The Chrysler Neon is a car that was introduced in 1994 and is commonly known as a Dodge Neon in the United States. It was originally designed as a two door coupe, but later generations have been designed as a four door sedan. First generation models featured the 2.0 L ECC I4 engine, but subsequent generations have been equipped with the 2.0 L SOHC A588 I4 engine.
Chrysler Neon’s are often known for their vibrant colors and lack of standard options that are often found on other vehicle models such as power windows and locks. Over the course of its evolution however, this changed as Chrysler decided to opt to use more earth tones for the car’s paint and added additional options to make them more appealing to the general market.
Despite improvement made to the Neon by Chrysler, many of these vehicles suffered some pretty significant mechanical problems. This is especially true of the second generation models. Some of the mechanical problems are really just minor annoyances but some of them are expensive to fix and/or dangerous.
One of the minor mechanical problems found on this vehicle involves the turn signal switch. Some Chrysler Neons have a funny quirk that causes the turn signal to be engaged when the brakes are pressed. This is more of an annoyance than a major mechanical problem however, and is generally inexpensive to fix.
Another problem with some Chrysler Neon vehicles is not only an inconvenience but can be costly to correct because it requires the services of a trained technician to fix. A faulty software patch on some models cause random problems such as engine acceleration when the air conditioner is turned on, the RPMs to cycle unpredictably and a decrease in engine speed when the accelerator is depressed.
A very expensive problem to fix on the Chrysler Neon involves its less than reliable automatic transmission. It has been reported that these transmission often fail prematurely and unpredictably. Replacing the transmission can costs well over a thousand dollars.
The mechanical problems that will almost inevitable creep up on owners of Neons can be avoided by purchasing a high quality extended warranty for the vehicle. Chrysler Neon Extended warranties can cover the expenses of faulty transmissions and the on-board computers and ensure that the owner of these vehicles isn’t stuck with a large repair bill that they have to repair on their own.