Dodge Neon Complaints (2003)
202 consumer complaints on file.
- #10121804May 21, 2005STEERING, EQUIPMENT, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A NEW 2003 DODGE NEON THAT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND SO FAR THE SHIFTER BOOT HAS TORN(WAS REPLACED) BUT IS NOW CRACKING AGAIN (IT'S [XXX] COLD WHERE I LIVE, -50 TO -60 HAPPENS). I HAD AN OIL LEAK THAT WAS BLAMED ON ME BY ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER, I REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES ALWAYS SQEAL WHEN APPLIED (I WAS TOLD THATS DUST) BUT IT'S HAPPENES EVERY DAY. I NEEDED AN WHEEL ALIGNMENT (CAR PUULS TO THE LEFT) AND I'M TOLD YOU CANT ALIGN A NEON. YOU CAN PART OF THE ALIGNMENT BUT WERE SORRY [XXX] IT WILL ALWAYS PULL TO THE LEFT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ADJUSTABLE.THE ALIGNMENT CAME FROM LITHIA IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA (THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE) I DONT BLAME THEM 1 BIT THEY DIDNT MAKE A CAR THAT CANT BE FIXED(DODGE DID). ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER WAS MY BEST FRIEND UNTIL I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THEN THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME THE REASON I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT IS BECAUSE IT'S A CHEAP NO GOOD CAR. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO DODGE ASKING WHY THEY WOULD BUILD SUCH A VEHICLE THAT COULD NEVER BE ALIGNED AND THEY SAID WE TRY TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. NOT ONCE GETTING TO THE QUESTION "WHY" WHAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND SUCH A STUPID IDEA. I LOVE MY CAR BUT BECAUSE OF THIS 1 FLAW I CANT WAIT TO GET RID OF IT. I'M CHECKING INTO A MINI, NEED TO MAKE SURE IT CAN BE FIXED IF NEEDED FIRST. THE CAR STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT(RATHER HARD AT TIMES), THE SHIFTER BOOT IS STILL SPLITTING, THE BRAKES STILL SQUEEK. AND NOW I'M WONDERING IF THE FUEL GAUGE IS CORRECT. ANYBODY WANT TO BUY A NICE "LOOKING" NEON WITH LOW MILES. I DONT REMEMBER THE ACTUALL INCIDENT DATES. THIS IS AN ONGOING THING INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120033May 5, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON THAT I HAVE TOOK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 OR MORE TIMES WITH THE EMMISION LIGHT COMING ON AND IT STILL IS DOING IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10117677April 11, 2005STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS PROBLEM. BUSHING ARE WEARING OUT EVERY 8,000 MILES. OWNER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND DEALER, WHO OFFERED THE OWNER REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WEARING THIN THE VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING , AS WELL. VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10117551April 6, 2005SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP FROM 35 MPH AND THE LAP/SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S KNEE TO HIT THE DASHBOARD, AND HIS CHEST TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER DECLINED TRANSPORTATION TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10115888March 25, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION ON A DRY ROAD CONDITION AT 30 MPH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROAD SIDE ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. ALSO, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY THE LOCAL POLICE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10114102March 15, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF MY SISTER (WHO WAS DRIVING MY CAR) AND SHE WAS GOING 40 MPH. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT ALMOST HEAD ON. AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY SISTER HAS MULTIPLE HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111953February 22, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FEB 18,2005 WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND THE WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTOR HAD MELTED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10110286February 10, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2003. JANUARY 2004 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE (OIL CHANGE/PLUGS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER A SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF CYLINDER ONE. I CALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOOK IT BY THE DEALSHIP (DARCARS) THEY PUT THE SPARK PLUG BACK IN BUT MY CAR HASN'T RUN PROPERLY YET.THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S TAKES A THOUSAND DOLLAR OR MORE TO FIX. I'VE HAD DIANOGSTICS DONE AND NOW THE CAR IS BE REPAIRED AT LEE'S AUTO SHOP WITH PROBLEMS HARD FOR MR. LEE TO FIX (ELECTRONIC PROBLEM IN THE NO. 4 CYLINDER; IT WON'T OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. LEE'S DONE ALL HE COULD DO SO FAR (THE CAR NOW IS STILL IN HIS SHOP. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK). FURTHERMORE I WAS TOLD AFTERWARD THAT A NEW CAR DOSN'T NEED A TUNE UP FOR TWO YEARS. I THINK THE SERVICE GUY SHOULD HAVE INFORMED ME OF THAT INSTEAD HE TOOK MY MONEY WITH NO REFUND. THE EXACT DAY I DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW BUT I COULD GET IT I HAVE ALL MY PROBLEM PAPER WORK. