How reliable is your Neon?

dagibber · Post by **dagibber** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:00 pm

Hi I'm a n00b here, so sorry if this has been discussed before. But I'm about to purchase a 2005 Neon!!!

I've heard good things about how reliable these cars are, but I always like reassurance. How's it been for you? Can you guys post what kind of car you've had and what kind of maintenance you've had to do on it?

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:37 pm

1. 1995 Plymouth Neon Highline;
2. 2002 Dodge Neon SXT;
3. 2004 Dodge Neon SXT;
4. 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4.

No serious problems with any of my vehicles- just followed the maintenance schedules in the owner's manuals.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:43 pm

if that 05 is an auto, the only things i've really seen be an issue are the radiator, and the solenoid pack on the trans. other than that 05's are pretty reliable.

Austin98R/T · Post by **Austin98R/T** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:03 pm

I've had a pile of neons but as long as you keep up with general maintenance they seem to be very good reliable cars.

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:17 pm

My 04 has had regular maintenance, plus cam sensors, and is up to 95000 miles.

I would drive it cross country right now if I had to.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:20 pm

^ you still have that thing, Frank?? you've been about to sell it ever since I joined this forum

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:23 pm

Hush up you

I'll actually be driving it some this week since my work car needs some maintenance

ThatKevin · Post by **ThatKevin** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:33 pm

My 02 has 308xxx km (191xxx miles) and it's been pretty solid so far. I've even neglected it for the past 20,000 km

dagibber · Post by **dagibber** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:15 pm

Nice. yeah, mine will be an SXT automatic. Nice to see so many of these babies lasting 150K (and then some!). I was telling some buddies about it and they were all... "shoulda got a civic..." WTF. Why do these neons get such a bad rap? They seem legit to me (and more fun to drive

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:23 pm

People love to hate neons. Learn to thrive on the hate, and you'll be fine.

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:58 pm

The bottom end in my car has well over 200k! And i wouldn't hesitate for a second to drive from here in ny to Florida! Just make sure the timing belt/water pump is done before it goes. Of the belt breaks u will b replacing the head/or the bent valves, whatever u prefer haha

Austin98R/T · Post by **Austin98R/T** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 2:51 pm

occasional demons wrote:People love to hate neons. Learn to thrive on the hate, and you'll be fine.

x2

RayWolf · Post by **RayWolf** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 8:13 pm

Mine just Rolled over 193,000 miles. sure it burns a bit of oil but I still run it to red line any chance I get.

I'm hoping my new srt 4 has the same reliability my first 2 cars had.

g_force58 · Post by **g_force58** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:34 pm

My 2000 ES with an MTX has been very reliable. Has never left me stranded in the 6 yrs I have had it. The car has 135,000 miles now and doing great. Regular maintenance is key as others have said. The best way to kill a Good Neon is to ignore timing belt, water pump, and oil changes.

DetergentCandy · Post by **DetergentCandy** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:13 am

05 SXT - No issues
04 R/T - No issues
02 R/T - No issues
05 SRT-4 - Other than rebuilding the engine because the previous owner blew it up, no major issues. Had to replace a few sensors recently, but nothing over $150 total.

ducktapetg · Post by **ducktapetg** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:09 am

I beat the shit out of my 99 r/t and it loved it. Never had a problem but I also kept up with the maintenance. The paint on the other hand...

From the 6 neons I've owned, the only one with a problem was the neon I bought with the blown engine. All others ran/run like a top. Just make sure you keep an eye on the oil.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:13 am

Other than negligence from previous owners and regular maintenance items none of my neons have ever needed anything major that wasn't elective.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 12:18 pm

156k miles on my 2003. I've owned it since it had 27k on it, it's been through 14 US states already, and I would drive it ANYWHERE.

If it wasn't for my other car, and my wife having a newer car, this Neon would easily have 200k on it by now. Guaranteed I'd still be driving it.

cdewalt1985 · Post by **cdewalt1985** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:18 pm

my 02 r/t is at 230xxx miles and still going strong

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:35 am

I have a 2000 Highline. About 160+ miles on it (not sure on exact # since I changed clusters a looong time ago lol)

It's my 5 car and second Neon so far and it's the best running car I've had yet. It's had it's hiccups but it never left me stranded... STUCK, but not stranded lol.

