Dodge Neon Complaints

3,495 consumer complaints on file.

#10245873October 18, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2003 DODGE NEON, LOW BEAMS QUIT WORKING A FEW WEEKS LATER THE FOG LIGHTS BECAME INTERMITTENT, THEN EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING TOO. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CONNECTOR THAT ATTACHES TO THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS MELTING FROM BEING OVERHEATED DURING HEADLAMP/FOGLAMP USE. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT. A REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE, THE DESCRIPTION FOR WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. RESEARCH ALSO REVEALS THAT THE SAME REPAIR KIT IS INDICATED FOR SEVERAL OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS EXHIBITING SIMILAR DESIGN DEFICIENCIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245799October 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I USE MY HEADLIGHTS FOR 15-20 MINUTES, I BEGIN TO SMELL A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL AND NOTICE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY WARM. AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF HEADLIGHT USE THE LOW BEAMS JUST GO DEAD, IT "AUTOMATICALLY" SWITCHES TO HIGH BEAMS IMMEDIATELY. IF I TRY TO TURN IT BACK DOWN TO LOW BEAMS, EVERYTHING GOES DARK (*VERY* DANGEROUS AT NIGHT!). THEN I AM FORCED TO USE HIGH BEAMS AND BLIND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP, OR I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET THE APPARENT CAUSE (THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH) COOL OFF FOR AN ETERNITY BEFORE RESUMING MY TRIP. I'M HIGHLY UNCOMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT MY CAR HAS PLASTIC BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VERGE OF ERUPTING INTO FLAMES WHEN I USE MY HEADLIGHTS. I ALSO CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS, NOT ONLY FOR THE FIRE RISK, BUT ALSO THE LOW BEAMS DYING SUDDENLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245011October 9, 2008
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY! I WAS IN A 6 CAR ACCIDENT, FRONT AND REAR ENDED FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER HIT! MY 2005 DODGE NEON SXT WAS TOTAL RIGHT OFF AT 33,000 MILES. NOT ONLY THAT THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY BUT THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER BACK SEAT HAD GAVE CAUSING ME TO BE TOSSED BACKWARDS! THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE STEERING WHEEL TILT ALSO BROKE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO DROP IN MY LAP! I NOW SUFFER ABDOMINAL PAIN, LOWER BACK PAIN, LEG PAIN, AND HEAD INJURIES WHICH I AM NOW SEEING A REHAB, CHIROPRACTOR DOCTOR 3 DAYS A WEEK. DODGE DEALERS CLAIMS THAT THERE CARS ARE 5 STARS! SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD WORK PROPER AT ALL TIMES! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10244635October 7, 2008
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION GOING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH ON HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244647October 7, 2008
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
THE STRAP THAT ATTACHES THE CAR SEAT BASE TO THE HOOK IN THE CAR IS NOT SECURED TO THE BASE VERY WELL. THE STRAP IS SECURED BY ONE SCREW AND THE STRAP IS NOT REINFORCED WHERE THE SCREW GOES THROUGH IT SO THE HOLE STRETCHES AND EVENTUALLY BECOMES LARGER THAN THE SCREW HEAD MAKING IT SO THAT THE STRAP IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE BASE. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2003, MAKE=DODGE, MODEL=NEON). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243807September 28, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAULTY WHICH CAUSES THE BATTERY TO FAIL AND THE FOG LIGHTS TO FLICKER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243501September 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT CAR NEW AND I AM METICULOUS ABOUT IT'S MAINTENANCE. OIL SEAL IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE NOW. ONCE IN 2004 WITH ABOUT 10,000 MI. ON THE CAR WITH NO DAMAGE TO CLUTCH DISC AND AGAIN NOW IN 2008 WITH 45,000 MI. THIS TIME THE CLUTCH DISC WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REPAIR UNDER CHRYSLER'S 7 YR. 70,000 MI. DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. ENDED UP PAYING FOR A NEW CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS THE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF ABOUT 15 TIMES THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR MAJOR REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243503September 26, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BOUGHT CAR NEW. REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED TWICE ON THIS CAR AND DURING MY LAST INSPECTION THE PASSENGERS SIDE BUSHING WAS STARTING TO TEAR AND FAIL AGAIN. A LOCAL DODGE DEALER STILL INSPECTED THE CAR AFTER FIRESTONE WOULD NOT DUE TO SAFETY THE SAFETY ISSUES OF A FAILED CONTROL ARM BUSHING. FIRST FAILURE HAPPENED AT AROUND 25,000 MI. AND SECOND AROUND 40,000 MI. THEY WILL BE REPLACED AGAIN DURING NEXT YEARS SAFETY INSPECTION DONE AT FIRESTONE THIS TIME. THIS CAR IS GARBAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242829September 18, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND A RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH SQUIRTED BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242464September 16, 2008
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RANDOMLY DEPLOYED, WHILE GOING 4 MILES PER HOUR, THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO INITIATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG. THE DEPLOYMENT BUSTED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BLEW GLASS TO THE COMPLETE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10242401September 16, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 DODGE NEON BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD GO ON REVEALING LOW BRAKE FLUID. PROBLEM RESOLVED BY ADDING BRAKE FLUID AND LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. AFTER TWO INCIDENTS OF CORRECTING SAME PROBLEM CAR WAS DRIVEN AND BRAKES WERE HARD TO PRESS AND DID NOT STOP WITHIN ACCEPTABLE DISTANCES. CAR WAS INSPECTED BY SERVICEMAN AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LOWER BRAKE LINE FITTING PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND AND ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDERS LEAKED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU ASSUME YOU LOSE BRAKE FLUID BY USE AND IT IS REALLY A LEAK. ADDING FLUID APPEARS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT BY THE TIME YOU RECEIVED A BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AIR HAS ENTERED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSES A SITUATION WHERE YOUR BRAKE DISTANCED IS COMPROMISED AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS YOU MAY NOT STOP WITHIN THE DISTANCE YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO AND THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TIGHTENING THE FITTINGS DID NOT WORK AT HE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240577September 2, 2008