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111267February 9, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111053February 8, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE DRIVER BARELY TOUCHED THE PEDAL, ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLES THAT WERE IN FRONT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10109926February 6, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE NEON SXT THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR CONTROL THE CAR SPEED. THIS HAPPENED IN THE FAST LANE OF A 6 LANE ROADWAY. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHILE WITH THIS INCIDENT I WAS FORTUNATE TO AVOID A COLLISION IF THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS OBVIOUS. SEVERAL APPROACHING CARS NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLIDING WITH MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10109821February 4, 2005POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1) NO WARNING OF UPCOMING PART FAILURE. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED (55) PREPARING TO DECELERATE/DOWNSHIFT, DAMP ROAD CONDITIONS, BUT WASN'T CURRENTLY RAINING. CAR IS A 2003 DODGE NEON R/T. PART IN QUESTION IS NEW TO THE 2003 MODEL YEAR. 2) CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY (MASTER CYLINDER,HYDRAULIC LINE, AND RELEASE CYLINDER-SEALED ASSY.) HYDRAULIC LINE BROKE OFF WHILE DOWNSHIFTING COMING OFF THE H3 INTO THE USMC BASE (MANY SWERVES AND NEED TO SLOW DOWN.) THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FLUID TO THE PRESSURE PLATES CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, AND THE ENGINE RPM'S DO NOT DROP WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED. THE STICK CANNOT BE PULLED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL IF THE CAR IS MOVING EVEN 10MPH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HAZARDOUS/FATAL PROBLEM UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. 3) I AM CONTACTING WINDWARD DODGE IN THE MORNING TO HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND THE REST OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY INSPECTED (REPLACED IF NECESSARY) FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR/DAMAGE FROM THIS INCIDENT. IF THEY AREN'T SENDING THE PART OFF FOR AN INSPECTION AT CORPORATE OFFICES I WILL REQUEST TO HANG ON TO IT IN CASE AN ENGINEER SOMEWHERE WOULD LIKE IT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10108038January 27, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, TIRES
SEVERE SHIMMY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. CAR IS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 18K AND HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT NEEDED TIRES REBALANCED. HAD TIRES REBALANCED AT 18,197 MILES. 21K PROBLEM GOT WORSE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER GOODYEAR TIRES WERE NO GOOD AND NEEDED BRAKE ROTORS TURNED. PADS WERE FINE, METALLIC PADS CAUSE ROTOR WARPAGE IN JUST A FEW MILES. REPAIR ESTIMATE ON A TWO YEAR OLD CAR IS $495.00. NO WARRANTY ON BRAKES OR FACTORY TIRES.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107644January 20, 2005AIR BAGS
I HAD A COLLISION IN MY VEHICLE THE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN. (THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.) THE AIRBAGS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER) DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO ME AND MY PASSENGER. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 25 OR 30 MPH. ACCORDING TO POLICE ON THE SCENE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10101538January 5, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105016December 17, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS USING THE SEAT BELT AT THAT TIME. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103887December 10, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVERY 2000 MILES THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN VEHICLE. THE SPARK PLUG WENT BAD IN THE ENGINE. THE BRAKES SQUEALED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A STOP. *BF *SC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103382December 8, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY TURNING OFF THE TURN SIGNALS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10097886October 27, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ABS BRAKING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10096287October 23, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WAS 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN IT STARTED TO JERK & BASICALLY TURN OFF INTERMITTANTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF COMPLETELY & THE SEATBELT LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP, THE CAR WOULD TURN BACK ON AND THEN REVV AS THOUGH BEING DOWN-SHIFTED AND THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL. THE PROBLEM PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC & I WAS BROKE DOWN IN THE CENTER DIVIDER. DODGE DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TO FIND A SOLUTION AFTER THREE VISITS & NOW MY CAR IS HOOKED UP TO A CO-PILOT. THIS PROBLEM REMAINS UNFIXED & EVEN MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HAS STALLED THREE TIMES ON THE FREEWAY!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0