They were baffled because the smell would persist even though their cars were clean. Owners have reported that the Neon’s air-conditioning or heating system would develop a strange, musty odor after some time. By doing this, he improves the spark plug’s seal with the engine.Īccording to RepairPal, while both generations of the Dodge Neon were affected by this issue, owners of the 2000 Dodge Neon have reported this problem the most. In the video, he hammers the spark plug tubes further into the engine block using another spark plug tube. One owner claims to have found a simple fix to the issue in a video he uploaded on YouTube. Owners have unsuccessfully tried replacing various engine seals to stop oil from leaking into the spark plug tubes, the valve cover gasket, and the seals around the spark plug. There were also some instances where the check engine light lit up. This is caused by oil entering the spark plug tubes and interfering with the spark plug’s operation. Some owners have reported that their Neon’s engine would misfire and have inconsistent acceleration at low speeds. One owner even said that the Neon will “last forever.” While some owners fell short of giving a five-star rating because they had a few hiccups regarding various components, the fact that the Neon still garners praise despite its age is a good sign. Several owners gave it a five-star rating on, as they reported having driven more than a hundred thousand miles without major issues. Overall, many owners praise the Neon for being extremely reliable. Like any other vehicle, customer reviews tend to be heavily reliant on whether their Neon had a major issue that has defined their experience with this model. The annual average repair cost is an inexpensive $526, while the frequency in which unexpected visits to the mechanic must be scheduled is similarly good at an average of 0.3 visits a year. While RepairPal can’t give a comprehensive reliability score for the Dodge Neon because they lack data, they do have data on its average cost and frequency of repairs. The 2005 Dodge Neon is forecasted to appreciate by 2% in 5 years. That means that Dodge Neons can be bought at incredibly affordable prices now. That said, about less than 20% of its original value remains. According to, the 2005 Dodge Neon is forecasted to appreciate by 2% in 5 years. Since it’s been discontinued for many years, the Neon hardly depreciates now. However, its design has certainly aged since the late ’90s and early 2000s. The Neon was praised for its price, power, and appearance at its release. Interestingly, the Neon was also rebadged and sold as a Plymouth and as a Chrysler in other markets. The Dodge Neon is a front-wheel drive compact sedan made from 1995 to 2005.