1998 Dodge Neon

I PURCHASED THIS DODGE NEON USED WITH 23,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. FIRST THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. WE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKING AND OVERHEATING. THE AIR-CONDITIONING HAS STARTED TO WORK ONLY OCCASSIONALLY. THE SEALS ON THE WINDOWS ARE VERY POOR AND IT ALWAYS SOUNDS LIKE THE WINDOW NEEDS TO BE ROLLED UP. THE TRUNK DIDN'T HAVE ANY SEAL TO PROTECT AGAINST THE RAIN AND MY INTERIOR WAS FLOODED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WINTER, OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS. I ACTUALLY HAD TO REMOVE THE BACK SEAT AND ALL INTERIOR CARPET FOR THE RAINY SEASON. NOW THE WATER PUMP AND MY HEAD GASKET HAVE GIVEN OUT. I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON MY MANY SERVICE VISITS, BUT ALWAYS HELD OUT HOPE UNTIL NOW THAT IS. THESE REPAIRS WILL COST ME WELL OVER $1,000. AND THE CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. VERY BIG MISTAKE I MADE PURCHASING THE DODGE NEON, NOT ONLY IS IT ALWAYS IN NEED OF REPAIR, BUT THEY HAVE THE ABSOLUTE WORSE DEALER CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. I STOPPED GOING TO DODGE FOR SERVICE AFTER MY FIRST COUPLE OF ENCOUNTERS WITH THEM.

OUR PROBLEM IS WITH THE NEONS HEADGASKET LEAKING. AS MANY NEON ARE OWNED WHY DOESN'T DODGE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CARS LEAKING. I RUN A GARAGE AND WE HAVE DONE ABOUT 25 HEAD GASKET JOBS ON THESE CARS. THIS IS CRAZY! THESE CARS HAVE LOW MILEAGE FOR A CAR BUT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. I KNOW THAT DODGE REDESIGNED THESE GASKETS. BUT WHY DON'T THEY RECALL THEM. IT IS CRAZY TO HAVE A CAR WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT & HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. THESE SAME CARS ARE THE SAME AS THE TALONS,ECLISPES, AND OTHER WITH THE SAME ENGINE PROBLEMS JUST DIFFERENT NAMES. PROBLEM WITH THE LIFTERS ALSO. DODGE HAS REMADE LIFTERS BECAUSE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD DESIGN. TAKE A CAR WITH LESS THAN 50,000 ON IT & IT NEEDS A VALVES REPLACED. OLD VALVES WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. JUST WENT THROUGH THIS WITH A TALON. GOT VALVES FROM 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS 1 SET NEW STYLE OTHER SET OLD STYLE. THEY DO NOT INTERCHANGE IF USING NEW STYLE HAVE TO CHANGE THE CRANK AND THE CAM SHAFT SO THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO. GUESS DODGE IS TRYING TO KEEP THIS QUIET. THANK GOD FOR 1 HONEST PARTS MAN. IT SEEMS ALL 2.0 SUFFER FROM THIS. THEN THE CONSUMER OR IN OUR CASE THE GARAGE HAS TO FORK OUT 1000.00 OF $$$$$TO FIX PROBLEM THAT IS DODGES PROBLEM. *AK