9.2
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$1,667.00
Average Mileage:
66,393 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (2 reports)
- replaced radiator with multiple trans fluid flushes (2 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
cooling system problem
Helpful Websites About 2004 Dodge Neon radiator blew, letting anti-freeze into transmission
2008Nov 06
Neon XTS 2.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
Add another Neon to the list of coolant in the trans - car just let loose and I got a call that they heard fluid rushing out of car - drive out there and could not tell if it was coolant or trans and find out it was both. Had our local garage pick it up on the wrecker and had them take a look at it - found out the internal trans cooler in the radiator cracked and flooded the trans and ended up forcing the overflow to dump. Car would not engage in gear that is when i decided to let shop handle the repair instead of trying it myself. Well they replaced radiator and flushed over 40 quarts of trans fluid through to try and get all the coolant out that they could - will have to go back ina week and have them flush again just to try and get as much out as possible. Really pissed off about this - any problem i have had on any Dodge they would not repair under warranty - had issues with drive shafts, front bearing hubs, stupid electrical issues and so on. Going to call dealer that we purchased this from and give them a earful - i know it wont get me anything except a chance to vent and inform them that this is the last Dodge that I will ever own - sad since a family member is employed by them but they are looking at a Ford for there next purchase. For the cost of the car and all the pain I should have gotten a much higher end car - live and learn i guess.
2008Oct 21
Neon SXT
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
When the car faulted on the highway, I had it towed to MY mechanic who tells me there is a crack in the case and it should be covered under warranty so then I have to tow it to the dealership so they can check it and they tell me it was that radiator that failed and it is NOT covered under warranty!!!! I am livid!!! I can't get the money to fix it, I still have 18 months left to pay on it, AND I used this months loan payment for all the towings!!! Now I am waiting for the dealership to call me as I have talked to Crysler, who, by the way, stands behind their technician 100%, and tell me "what kind of a deal they have worked out" for me to pay the repairs!!!
2008Oct 02
Neon SXT 2.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 55,000 miles
This post from 11/07 pretty much explains it all--the exact same thing happened to us last night (10/02/08--my car is at 55K):
I was driving down the road at night and the Transmission started slipping. It got worse as I kept driving. The temperature gauge shot way up. I pulled over and got out and the car was smoking and something was burning. I opened the hood and tried to see, but it was so dark I couldn't tell. I waited 10 minutes and started it back up and the temperature gauge was back to half, which is where it's normally at. I put the car in reverse and it was slipping really bad. It finally kicked and I put it in drive and went to the gas station just down the road, the car overheated again and I pulled it. I looked under the car to see that it was leaking Transmission fluid. The gas station also had a repair shop. I called the next morning and the guy checked it out. He said the radiator blew, and Anti-Freeze went into the Transmission. I got the car towed to another place, and they said the same thing. It ended up costing me $2700 replace. I took the car home today and the engine was running rough, and it was shifting rough. I checked the radiator fluid and there was Transmission fluid in it! I'm bringing the car back to the place and they are fixing it right. Transmission shot at 51,000 miles? a 2004? The guys said it wasn't the first Neon it's happened too either. Has anyone else had this problem?
2007Nov 11
(reported on)Neon SXT 2.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 51,967 miles
I was driving down the road at night and the Transmission started slipping. It got worse as I kept driving. The temperature gauge shot way up. I pulled over and got out and the car was smoking and something was burning. I opened the hood and tried to see, but it was so dark I couldn't tell. I waited 10 minutes and started it back up and the temperature gauge was back to half, which is where it's normally at. I put the car in reverse and it was slipping really bad. It finally kicked and I put it in drive and went to the gas station just down the road, the car overheated again and I pulled it. I looked under the car to see that it was leaking Transmission fluid. The gas station also had a repair shop. I called the next morning and the guy checked it out. He said the radiator blew, and Anti-Freeze went into the Transmission. I got the car towed to another place, and they said the same thing. It ended up costing me $2700 replace. I took the car home today and the engine was running rough, and it was shifting rough. I checked the radiator fluid and there was Transmission fluid in it! I'm bringing the car back to the place and they are fixing it right. Transmission shot at 51,000 miles? a 2004? The guys said it wasn't the first Neon it's happened too either. Has anyone else had this problem?