I love my car and wouldn't trade it for anything. It isn't the best body wise but, it's loaded with a bunch of new, un-seeable parts haha.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the timing belt tensioner. I replaced the belt and water pump last May but I didn't replace the tensioner. I'm strongly considering re-doing the whole thing and using a new tensioner as soon as it gets warm.

All I'll need then is a paint job lol

04R/T · Post by **04R/T** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:58 am

2004 R/T that I bought new. It's been through several sets of tires, 2 timing belt/ water pump/ tensioner changes, a set of brake pads and rotors, a few spark plug changes, filters, a set of struts and the usual wiper blades and bulbs. The oil gets changed every 10k miles using whatever synthetic is on sale. The only unscheduled thing was a cam sensor a month ago that cost me about $25.

So far it has 223k trouble free miles.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:45 pm

04R/T wrote:2004 R/T that I bought new...

...it has 223k trouble free miles.

Loyalty right there!

jammer54751 · Post by **jammer54751** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 5:50 pm

My 00 ES has almost 200k and finally just lost spark for some reason.. but 200k with a beating of a life time and a comp 400 cam is pretty good I'd say. My 03 SXT has 117 on the clock and runs good...

FormerlyREDRT_98 · Post by **FormerlyREDRT_98** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:27 am

My '01 ES was a great car. Never left my wife stranded in the 11 years she drove it putting 102k on it. I drive it for about a year after that and put another 12k on it before an axle and the crossmember gave out. First real problem we ever had with the car

blueneo03 · Post by **blueneo03** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:38 am

i had a 2003 SE auto and that thing was a tank..... litterally drove it from san francisco to memphis about 6 times as well as to jersey once and it never had any problems (minus a broken rim once.... but that was an aftermarket one) never really had to to any maintenence on it other than what it called for and it ran like a champ! i miss it tho

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:49 am

2000 Highline

Was rear ended when I got it. Fixed that and the radiator and the car was fine.

Wanted A/C so I ended up replacing the compressor and plug to the compressor since the wires were cut for some reason.

Tie rods, control arm bushings, sway bar links and bushings and brakes really.

Oh... I changed the oil pressure switch/sensor earlier today. Found out that's where my oil leak was coming from!

Post by **jonnymopar** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 10:21 am

dvon17 wrote:2000 Highline

Was rear ended when I got it. Fixed that and the radiator and the car was fine.

Wanted A/C so I ended up replacing the compressor and plug to the compressor since the wires were cut for some reason.

Tie rods, control arm bushings, sway bar links and bushings and brakes really.

Oh... I changed the oil pressure switch/sensor earlier today. Found out that's where my oil leak was coming from!

I've got respect for you man, taking the time to slowly work each bug out of that car so you can have something you want to drive. With the amount of people that get rid of their cars for stupid ass reasons, I like seeing this.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:19 am

Lets see...

My old 2001 Neon ES went 20k miles once without an oil change and never skipped a beat. I blew up the ATX, but that's really the only thing that ever went wrong with that car. Owned it from 40k to 120k before I sold it. One of the most reliable cars I've ever had.

The SRT...pretty reliable. Anything that has gone wrong with it is mostly because of me.

Snapped an axle unexpectedly one time, and blew the rear stuts. But mostly just normal wear an tear for a car that now has 154,000 miles on it. Still hits 155psi across the board on compression tests.

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:49 am

jonnymopar wrote: I've got respect for you man, taking the time to slowly work each bug out of that car so you can have something you want to drive. With the amount of people that get rid of their cars for stupid ass reasons, I like seeing this.

Thanks Jon! That is definitely appreciated. Sometimes I feel like it isn't worth it but, after the hours are spent and my arms and hands are all cut up, my mood changes and I'm in love with my car again when it starts or stops doing what I was working towards. Just about everything that's been fixed on my car has been done by me . I definitely take pride in that. It may not be the fastest, newest or even the cleanest but, it's mine and it runs exceptionally well for a 13yr old car!

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:07 pm

JeffM wrote:Still hits 155psi...

JeffM wrote:...across the board on compression tests.

Oh... not boost pressure.

2GN.ORG

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