Seven problems related to radiator have been reported for the 2004 Dodge Neon. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Dodge Neon based on all problems reported for the 2004 Neon.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Neon. While driving 20 mph, the engine revved and inadvertently shifted to a lower gear. Also, the service engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home but, prior to the failure, was having transmission issues for over a year. The contact mentioned that a plastic piece that separated the coolant and transmission fluid fractured and allowed coolant to enter the transmission. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing and repairs; however, the radiator was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 139,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Transmission cooler in radiator leaked, causing transmission fluid to contaminate engine, and also contaminated transmission with radiator fluid. Called Chrysler corp and they said no recall on it and did not offer to help with it. When I google searched this problem there seems to be multiple instances of this happening.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Neon. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission shifted in and out of drive. In addition, there was a transmission fluid spill. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic that located the failure at the radiator. The radiator was cracked and caused the fluid to contaminate the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 134,526.
S10 appropriate handling - letter from regarding Dodge problems. 2004 Dodge Neon. The consumers wife was driving the vehicle when the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating. The transmission failed and she was barely able to make it to the side of the road. The hood was extremely too hot to touch and noises and liquids were coming from the vehicle. The consumer stated there was a known problem with the transmission cooler in the radiator. The transmission, radiator, hoses and thermostat had to be replaced. Also, the engine was flushed.
Check engine light came on and engine started bucking. No more gears or shifting into drive. Loss of transmission fluid and coolant. A piece of transmission line or fitting corroded and let loose inside the radiator. This caused the mixing of fluids into the transmission and cooling system. Radiator failed and bled fluids. Radiator was replaced and coolant system was flushed. Transmission was also flushed. This very same problem occurred to my CO-worker that has the same type vehicle(04 Dodge Neon,2. 0 litre engine,74000 miles). I suspect it is happening to every customer that has that type and year Neon. Part not available.
It was a sudden part failure which caused immediate danger. I was driving 35 mph down a road near my home and my car would not accelerate. I immediately pulled my car over to the side of the road and called my father for help. He noticed the engine coolant pouring out of it's container and my transmission fluid dangerously low. We refilled the transmission fluid, but it wouldn't stay, it was leaking somewhere. We called a tow truck to take us to the nearest repair shop. The tow truck guy immediately told us that he's seen this problem all the time with Dodge Neons. The radiator brakes and the transmission fluid leaks into the coolant. The repair shop mechanic also concluded the same thing. He told me he'd have to take a look at the transmission and flush out the system to see if there were any damage occurred to the transmission, but that I would definitely need to replace the radiator. He told me he used to work for Dodge service repair and would see this problem all the time and normally it would cause the transmission to blow too. In picking up the car he told me he manually flushed out the radiator and transmission systems as best he could, but that I would have to take it to someone whom could power flush out everything to make sure the transmission would be ok. I did ask him what's my guarantee that this won't happen again. He stated the new radiator that Dodge now provides for their Neons when the one from the factory fails is constructed entirely different. I asked him if there was a recall on this radiator since Dodge is aware of the issue? he told me no. I did some research online and discovered many stories like my own. I've found that any Neon from 1999 to 2005 has had a faulty radiator. Some of the stories are worse than mine. Transmissions blown and costing people thousands. It has caused accidents and may have cost lives, I'm not sure. I can only think when a car stops accelerating on a faster road, what kind of accident's can occur.
The transmission cooler that is internal to the radiator in my 2004 Dodge Neon started to leak causing transmission fluid to enter my cooling system and get into my engine. This is the 8th time I heard of this occurring in this model, this is winding up being an extensive repair due to this failure of this component. Chrysler does not think there is a problem with this.