1998 Plymouth Neon EX 1.8L from North America
Summary:
OK, but only if you get the extended warranty
Faults:
Head gasket failure, oil intake valve, steering column "pops" when it's turned, water damage, continuous oil leaks, idles really high...
General Comments:
When I first got the car, the cassette player ate my tapes. That was warranty work #1.
2 months later, the steering column started making clunking sounds whenever I turned and the front wheels grinded (warranty work #2). I took it to 2 different dealers for this problem and they told me that it was new and all the metal had to "break itself in". In other words, they didn't fix anything.
One year later, I started having severe water damage. The inside of my car would fill up with water every time it rained. I took it to the dealer, who told me it was the weather stripping and replaced it... 2 days later-full of water again. After they had my car for over one month, they discovered that the water was coming in through the rear tail lights, flooding through my trunk and into the inside (warranty work #3).
Now, two years later, I have had the car to the dealer 2 times in one week for an on-going oil leak. First, they replaced the head gasket and head (which had completely corroded from "normal wear-and tear").
It continued to leak, so now they replaced the cam seal and oil-intake valve (warranty work #4 & 5).
The trunk springs don't work... the trunk slams down like a guillotine, but I'm sick of taking my car to get it fixed, so I'll probably end up buying something else.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 15th October, 2001
31st Jan 2003, 23:45
> Honestly I would have thought that
> when Mercedes took them over, we
> would have seen some improvements.
The reviewer's car was a 1998 Neon. The Daimler-Benz merger started in early 1998, and finished several months later. So the car was most likely made by the old Chrysler.
Chrysler finally solved the famous head-gasket problem in late 1998, possibly resulting from the merger (since model years always start early, some 1999 model year Neons probably have defective head-gaskets).
Chances are, the first significant Mercedes-sponsored changes took place in the 2000 model year, when the Neon received some major improvements.
19th Oct 2005, 07:37
Yeah, it seems that your problems are all very common among Neons of your year and below. I'd get on some forums with other owners of Neons, like Neons.org's forums. They've helped out a lot with preventing problems with my Neon.
19th Jan 2002, 23:31
Typical Chrysler engineering, subpar and not to be messed with. Honestly I would have thought that when Mercedes took them over, we would have seen some improvements.. Nothing, still bad transmissions, still bad headgaskets, just like the 80's..
Buy a Ford or a Toyota, that's all I can tell you :) Honda's are good too, but overpriced and under equipped.