1997 DODGE NEON Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

THROUGH THE LIFE OF OWNING THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET SEVERAL TIMES 3 TIMES IN LAST 2 YEARS ALONE AND REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET STILL LEAKS AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIX IT EVEN THE DEALER. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEONS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE NEON. THE HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS REMAINED DIM. OIL WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEN LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND, CAUSING THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GRAYISH-COLORED SMOKE EXITING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,301.

OIL LEAKAGE, HEAD GASKET REPLACED 2X IN 1997, AGAIN HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, CAM AND TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE ALSO. CAR HAS ALWAYS LEAKED A BIT OF OIL DAILY; HOWEVER, OIL CHANGES EVERY 2000 MILES COUPLED WITH WEEKLY LEVEL CHECKS MAINTAINED ABILITY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. AS OF 2/05, OIL LEAKING PROFUSELY VIA PASSENGER PORTION OF ENGINE GASKET. MECHANIC CONFIRMS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE NEONS AS A WHOLE. I HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT REPAIR HEAD GASKET AT MY EXPENSE AT THIS TIME. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN OCT. 1996, AS A NEW YEAR NEON FOR 1997. I MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE METICIOUSLY, AND BOTH THE BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (BODY HAS NO RUST). CAR HAS 88,000 MILES CURRENTLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN DODGE'S LACK OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY IN PRODUCING A QUALITY CAR. I BOUGHT THIS NEW AND HAD HOPE TO TRANSFER IT...

ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED IN 1999. NOW THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AGAIN AND MECHANICS HAVE SAID THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AGAIN.*AK

TOOK VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR SHOP AFTER NOTICING AN OIL LEAK. THEY TOLD ME AT FIRST IT WAS NORMAL LEAKING FROM ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THEN THANKSGIVING DAY 2001, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (75 MPH) THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. OIL WENT EVERY WHERE. I HAD OIL EVEN IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. TOOK TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, HE TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE WITH NEON'S. FINAL PRICE TO FIX PROBLEM 987.36, HEAD GASKET REPLACED COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED OUT, ETC. NOW I NEED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE OF IT. SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. MY FRIEND HAD A 1998 DODGE NEON THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS RECALLED IN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED FOR FREE. OBVIOUSLY FOR CONSUMER SATISFACTION IT WOULD BE IN CHRYSLERS BEST INTEREST TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AT THE VERY LEAST, THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED A LESS THAN SATISFACTORY ENGINE COMPONENT IN...

VEHICLE'S BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A BAD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, THREE TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, STICKING THROTTLE BODY, AN OIL PAN LEAK, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAD AN AIR LEAK WHICH WHISTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB

1997 DODGE NEON, COLOR LAPUIS BLUE, I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY OWNER. NOT ONLY HAVE I HAD A SERIES OF ENGINE REPAIRS BETWEEN 40,000 TO 80,000 MILES, THE SAME AS I'VE READ ON DOZEN'S OF OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I NOW HAVE THE PEELING LAPUIS BLUE PAINT WHICH STARTED SLOWLY PEELING A YEAR AGO. THE PAINT NOW BLOWS OFF THE CAR AS I DRIVE. THIS CAR HAS COST THE CONSUMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ALL THE DEFECTS IN THIS CAR. *JB

THE CONSUMER SAW OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON JUNE 3RD 2002, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT. THE MAIN GEAR HAD A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOOSE TEETH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE HEADS OF THE ENGINE WERE WARPED. THE DEALERS IN BOTH CASE ONLY CHANGED THE GASKET AND NOT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE HEAD WAS WARPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD IN THE MORNING, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS, THEN CLUNKS IN HARD AND IF DRIVING WHEN STILL COLD, IT SEEMED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. (AND SHIFTS HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND OVER REVS IN 2ND PRIOR TO SHIFTING) *SC *JB

ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK.*AK

THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 2 YEARS LATER. THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM

