Used 2002 Dodge Neon Sedan Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Buy the Stick!
If you are interested in a FUN little new car, I would suggest the Neon with the 5 speed. The only weakness with this car is the noisy engine. Handles great (tires don't squeal), good power (132HP), looks great (in silver with tint and factory 15" wheels), and is one of the rommiest in the class. Get ABS and TRAC (optional). Stock stereo is also very crisp. Been very reliable (even after accident!).
Not Satisfied
This is my first new car, and it will be my last new car from Dodge. I bought this brand new, and have had troubles from the begining. My car rattles from all corners of the car, and all 4 doors. Not a big deal you might say. But when u can hear the rattling over the stereo, it can drive u insane.
- Base SedanMSRP: $2,500636 mi away
Neon compact
Great comuter car, gets great gas economy and has great comfort for a little car, if you want a sports car, this may not be for you.lacks in performance. But if you want a decent priced gas miser with room for 4, try the all new dodge neon.
Don't get suckered
-car is ~1yr old and has an avg. trade in $ of $5500.00 NOT GOOD($18K new!!! -poor CD player location -car has no power, expected -uses too much gas -lack luster styling
gas
i have a 2002 SE neon and i love the car. i only have a problem with the amount of gas the car uses. it seem like every 3 days i have to but gas in my car.
Nice
No problems in 16k miles and I drive hard.
neon
Absolutley no problems. Exterior styling is ok, interior could use a little work (i.e. too many hard plastics). Power is above average for this class; decent highway passing. 5 speed manual gear box linkage is abysmal, however.
Good Car for the Dough
For the price it doesn't get much better. Comes with a very high top speed for smaller car. Very fun to drive. Only complaint is thins are starting to raddle at 13000 miles.
2002 dodge neon se
I bought my 02 neon se last feb.2002. the car has been in the shop many times for the idle and poor gas mileage and also for stalling out while driving and when you come to a complete stop. the dealer claims there's nothing wrong. i'd like to know if anyone else has any of these problems. please let me know. what can i do to correct this problem? thanks for your time!
great car
Great car for the price. very roomy inside for a small car. great fuel econemy.
Nice Compact Car
This car is very impressive as far as horsepower. It is a bit sluggish with the A/C running, but that's the norm of most cars. The 5 speed gearbox tends to need a bit of help. (sloppy between gears and hard to get into reverse) The susspension is awsome in the car, no leaning in the corners,(60mph on a 25mph corner)and the car does not slide either. Manual rear windows with power front windows seems a bit odd though. Otherwise I feel that it's a great little car.
Well rounded car
this car looks decent for the price and drives good whether it be just for a cruise or leaving it stock and drag racing it on the weekends like me. I've gained credit for racing it and beating many of the v8 mustangs. bracket racing of course but its a great car for the money.
Good thing it has a warranty...
The interior has plenty of room, it's fairly comfortable, has decent speakers and cold a/c. My car is less than a year old, burns oil, has a rod kncoking in the motor, stalls after exiting freeway on occassion, rattles at idle. The grey dye used on the steering wheel has already worn off and the dashboard is chipping. The car is fun to drive, I use it mostly on the freeway. I will be offloading this car to a used car dealership as soon as I can afford a Toyota.
Neon brakes are terrible
Wife's car. Decent car in all aspects except brakes. Loudest I have ever heard. You have to wear earplugs when driving it, expecially in the rain. Dodge has said this is normal and nothing can be done about the brake noise. I can't believe that. I'm not very happy w/ the sales department that sold me the car. They should have pointed that out in the first place. The Dodge service department was no help either. Bottom line for us is, no more Dodge products. Sad to say since I love the new Rams, but I won't go through this again. If anyone has any suggestions or has dealt w/ this problem, please offer me some advice. Thanks!!
Another good one
I bought this car about a year ago with 17K. No repairs have been needed, just routine maint. It is really at its best on curvy roads, the suspension/tire combination handles the sharp turns well. Nice power when it is just me in the car but when it is loaded down I miss my'99 with the DOHC engine.
Build Quality
The Neon is one of the best cars ive been in when it comes to wrecks. On Nov.7 2003 i was in a wreck in one the guy that hit us was doing 40 mph and distroyed his car and held up like othing ive ever seen. it broke the back bumper and put a little buckle in the quarter panels but other then that it held up nice. If your a family person trying to find a safe car the neon is it.
What was I thinking?
