19 of the
199 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Neon are about the
engine — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
40,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA complaint #10661558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cary, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT MADE A LOUD TICKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE AIR COMPRESSOR. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF TSB#24-04-00 BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER INVOLVING THIS COMPONENT.
NHTSA complaint #10113689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesWright City, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT MY NEON IN MAY OF 2001 AND IN FEB. 2002 I HAD A BAD WATER LEAK. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD SAY IT WAS FIXED, BUT NO IT WAS NOT. I FINALLY TOLD THEM I WANT MY CARPET REPLACED WHEN THEY DO GET IT FIXED. I FOUGHT WITH THEM ROUND & ROUND, TILL THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD. I SAID DO NOT PUT IT IN UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE IT WAS FIXED. THEY SAID IT WAS, PUT NEW CARPET IN AND SURE ENOUGH IT LEAKED AGAIN AND THE NEW CARPET WAS SOAKED AND STINKY, LIKE THE ORIGINAL. THEY FINALLY GOT THE LEAK FIXED AFTER 6 MONTHS, BUT THEY SURE DID NOT OFFER TO REPLACE CARPET AGAIN. THIS DEALER WAS VERY RUDE. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS REPLACED, DUE TO WATER LEAK. MY CD PLAYER BROKE TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, MY SUNROOF HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DODGE DEALER, DUE TO THE RUDENESS I WOULD RECEIVE. IN THE PAST MONTH MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TWICE, ONCE IT WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT RAN OK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AGAIN/FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY TELL ME MY SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $50.00 FOR LOOKING AT IT AND I ARGUED WITH THE GUY I TOLD HIM I WILL NOT PAY A DIME. HE BASICALLY THREW THE PAPERWORK DOWN AND WALKED AWAY. NOW I HAVE BEEN TO 2 DEALERS AND HAVE GOT NOTHING BUT TREATED LIKE CRAP. MY HUSBAND DID REPLACE THE PLUGS AND IT RAN OK FOR 1 1/2 WEEKS , NOW I DON?T KNOW WHERE TO GO, AND MY CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE WHILE IM DRIVING OR ACCELERATING. I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF THING. IM ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP AND JUST TRADE THE CAR IN, BUT THEN I DON?T WANT TO GIVE UP. WHEN MY CAR FIRST HAD THOSE LEAKS, I EVEN CALLED TO CORP. OFFICE OF DODGE AND WAS TREATED THE SAME. WHERE DO I TURN TO. AND IS MY CAR GOING TO HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS NOW?
NHTSA complaint #10070655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesSAN Francisco, CA1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON THE 2001 DODGE NEON ES SEDAN. OIL LEAKAGE IN CERTAIN COMPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE WATER COOLANT HOUSING. AS A RESULT, THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10041029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesSAN Francisco, CA1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON THE 2001 DODGE NEON ES SEDAN. OIL LEAKAGE IN CERTAIN COMPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE WATER COOLANT HOUSING. AS A RESULT, THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10041029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VAN Nuys, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10038464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,000 milesWilloughby Hills, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE IDLES VERY ROUGH. CAR HAS STALLED OUT TWICE THIS WEEKEND WHILE IN REVERSE WITH NO WARNING. DEALER HAS SEEN CAR TODAY AND SAID IT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FIX. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN CLOSE TO A DOZEN TIMES IN REGARDS TO THE ROUGH HANDLING. ESPECIALLY WHEN A/C WAS ON. NOW IT SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT...WHEN YOU TRY TO GO THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING GAS. CAR DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ALTHOUGH MY HUSBAND AND FRIENDS HAVE ALL NOTICED/EXPERIENCED THE ROUGH FEELING WHILE DRIVING (LIKE IT WILL JUST STALL OUT...SORT OF SPUTTERS) I AM VERY AGGRAVATED WITH MY '01 NEON. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kahului, HI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL.
NHTSA complaint #10011539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oceanside, CACrash1 injured3 killed
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE GAS, THE PEDAL BEGAN TO ACT ERRATIC, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT NOW IT HESITATES WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPING. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS AND ALARMS, ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT(NOT SPEC), FUEL SYSTEM, HEATER/DEFROST/VENT, PARK BRAKE, POWER TRAIN, SERV. BRAKES, STEERING, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, VISUAL SYSTEMS, THE AIR BAG MODULE, (BRAIN OF THE VEHICLE) COMPUTER, AND A CRACKED MOTOR HEAD. CAUSE OF INCIDENT: WEAR/CORROSION/RUST, LOCKS, AND STABILITY. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10002120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valley Springs, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE COLD. THERE IS A LOUD INTERNAL KNOCKING NOISE FROM ENGINE. I AM A PROFESSIONAL AUTO MECHANIC, I SUSPECT PISTON SLAP. IN MY OPINION ,THIS CONDITION IS NOT NORMAL AS STATED BY THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY. DT
NHTSA complaint #769141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE IDLE ROUGH. IDLE SPEED DROPS BELOW 500 RPM. THROTTLE STICKS OPEN CAUSING TO SURGE AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED (2 OCCURANCES) ENGINE LOSE OF POWER, ESPECIALLY UP SMALL INCLINES. A/C OR ACCESSORIES HAVE NO EFFECT ON IDLE RPM. DEALER RECOMMEND SUPER GRADE GAS (AGAINST MANF RECOMMENDATIONS) 2 DEALERS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. AT 70MPH ENGINE HESITATES AND STALLS, AGAIN DEALER UNABLE TO DUP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HOWEVER NO CODES ARE DISPLAYED FOR DEALER. OVERALL, ENGINE IDLE BAD, THROTTLE STICKS, VEHICLE STALLS. DRIVING SKILLS HAVE PREVENTED ACCIDENT. WHAT CAN BE DONE? NLM
NHTSA complaint #767688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oceanside, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TRANSMISSION, THE FIRST TIME NEEDED THE SEALS AND CAPS REPLACED, THE SECOND TIME IT NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, THEN THE BATTERY BLEW UP, THEN THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE AND THE RODS WENT BAD AND I NEED TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #763843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLED AT 55 MPH, LOST ALL POWER AND FUNCTIONS. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER, PCM WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM, AND INSTALLED CO PILOT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 14-APR-2002 VEHICLE STALLED FOR THE FOURTH TIME, DEALER COULDN?T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #8006952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saxton, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED, AND STALLED 6 TIMES . DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #897336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND, BOGS DOWN WHILE SHIFTING, AND HAS LOST POWER AND SPEED, VEHICLE SURGES WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50-60 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #562200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN YOU REACH ANY SPEED DURING THE DAY ONLY WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO A STOP IT TRIES TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #751093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elizabethtown, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #745744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elizabethtown, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE LOCKED UP DURING A HEAVY RAIN, DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO WATER GETTING INSIDE THE ENGINE THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM LOCATED IN THE L/F FENDER (DESIGN FLAW?).
NHTSA complaint #745667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upper Dearby, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING AND LEAVE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER.
NHTSA complaint #883714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.