I OWN A 1997 DODGE NEON - A MODEL (AND APPARENTLY, THE DODGE BRAND ITSELF) THAT HAS A REPUTATION FOR BLOWING HEAD GASKETS AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES BECAUSE OF A POOR COMPOSITE MATERIAL THE GASKETS WERE MADE OUT OF. *AK JUST TODAY, I FOUND THE TELL-TALE SIGN OF FLUID MIXTURE (OIL IN MY COOLANT LINES) THAT INDICATES A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT BASED ON MY CAR'S YEAR AND THE MILEAGE (APPROX 54800), THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I'VE SCOURED THE INTERNET AND FOUND COUNTLESS TALES OF "SECRET WARRANTIES" AND "CUSTOMER GOODWILL MONEY." STORIES ABOUT CHRYSLER PAYING FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF A REPLACEMENT, $100 DEDUCTABLES, 50/50 SPLIT POLICIES, AND OF COURSE, DOWN-RIGHT REFUSALS AND DENIALS OF THE PROBLEM ITSELF, WHICH CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED IN A SERVICE BULLITEN, LOCATED HERE: HTTP://WWW.NEONS.ORG/NEONTSB/TSB/09/090598.HTM THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND...

REPLACED 3 HEAD GASKETS IN 1997 DODGE NEON. FEWER THAN 33,000 MILES AT REPLACEMENT OF THIRD HEAD GASKET. *LA

I HAD BOUGHT 2 NEW DODGE NEONS, 1997 & 1998. FIRST 1998 NEON HAD ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM, DAIMLERCHRYSLER FIXED IT &I PAID $100.00 AS I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW 1997 NEON WITH LOWER MILEAGE HAS SAME ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM. TWO CARS SAME PROBLEM. REQUESTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THIS IS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO FIX IT. PLEASE MAKE DAIMLERCHRYSLER FIX THIS FOR ALL NEON OWNERS THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE JEEP CAR PROBLEM AFTER YOU ALL GOT AFTER THEM THEY ARE FIXING THE JEEP PROBLEM FOR THE JEEP CUSTOMERS WITHOUT ANY CHARGE. THE ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH NEON CARS. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED TWICE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, AND THE CALIPER PIN. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5-15-03 AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK THE SIZE OF A 50 CENT PIECE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN PURCHASING I ASKED IF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON NEON'S, AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT AN ISSUE ANYMORE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE TODAY 7-18-03 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET AND IT WAS AN OFTEN DONE REPAIR AT A COST OF $700.00! AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FINDING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, I AM MORE THAN SLIGHTLY DISPLEASED THAT DODGE, KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, AND EVEN HAVING A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM IS INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF IT'S OWNERS, I WILL NOT BE BUY A DODGE, CHRYSLER, OR PLYMOUTH EVER AGAIN! *JB

THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 3 HEAD GASKETS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE LAST BLOWN GASKET CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *NLM

PURCHASED CAR IN OCTOBER OR 1996. REPLACED HEAD GASKET IN 1998 DUE TO OIL LEAKING IN SPARK PLUGS. THEN AGAIN IN 2001. NOW 2003 AND OIL IN SPARK PLUGS AGAIN.*JB

DODGE NEON 1997, I FOUND OUT TODAY THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED, I WAS TOLD BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, 2 WERE DODGE MECHANICS, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS FIXING THE HEAD GASKETS AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE GASKET WAS TOO THIN, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES THE CAR WAS NEVER RUN HARD AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS

MY DAUGHTER JUST TURNED 16 AND BOUGHT A USED 1997 DODGE NEON WITH 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD HER OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AND REPLACED. ONE OF HIS SELLING POINTS WAS A NEW HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. WELL IT'S BEEN JUST OVER THE 3 MONTH, 3000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO THE WEB, AND TO MY HORROR THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE. THE ROADS ARE BEING MADE HAZARDOUS WITH SLIPPERY OIL AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BY A BADLY DESIGNED ENGINE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THEM. I KNOW YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOPE YOUR AGENCY CAN MAKE CHRYSLER RECALL THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM, DAMAGING THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND REPAIRED THROUGH LOCAL DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. WE CONTACTED THE MAIN OFFICE AND GOT NOWHERE. WE WERE TOLD IT'S NOT A RECALL SO WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WAS VERY RUDE AND HUNG UP ON US. IT COST US OVER $600.00 FOR THE REPAIR. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM DODGE NEEDS TO BE RESPOSIBLE. WE WERE VERY LOYAL DODGE OWNERS BUT FROM NOW ON WE ARE NOT. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS BUT WE WERE TOLD IF IT'S NOT A RECALL WE CANNOT HELP YOU. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NLM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS CAUSING OIL LEAKS. VEHILCE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