I liked it at first, don't get me wrong. I've had the car for a year. The sunroof has already broken once. My volume radio gets louder when I try to turn it down. The brakes squeak something awful. And what's up with the rattling? It sounds like my used Cavalier I had seven years ago!!
a great car for aworking family
this car has been very dependable it rides very smooth and handles well even in the snow
showroom lemon
idles rough. electrical problems, transmission shifts rough. stalls randomaly. cv joints bad allready. rear brakes make loud noises. dealer claims nothing wrong with car. do not buy a Neon, big waste of money, will be trading in for another chevy cavalier, wished i kept my 95 chevy
ACR Two Year Review
This is my second Neon, one of the cheaper cars I ever bought but probably is the most fun of all to drive. Excellent seat-steering wheel- pedal realtionship, comfortable seats, blazing quick if you want to drive it that way, outstanding handling, economical, and this one has been dead stone reliable.
Most fun driving... ever!
Cheap fun in plain clothing is the Neon ACR. The 150 horses moves that car faster than a Neon should, and it handles like cars costing three or four times as much. The only giveaway to your ACR status is dual exhaust tips. That, and showing your taillights to nearly any Honda that tries to pass you.
Don't Buy One
Less than 4 years after purchase this car has been nothing but problems. I just recently had a head gasket replaced, the head itself, and now the solenoid pack in the transmission. Thankfully all covered under warranty. Brakes went-cost $800, battery, tires. I take extremely good care of this car. I always have the oil changed every 3000 miles, spark plugs done, tires rotated, alignment checked, etc. This car has cost me more for being brand new than my 1990 Toyota(bought it in 1995) that I had for 7 years and way over 100,000 miles ever did.
God help us all
I bought this car less than two years ago with 30k on it and as soon as I reached 36k and my warranty expired, this car was nothing but a pain. It leaks, had to replace radiator, transmission went bad at 52K. It became increasingly noisy. It goes fine when alone in it, but two more people get in and it seems like it is pulling the trailer. It is relatively cheap. I say relatively because you are going to spend a lot on repairs. never gonna buy another.
Fun little inexpensive car
good car for driving alot of miles good acceleration, handling
pc review
This is my 3rd Neon (1995 sedan & 1999 sport coupe previous). Nice body style, decent power. I am still wondering what the 4th gear is for, it doesn't seem to have much difference from the 5th gear. Like most other folks, I found the brakes to sqeak too much. The left rear drum break will rust if driven through much water and lock up the rear wheel. The car had to be flat-bedded to the dealer. They took it apart and found nothing wrong(?). It still locks up some, but not the same extent. The gas mileage is lower than my other 2 Neons, go figure. Car is dependable however, and I plan on many more miles
Compare All 3!
This vehicle blows the doors off the Fords, Saturn (joke) or Asian imports, & you can put one inside a Neon with room to spare! It has been dead nuts reliable, the dealer has stood behind every problem which were very few. It is one of the very fdew vehicles in this class that fits Americans. Just because I donn't want or need to spend $25k doesn't mean I shrunk to the size of a typical Japanese or European. It also doesn't look like "committee" styling. It has been a great value!
Very nice
I haven't had the car long, but it has been wonderful so far. The body design is sleek, the car runs beautifully, and the interior is quite comfortable (my last car was a '72 VW Beetle). Very much worth the money.
She's so Cute
I love my little red neon! I just bought it this week due to my saturn (which I loved as well) being totaled in a car accident. It is perfect for me being a college student, yet it is still o so cute and fun to drive! Gas is ok...not as good as my saturn, but that's what happens when you upgrade a little. If you are looking for an inexpensive, yet fun and cute car...the Neon is the way to go!
Neon Good for the Money
I like my Neon. It is sporty and fun to drive. I have not had any major problems yet at 19,000 miles. Compared to others in it's price range-- best buy.
great car...great value if used
Remarkably roomy with very good seats Great handling, and the 4 speed trans makes the car feel so much better than earlier ones I drove as a rental. Now has 27000 miles and no hint of squeak or rattle, except for squeaky brakes which I hear is common problem with Neons. NOTE: I bought mine one year old--SE so has power wind/lk/mirrors--for just $8,600. Nearly new Neons seem to have terrible resale value, so perfect cars to buy used. Unless you are even fussier than I am, buy one used and save
Great bargain and fun to drive
Only a few problems. It was a month before a bad clutch cyl went bad, fixed ok since. Radio went bad around 20,000. Reverse back up sensor went bat around 30,000.
a bargain for the price
most underrated compact car. a good bargain for used car.
Nothing to complain about
I bought this car as a used fleet vehicle according to carfax. It had 35k on it and I just paid $5500! I've driven the car for about 10k and haven't had the slightest problem. Had a '95 neon up to 140,000 miles without any problems. Cheap, reliable, fun to drive. What could be better?
Little engine that could
I have enjoyed my Neon from day one, I bought it used when it had 43000 miles on it, I now have 80,300 miles on it. The only mechanical problem I have had with it has been the clutch, which was replaced for $700.00 and that was due to letting inexperienced friends drive my manual. I live in Alaska, and this car has done me well. I haven't been stuck, it has great control and still drives likes it's right off the lot. It's affordable in the following aspects, gas, inurance and general maitenance. I would reccomend this car to anyone who needs a commuter car or just an everyday ride.
Horrible Car
I am constantly having to take this car into the shop for brakes to get fixed over and over again. My Insurance told me that they had to raise my insurance because of the type of car. They said if I was ever involved in an accident the car would pretty much be totaled because it was made cheap. I also though having a smaller car would mean better gas, boy was I wrong. I am trying to get rid of it ASAP. For anyone looking, do not buy, it is terrible.
dodge neon 02
This car was great at first(80,000), but after a year with 111,000 miles on it, had to surrender to pick n pull....This car will need extra special help if you want it to last. Cheap, but not a good choice if you want a soid car.
Best Used Car for the Money
I think that these Neons get a lot of negative publicity because of the Toyota/Nissan/Honda owners out there. For a used car though, I would rather buy a Neon for $4,000 than an Import for $7,000 any day. You can't beat it for the value and the more I drive mine, the more I like it. Mind you, it isn't worth buying new and if I did, I'd buy the Honda Civic but resale value works in favor of the used car buyer too, and I lucked out with my Neon. I would definitely buy the Used Neon over the Used Civic any day.
Reliable Transportation
I've had my car for five years and have had very few problems. It does great on the highway. The only problem I have with it is when the air conditioning is on the acceleration is decreased, but I think this is due to a less powerful engine. I've gotten into a couple of accidents in this car and was pleasantly surprised that there was barely a scratch on my car. I would reccomend this car to anyone who needs affordable a to b transportation.
grat car
we love our neon. it has a great cd player. the feachers are easy to use. i love my neon.
Best money I've ever spent (on a car)!
I've owned lots of other cars, and the most fun I'd had was with the '79 Starfire and '95 Neon, because they were awesome on gas and could put (a little) power to the ground and corner extremely well. The 2002 Neon ACR is the pinnacle of cheap fun. It has 75hp/ liter so you're not shortchanged on power, but it has adjustable suspension so I can set this car up for autocrossing in an hour. People who look at it and think "rental car" usually only get to see my taillights the rest of the way. And I scored it for $11,5k certified used with 1300 miles on it. It pays to shop!
Great car
This is my second Neon. I love this car. It is so much fun to drive and people underestimate it's potential. The ACR and R/T are very reliable and priced great and have alot of power. I'm going to keep my first Neon and going to modify my ACR (American Club Racer) for autoX.
it's o.k I guess
O. K, I have a 2002 Dodge neon. My brother gave it to me because the tranny went out. So I got it rebuilt for 1500 dollars. Now I still have it, when I turn sharply enough the engine light comes on, then goes off when I straighten up. It shakes bad on the highway and when I get to 55. The alternators going up, hopefully no time soon, but the lights on. Um, I got a performance muffler and took the airbox off and a performance air filter, so when I give it some gas it sounds excellent; for a 4 cylinder. My recommendation though... Get another car. Why spend 3250 on this when you can get a civic or something?
Good at First...
I got my neon almost 3 yrs ago, at first it was nice and it got me around. I got it with 79,000 miles on it. Within the first week the dash got bubbles in it. After that it ran okay, hard, long start and misfiring every once in awhile. 1st yr I had to replace the brakes, rotors, tires, and bushing cost $700. The next year just new bulbs $10. Recently before I got rid of it I had to replace the struts, tire rod, brakes again, stabilizer pin, emergency brake and radiator $900+. I had the final straw when I finished fixing all of that and the catalytic converter went out.. I was terrified of driving the car and I took good care of it with regular maintenance. I would not recommend this car.
Bad experience
I purchased this car in may of 1999. It drives great, but not even a couple of months later the horn needed to be replaced. Within the first 6 months i had the car the horn was replaced 5 times. A few months later the power steering pump was replaced. In june of 2001 the head gasket was replaced. Than in January 2002 the head blew and the timming chain broke and had to be replaced. Than in may of 2002 the main rear seal started leaking and now has to be replaced. There are to many problems with this make and model of car. m
Excellent Car
This fun car has given a bargain for my dollar. It is well designed for a commuter car. No problems other than normal use repairs. Great car for the price. Need to have more of them for our expensive economy. It's confy an stylish as well.
Not So Great...
My dad bought the car 1 year used in 2003, at about 20k. He drove it until last year, then I took over it when he passed away... After 114k, I got rid of it this year. Our family has had its roots in Chrysler vehicles since the 1940s, but this car as been by far the worst. The average MPG that both my dad and I got was less than the EPA estimated CITY MPG of 24! We were both very conservative drivers. Next problem was that the transmission had to be completely rebuilt twice! It needed new brakes about 3 times a year; the rear suspension needed replaced. It had some bad electronic problems, as well as stupid problems. The safety rating for this is horrible as well. Dont buy one of these.