1996 Dodge Neon

VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IN REVERSE. THIS WAS WORSE WHEN 20 TO 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL 55-60 MPH, BUT 1 AND 2 WERE OKAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT LOCAL CHICAGO NON-SELLING DODGE DEALER AT MY COST OF $1,200. THE DEALER ADVISED FRONT PUMP SEAL FAILED CAUSING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. THE SERVICE WRITER ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES. REVIEWING WEB SITES (INCLUDING THIS ONE) I SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SET OF SYMPTONS. I HAVE RECENTLY REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM DODGE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND YET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. HAD NO INTERIOR OR OUTSIDE LIGHTS. HAD SOME LEAKAGE FROM TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPAIRED LEAKAGES/STARTER/HEAD GASKETS/ OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*AK WATER LEAK FROM THE TRUNK TO REAR FLOOR BOARDS CAUSED CORROSION. ALSO, SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED TO GO OFF. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BEFOR E PURCHASE. *YH

THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURING ON A DAILY BASIS ARE: THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK,THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK,THE MILEAGE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING.SOMETIMES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE LIGHTS(SEAT BELT,ETC.)WILL POP ON MAKING THE DINGING NOISE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS ON(LIKE WHEN YOU 1ST START UP THE CAR)BUT NOTHING STARTS WORKING THEN BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE.WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE PUT IN OUR CAR,HOW FAST WE ARE GOING,OR IF THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT OR COLD.AT ONE POINT WE WERE HAVING TO GET JUMP STARTS ALL OF THE TIME. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT I NOTICED YOU HAVE HAD A RECALL ON BUT THIS VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED.SINCE IT IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE.THIS IS REDICULOUS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE,SAME YEAR AND EVERYTHING BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY 15,000 CARS DONE AND OUR CAR COULD HAVE BEEN THE 15,001 CAR ON THE ASSEMBLY AT THE TIME WE HAVE TO SUFFER AND PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS MISTAKES.

HEAD GASKET WAS FIRST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 20,901 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION LET GO WITH 35,654 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED A SECOND TIME WITH 46,958 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT DARTMOUTH DODGE, 225 STATE RD., NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA. 02747, SINCE IT WAS CLOSER TO MY HOME, AND THEY WERE NOT IN BUSINESS AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER GAVE ME A $300.00 CREDIT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME, AND IT BROKE AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 26,000 LATER. APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO FEEL THAT A RECALL CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE INSTITUTED TO REPAIR ALL THESE VEHICLES SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM. *AK

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING ALONG ALL OF A SUDDEN NEEDLE WILL DROP TO ZERO AND ODMETER WILL STOP MOVING. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO TELL DRIVING SPEED, AND CORRECT MILEAGE OF VEHICLE. IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES UNTIL A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST MONTH. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK *SLC

THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS AND NOW NEEDS ANOTHER WITH ONLY 56,200 MILES. IT HAS ALSO HAD A STARTER, RADIATOR,BATTERY, 7 FRONT RIGHT TIRES(NONE FROM NAILS ETC.),2 HEAD GASKETS,EGR VALVE,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, 2 SETS OF BRAKES(WHICH STILL MAKE NOISE). OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THE 96 NEON IS A LEMON. THE BRAKES ARE MADE FROM A METAL THAT RUSTS VERY QUICKLY AND THE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAULTY AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION?? IS 4 TOO MANY FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 50+THOUSAND MILES?? HELP!!!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 1857014 )