Faults:

I got the car and it had a salvaged title, but even then, it ran like a champ.

A few months down the road, my tranny started slipping. I got it fixed or whatever, but back to back, things always went out.

Master cylinder, brakes, always new noises, and weird stuff like that.

I regularly maintained the car, but there was something flipped every day. But it always started, the engine was fine all throughout, just an easy car to fall apart.

But I got all of my parts cheap from a junk yard. These make great first cars.

General Comments:

Easy to drive and maneuver. Easy to handle, easy on gas. Makes a great first or teen car.

Not too big or small. Comfy seats... OEM radio sucks, though. You will need to replace it.

Faults:

I own a 2002 Dodge Neon that was bought new from my uncle, and I have only had a slight problem.

In the 200,000 and something miles it has on it, the only thing that I experienced is my engine light staying on. I was told that my oxygen sensors needed to be changed. I have not experienced any of the jerking that I have read in other posts.

All in all, I LOVE this car. I have wrecked it two or three times, and it just keeps on going. I am hoping to find another one soon to replace it (because of the dents, not because of faulty equipment or shoddy manufacturing).

I am sorry to everyone who has not had a great experience with the Neon SXT like I have. It is a wonderful car, and even with all the miles on it, I would still drive it around the world!!

General Comments:

Great car, very few problems... too low to the ground, I get blinded at night.

Faults:

Nothing wrong so far. The car is in near perfect condition. Shifts well, but grinds second gear if you try to shift too fast.

General Comments:

Don't like the auto locking doors, which you cannot open without the battery key opener.

Handles well. Not a huge amount of power, but adequate. For the year, the miles are OK. Was not afraid to buy the car. Engine and interior were in excellent condition. I mean someone had taken VERY good care of this car.

It has a new paint job; same color, yellow.

I like the car, even though I am a van/SUV/pick up person. I needed a commuter car.

Faults:

Motor mounts had to be replaced at 80,000 miles.

Had a bad wire on my my outbound speed sensor, that I fixed myself.

General Comments:

I've read where a lot of people are having or have had similar problems with the Neon that I have had. When I first got the car, I noticed that the transmission shifted a little hard from first to second gear. It progressively got worse (hard jerking and lurching), and I figured that is why I got a really good deal on the car.

Finally, the speedometer and fuel gauge stopped working and the car would only operate in second gear. It turned out that it was just a wire that deteriorated on one of my speed sensors on the transmission. I spliced a new wire on, and it has been fine ever since.

I have also noticed slight surges at freeway speeds, which initially worried me. I noticed this first on a 1,600 mile road trip that I did last year to Denver from LA. The cause of this was having the defroster on. When the compressor kicked in for the defroster, it put a slight load on the engine, and the lock-up torque converter would disengage. It is definitely an annoying quirk, but nothing that should pose any problems. Funny though, I haven't noticed this with the air conditioning on, just the defroster.

Lastly for the problems, my engine is a little noisy and rough at idle. It is just a typical Chrysler 4 cylinder engine. It is smooth and fairly quiet at when running down the road.

Overall, I give praise to the car. It has never left me stranded, and I haven't really done the routine maintenance very routinely. Although the interior is made out of plastic, it looks decent and is free of rattles.

I like the way the way the car rides and handles, and the acceleration is good, but not impressive.

Comfort is top notch for a car in this category, for when it was made. It is a small car that feels roomy, and the seats are nice and supportive.

I don't understand why Dodge didn't have cruise control as standard in this model.