HEAD GASKET FAILED, LED TO RUINED CYLINDER HEADS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL.CONTACTED DEALER, PROBLEM DUE TO HEAD GASKET GOING OUT.*AK

HEAD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING, CONSUMER MADE ATTEMPTS TWO MONTHS LATER TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS UNDER AN 8 YEAR 80000 MILE WARRANTY, HOWEVER DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE WARRANTY, 2 MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLEW OUT BECAUSE OF THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR COSTS. *SLC

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY"--AT 20,871 AND 54,049 MILES. NOW SUPPOSEDLY ONLY DEFECTIVE CAMSENSORS ARE THE PROBLEM. OTHER DEFECTS BEGINNING 20,000 MILES: RADIO/TAPE PLAYER, VIBRATION, CLINKLING/CLUNKING SOUND, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE, "TOE" PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE TIRE CONSUMPTION (TIRE & WHEEL RUN OUT), ABS FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, BRAKE HOWLING, BRAKE METAL TO METAL CONTACT, NEED FOR LARGER BRAKE DRUMS, TRUNK WEATHERSTRIPPING DEFECTIVE, FAULTY DESIGN RESULTS IN LEAKS TO INTERIOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE, CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, TIRES COLLAPSE AND FLY OFF, AC FAILURE (HOSE LEAKS, COMPRESSOR REPLACED), NEW BATTERIES REPEATED REPLACED...

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND LEAKING OIL, CONSUMER REPLACED THERMOSTAT WHICH SUFFICED FOR 2 MONTHS, BUT VEHICLE STALLED OUT COMPLETELY, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, THIS WAS THE SECOND GASKET THAT WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS INSTALLED BY RECALL. *TT

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK.*AK

NEON HEAD GASKET BLOWN, HAD TO PAY 680$ TO HAVE REPLACED. THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS, AND WHAT SHOULD I DO. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE TAKEN METICULOUS CARE OF IT, INCLUDING ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE COST I'VE BEEN QUOTED TO REPLACE THIS HEAD GASKET IS APPROXIMATELY $977. A PART LIKE THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE... NOT 61,000 MILES. JUDGING FROM ALL THE POSTINGS I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE MODE FOR THE NEON ENGINE AND I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BEAR SOME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PART LIKE THIS THAT IS FAILING PREMATURELY.*AK

HEAD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING, CONSUMER MADE ATTEMPTS TWO MONTHS LATER TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS UNDER AN 8 YEAR 80000 MILE WARRANTY, HOWEVER DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE WARRANTY, 2 MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLEW OUT BECAUSE OF THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR COSTS. *SLC

ENGINE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING AT 60200 MILES, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.*AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE, AND THEN CAME SMOKE FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO OIL DUE TO A BLOWEN HEAD GASKET. *AK

SIX MONTHS AGO SEVERE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, TOLD RELAY NOT FUNCTIONING. MECHANIC REPLACES SWITCH, FIRST TIME FAN KICKS IN TO COOL ENGINE, RELAY BLOWS/SHORTS OUT, MECHANIC SENDS ME TO DEALER BECAUSE OF WARRANTY .DEALER REPLACES RELAY, CAR CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. DEALER TOLD ME "MICE" MUST HAVE EATEN THROUGH WIRING, DEALER REPLACED SWITCH/WIRING. NOW HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF OIL LOSS. DIAGANOSIS W/BLACK LIGHT, HEAD GASKET. TOLD RELAY AND HEAD GASKET RELATED AS ALUMINUM BLOCK PRONE TO OVERHEATING, RELAY COOLING DISFUNCTION POSSIBLE CAUSE OF HEAD GASKET LEAK. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. DEALER DETERMINED EGR VALVE HAD FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