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Dec 30
Neon ES 2.0L
Well here is another complaint to add to the list! I am just livid! My car has done fairly well for me up until this point. Besides two controller arms having to be replaced in the first 50,000 miles costing me $1,000 and a sensor that cracked about a month ago that had to be replaced and cost roughly $50.00. The sensor caused my car to go bonkers! Actually it caused my car to behave quite similar to this latest major experience. I was driving and all of a sudden bogged down, my temp gauge went all the way down to cold and the trans slipped and I was not able to accelerate my car. I had to coast into a parking lot and it sputtered off. I then called my dad, he came and turned it back on, drove it around and it was fine. I was totally miffed! Then a few days later it did the same thing, took it to the mechanic and said it was a cracked sensor and the car was fine after the sensor was replaced. That is up until just under a week ago, At 97,000 miles, 20 degrees out side and the day before New years eve, I was driving to the store when I noticed my check oil light and a round red dot light was on. I decided to detour my way to a gas station to check the oil as my car became idle in the turn lane holding up traffic (so embarrassing!). I shifted from drive to park back to drive and nothing was grabbing, the trans had somehow slipped. So I turned off the car and turned her back on, the trans grabbed and I was able to pull into a drug store parking lot as the trans slipped again (stopped shifting gears) and I coasted into a parking space. I turned off the car, popped the hood and noticed some smelly smoke was coming up from the hood. I checked the oil and it was ok, I looked at the coolant reservoir and noticed there was nothing in it (which I thought was weird because I never noticed the temp gauge going high) I then decided to check the transmission fluid and it was at the add line. I thought this was very odd because just a little over a month ago a friend mechanic and I went through everything checked and topped off all the fluids in my car (at the time the cracked sensor was replaced). So I ran over to the gas station bought some oil, coolant and some transmission fluid and came back and filled the oil and transmission with trans oil. I started my car and the car sounded great, the temp was at its regular place just about half way, I then tried to reverse my car out of the spot and it would not move. I turned off the car and then moments later noticed a huge amount of transmission fluid all over the inside of the hood and on the ground. I paced the parking lot and then noticed a huge trail of transmission fluid from the intersection into the drug store. As of now, I had to pay $120.00 just to have the car towed to the mechanic shop and the car is still sitting in the shop and am waiting for the lovely bill, Oh, I can only imagine! Living in icy cold wintry Michigan, the mechanic first thought I might have hit some Ice and cracked a transmission line but he found no cracks. He then noticed coolant in the transmission. He was puzzled at first and decided to call local shops to find out what they knew and in the process I decided to search online and found this site. He is trying to see what is the most cost effective way to go knowing money is tight. We are going to try and just replace the radiator and flush the transmission as of right now. Has anyone else done this? Has this method worked for anyone else? I bought this car because it was within my budget about 4 yrs ago. My boyfriend has had a couple of Honda cars, and his most recent lasted over 200,000 miles (gave it to his brother and is still going strong!) with only 2 things that cost him little money, a water pump needed replaced and the radiator needed replaced but ONLY after 150,000 miles!!! Can you believe that? His brother was in need of a car and gave it to him. My bf went and just bought a certified used Honda for $12,000 and has 37,000 miles and also has a 7 yr 100,000 mile warranty! I am not trying to advertise here but I am just pissed and aggravated to think of all the money I have dished out into this domestic car of mine that I have only had for just under 4 yrs! I think I am going to go with that foreign brand after this experience. My family has been dependable and has fully supported the Big 3 domestic car makers since the start of the auto industry and my family has all worked for them since the start. But cars cost thousands of dollars to purchase. They should not be made disposable for that much money!!! And the whole family all has stories of major car repairs and car failure just after a few years of owning their vehicle. Yes I know Neon's are a cheap class of cars but they are not that cheap! They still cost thousands and should NOT be disposable. I have had mechanical things that cost a couple hundred of dollars that last me Years with out a problem (dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, foreign cars) How come a vehicle that costs 1,000s of dollars can not last years with out a problem?
diatto
Roseville, MI, USA
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