SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER NEON AND THE DEALER COVERED MOST OF THE COST SINCE THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH NEONS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON THIS ON-GOING HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACT DAY IN APRIL I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. RECORDS ARE AT HOME. IF YOU NEED EXACT DATE, I CAN FIND THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10015560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AND LEAKED OIL.

NHTSA complaint #10011684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ON THE DODGE NEON, WHEN DOING ONLY MAINT FOR OIL CHANGES THE DRAIN PLUG WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THE SHAVINGS OF THE THREADS FROM THE INSIDE AND WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR AT A HIGH COST, SINCE THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10008073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE NEON I BOUGHT AT 32,000MILES. STARTED OVER HEATING AT 34,000MI. ONLY ON REALLY HOT DAYS. NOW AT 56,000 MILES OVER HEATS ALL THE TIME. CAN'T DRIVE IT. FOUND OUT IT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER ESTIMATES $2500 REPAIR. (SINGLE MOM, CAN'T AFFORD IT) FOUND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH AND MECHANICS THAT NEONS ARE PRONE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS BETWEEN 30 TO 60 THOUSAND MILES. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE GASKETS CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS WITHIN THE METALS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER USEING THOSE GASKETS AND HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH NEW ONES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT ONCE REPLACED THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REOCCURING PROBLEMS. THIS LEAVES ME WONDERING WHY THE GASKETS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. THANK YOU BRANDI

NHTSA complaint #10005793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.