WHEELS
RIM LEAKS FROM ALL 4 TIRES DUE TO THE CHROME SEPARATING FROM INTERIOR OF THE STEEL WHEEL. A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF THIS. HE WIRE WHEELED THE INSIDE OF THE RIM TO KNOCK LOOSE PIECES OF CHROME OFF AND REPLACED THE TIRE ON THE RIM. IT IS HOLDING AIR FOR NOW BUT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE AGAIN AS MORE CHROME STARTS TO FLAKE OFF. NOT REALIZING HER TIRE WAS FLAT. MY WIFE DROVE ON IT AND RUINED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239713August 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM 2002 DODGE NEON ENGINE UPON COLD START WHICH WOULD STOP AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS. FIRST DEALER WE TOOK CAR TO SAID IT WAS CARBON BUILDUP; I KNEW IT WAS MORE THAN THAT AND BROUGHT IT ANOTHER DEALER WHO AT FIRST DENIED THEY HEARD THE SOUND AT STARTUP. I TOLD THEM TO KEEP THE CAR AND TRY ANOTHER COLD START - ENDED UP THAT THIRD CYLINDER PISTON WAS CRACKED AND FOURTH CYLINDER WAS SCORED AND THEY REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST WAS $100 FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE. CAR HAD JUST UNDER 42,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY - OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES, AND IS DRIVEN IN A MODERATE MANNER (NOT BEAT ON). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239055August 20, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT THEN REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY TO HER BACK. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO COLLISION SHOP FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT YET DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10238623August 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FELT A JOLT AND LOSS OF POWER. THE SPEEDOMETER THEN DIALED ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN BACK TO ZERO. PULLED OFF TO CHECK IT OUT, AS I SLOWED DOWN ON THE OFFRAMP HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD LOCKED UP! I COULDN'T EVEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OFF THE OFFRAMP. HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE THEY PUT IN A USED, NOT NEW OR REBUILT BUT A USED TRANSMISSIONS WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT FOR $1,800. THE CAR HAD 81,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE AND IS BARELY SIX YEARS OLD! I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEFORE 75,000 MILES. BY FAR THE TRANSMISSION IS THE MOST UNACCEPTABLE COMPONENT FAILURE. AT ONLY 81,000 MILES AND SIX YEARS OLD DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THESE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238425August 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 NEON DEVELOPED A TAPPING NOISE AT COLD START; THE NOISE CONTINUES UNTIL THE CAR IS WARMED UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS; OWNER TOLD IT IS A ROD OR WRIST PIN, BEST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR 4,600. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236230July 29, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE NEON SXT. FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW MY FOG LIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY. WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON MY FOG LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OF ON THEIR OWN. IF I GO OVER A BUMP THE TURN ON ANOTHER BUMP TURNS THEM OFF. THEY EVEN FLICKER ON AND OFF ON SMOOTH ROAD. I THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL I STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. I THEN SAW A STREAM OF WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF MY STEERING COLUMN THROUGH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED YET BUT I NEED TO VERY SOON. I AM MOST SCARED THAT A FIRE WILL IGNITE WHILE I AM DRIVING OR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WILL CAUSE MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234773July 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPEATEDLY FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE COMPONENTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY ASSUME PARTIAL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234029July 11, 2008
SUSPENSION
EVERY YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE. TRIED ALIGNMENT EACH TIME I'VE REPLACED THEM. TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS THIS TIME AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING WAS BAD ON BOTH SIDES. MY 60,000 MILE TIRES ONLY MADE IT 20,000 MILES. THEY SAID THE 2005 MODEL WAS IMPROVED UPON BUT THEY DID NOTHING FOR THE 2004 YEAR. THIS IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACING TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES. ESPECIALLY WHEN THESE ARE HIGH PROFILE TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233741July 10, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
BECAUSE RAIN SEASON HERE IN MEXICO WE HAD SEVERAL DAYS RAINING ALMOST THE ENTIRE DAY. YESTERDAY WHEN A TAKE MI WIFE TO WORK I NOTICED THAT THE RUG OF MY CARS FLOOR WAS WET, AT NIGHT AFTER WORK I TRIED TO CHECK WHY THE WATER WAS INSIDE MY CAR AND I NOTICED THAT BELOW THE BACK SEAT WAS WET, I DISASSEMBLE THE BACK SEAT AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS WATER BELOW THE SEAT AND DUE TO THAT ALL THE FLOOR BELOW THE RUG HAS WATER (1 TO 2 LITERS OF WATER), I NOTICE THAT THE CLIPS THAT GIVE ROUTE TO THE HARNESS (TAIL LIGHTS, PUMP, AND TRUNK WIRING) HAS WATER, IT SEEMS THAT THIS COULD BE THE PROBLEM; FROM FACTORY NOBODY TRY TO SEAL THIS PARTS, SO WATER CAME THROUGH THIS BY THE HOLES MADE TO LOCATE THE CLIPS. I TAKE MY CAR TO THE SERVICE FROM FACTORY AND TELL ME THAT THEY WILL CHECK IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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