I BOUGHT THIS PILE OF C... 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH 38000 MILES ON IT . NOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE THE DEALER $800 TO REPAIR IT WHEN THE TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAS A CRACK IN IT. NOW IT WILL BE $3500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT ONLY HAS 71000 MILES ON IT . AND CHRYSLER DOESNT CARE THAT THIS IS QUITE POSSILY THE WORST CAR EVER MADE. IT RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH A YUGO AND A PINTO

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. HERE IS JUST A BRIEF LIST: INCORRECT GAS MILEAGE BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BRAKES SQUEAKING, AIR COMING THROUGH BAD WINDOW SEALS, DEFROST NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, 3 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED, 2 HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, AND WATER COMING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH HAS CAUSED THE JACK AND TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT TO RUST. ALSO THE WATER THEN LEAKS INTO THE BACK FLOOR WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SMELL. THE CS FOR DODGE WILL NOT AGREE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL ROOF DESIGN WHICH WOULD CORRECT THE WATER FROM COMING INTO THE TRUNK. FOR THE PAST YEAR, ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE CAR WHICH HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 62,000 MILES AND PROPER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED.*AK

OIL WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL INTO VEHICLE.*AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE.*SLC

I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DAIMLER 800-992-1997, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR ASSISTANCE OR RECALL. ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE BULLETIN SHOWS AN UPGRADE AND A CHANGE IN THE HEAD GASKET AND ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS TO BE MADE. THIS BECAME KNOWN IN 1998, 1 YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THIS SEEMS LIKELY TO BE A DEFECT AND QUALITY ISSUE.*AK

THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE 1995-1998 NEONS AND THE HEADGASKET FAILING ANY WHERE FROM 40000 MILES TO OVER 50000;IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE LEAK NEONHEADGASKETS.COM OR NEON HEADGASKETS YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE HAD. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. THEY OFFER A VARIETY OF "GOOD WILL" ASSISTANCE BUT I FEEL WITH THE NUMBER OF CARS AND PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE HEADGASKETS FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO FIX OTHER THINGS THAT WERE RELATED TO THE HEADGASKET LEAK AND ALL THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE WAS $300 ASSISTANCE WHILE I HAVE TO PAY OVER $550. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LET ME SPEAK TO THE OWNER OR DISTRICT MANAGER. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VHEICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A BAD OIL LEAK. MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER 36 DIFFERENT CRACKS IN HEAD OF MOTOR.ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SHATTERED, VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS FULL OF PIECES OF METAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER REPLACED HEAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO PAY DAMAGES FOR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *AK

I HAVE GOTTEN THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE IN A SPAN OF A YEAR AND A HALF.*AK

I HAVE GOTTEN THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE IN A SPAN OF A YEAR AND A HALF.*AK

THE FIRST ISSUE WITH THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET, OCCURED AROUND 32,000 MILES. IT WAS FIXED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN; OIL LEAKING, EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLING, AND HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO GET MY CAR IN. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY ADDED WARRANTY. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WITH THE PAINT JOB. THE ORIGINAL PAINT IS LIPIS BLUE AND IS PEELING AND FLAKING OFF IN MANY PLACES. AT 35,500 MILES, THEY TOUCHED UP THE PROBLEM AREAS, TOLD ME OF THE DEFECT IN THE PRIMER, AND THEN INFORMED ME THEY COULD NOT PAINT THE ENTIRE CAR, ONLY THE PANELS WHICH DID NOT PASS THE TAPE TEST. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM AGAIN MORE RECENTLY BECAUSE OF OTHER PEELING PROBLEMS. IT IS MY BELIEF THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAINTED COMPLETELY WHEN THEY INFORMED ME OF THE DEFECT.*AK

NEED REPAIR OF HEAD GASKET, OCCORDING TO EL CAMPO OF TUCSON AZ. *AK

OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKETS AND FROM REAR MAIN SEAL. *AK

HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT RADIATOR FAN RELAY SWITCH CIRCUIT SHORTED OUT WHICH COULD HAVE ALLOWED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND CRACK HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK