2000 DODGE NEON

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Overheating, Milky oil on dipstick or cap, Rough idle and misfires

Fix: SOHC engines blow head gaskets between cylinders 2-3 routinely. Many shops quote head gasket jobs at 8-10 hours, but frequently find cracked heads requiring machining or replacement. Realistically budget for machining ($150-250) or a reman head ($400-600). Often triggers chain reaction damage if overheated—warped head, damaged pistons. Total labor 10-14 hours if doing it right with new timing belt, water pump, and resurfacing.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 1-2 shift, Slipping in 2nd gear, No movement in drive or reverse, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Check engine light with trans codes

Fix: The 31TH automatic is notoriously weak—clutch packs burn out, valve body issues, and torque converter failures common. Rebuilds run 12-16 hours labor plus $800-1,200 in hard parts. Used units are gambles. Many owners swap to manual or junk the car. Fluid changes every 30k might extend life but won't prevent eventual failure.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,000

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Burning 1 quart per 500-1000 miles, Blue smoke on acceleration, Fouled spark plugs, Loss of power, Oil smell in cabin

Fix: Both SOHC and DOHC 2.0s can develop ring land failures or stuck rings. Requires engine disassembly—either a re-ring job (16-20 hours) or short block replacement (18-24 hours). Many techs recommend used engines or remans at this point due to age and mileage making full rebuilds uneconomical. Parts run $1,200-2,500 depending on approach.

Estimated cost: $2,000-4,500

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps, Wandering steering, Inner tire wear, Steering wheel off-center, Failed state inspection

Fix: Lower control arm ball joints wear out and cannot be replaced separately—entire control arm assembly required per side. Front sway bar links also fail frequently. Budget 2-3 hours per side for control arms, 0.5 hours per sway link. Alignment mandatory after. OE-quality parts required—cheap aftermarket wears in 20k miles.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Hard brake pedal requiring excessive force, Hissing sound when braking, Check engine light, Engine stalling when braking

Fix: Brake booster diaphragm failures cause vacuum leaks and loss of power assist—NHTSA issued recall but many weren't fixed. Booster replacement is 3-4 hours labor. Test by pumping brakes with engine off, then starting—pedal should drop. Vacuum leaks also cause idle issues and lean codes.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Symptoms: Rough running and stalling, Fuel pump whine or failure, Clogged fuel filter repeatedly, Injector failures, No-start conditions

Fix: Steel fuel tanks rust from inside out, especially in salt states. Rust particles circulate through system, killing pumps and injectors. Proper fix requires tank replacement (6-8 hours), fuel pump, filter, and possibly injector cleaning or replacement. Band-aid approach of just replacing pump leads to repeat failures in months.

Estimated cost: $800-1,600