2002 Dodge Neon engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE PISTON DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10994128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I DRIVING OFF THE INTERSTATE WEN CAR SHUT OFF IDLED TRIED TO CRANK IT UP BUT IT ONLY MADE WHINING NOISE AND WON'T START I ALSO NOTICE MY CAR WAS SMOKING SO I LET THE CAR COOL OFF BEFORE I PUT WATER... THE NEXT DAY I WENT AND A NEW TIMING BELT PUT ON AND A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND IT STILL WON'T CRANK

NHTSA complaint #10787551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

GOOD MORNING, I HAVE A 2002 DODGE NEON THAT I HAVE PUT MONEY INTO AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED DISHONESTY FROM MECHANICS UNTIL NOW; PAYING LOTS OF MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. I WAS INFORMED LAST WEEK THAT THIS LEAK ON MY CAR CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE ITS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL NEON'S. ITS A FLUID LEAK OF OIL. A RECOMMENDED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED MY CAR AND INFORMED ME OF THIS NEWS. HE SAID THAT THE SEALANT IS GONE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY ANY MECHANIC. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED AND I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, IS THERE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM? I ALSO HAD TO DISASSEMBLE MY RADIO BECAUSE AFTER REPLACING MY BATTERY, THE ELECTRICAL FUSE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE THE RADIO PLAYED AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD KILL MY BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #10621973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHERE TO START! STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BAD WHEN IDLING AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COMPUTER! THERE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME COMPLAINTS WITH THESE CARS WITHOUT ANY ACTION FROM CHRYSLER. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TWICE IN 6 MONTHS IN MY DAUGHTERS CAR, THERE IS WATER LEAKING INTO THE BACKSEAT FROM SOMEWHERE, STUTTERING WHEN GOING UP HILLS OR OVER 50 MPH; BLOWN OUT STRUTS, REPLACED RADIATOR; EATS OIL..........WHY ISN'T CHRYSLER HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. CHECK THE INTERNET........THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS! IT HAS COST ME OVER 2500 IN REPAIRS IN 8 MONTHS!

NHTSA complaint #10560889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION , ENGINE AND SEAT BELTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THE REPRESENTATIVES REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE FAILURES .THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA complaint #10296880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON INITIALLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE COMPUTER READ BY A MECHANIC. THE LIGHT TURNED OFF BEFORE I ARRIVED TO THE SHOP, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER HISTORY. THE MECHANIC STILL PUT THIS ON THE COMPUTER WHICH READ NOTHING IN THE HISTORY. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MUST BE SOME TYPE OF DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT I COULD OF JUST PUT THE GAS CAP ON WRONG OR SOMETHING. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN I HAD THIS INSPECTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS. THEN ON 06/22/09 I GOT AN FULL OIL CHANGE AND ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED. STILL NOTHING WRONG. I TURNED THE CAR ON 07/04/09 THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE AND FUEL GAUGE WAS SHAKING. THE BATTERY DIED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE BATTERY WAREHOUSE CHECKED THE FLOW OF THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN JUST A BAD BATTERY BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG. THEY EVEN STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE ALTERNATOR. THEN 2 DAYS LATER I TURN THE CAR ON AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTIFREEZE WERE POURING ON THE GROUND. I TURNED THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP THINKS THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION FROM EXPERIENCE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER WHEN LOOKING ONLINE IT LOOKS AS IF I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF 2002 NEON THAT IS HAVING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE WARNING. THERE WAS NO POP-THE ENGINE STILL RUNS WITHOUT A NOISE I JUST NOTICED THAT I LOST ALL GEARS AND FLUIDS ARE DUMPING VERY QUICKLY FROM MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THIS DOWN. DODGE IS QUOTING JUST FOR A TRANSMISSION THE BILL WILL BE $3500.00 AND NEEDED MY VIN # JUST TO TELL THAT WITHOUT SEEING MY CAR. LUCKILY MY EMPLOYER IS NOT UPSET ABOUT THE FLUIDS ALL DUMPED IN THE PARKING LOT, BUT THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10276381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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).

NHTSA complaint #10239713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10238425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE RADIATOR BROKE IN MY 2002 DODGE NEON. THE COOLANT WENT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS LAST 7/2007. NEXT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WENT 4/2008. NOW THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. 7/2008 IN TALKING TO NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS I AM FINDING OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH THESE NEONS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I THINK ITS A DEFECT WITH THE WAY THIS WAS BUILT.

NHTSA complaint #10233455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE, UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE WERE INFORMED, IT HAD A SIZABLE HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK. TOTAL REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $600. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2002 DODGE NEON AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS RECEIVED PROPER CARE AS FAR AS OIL CHANGES, TIRES, SPARK PLUGS ETC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EVEN REACHED 60,000 MILES YET, AND WE'RE ENCOUNTERING SUCH PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED US, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALL LEAKS, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR EACH LEAK, THUS THEY ONLY FIXED WHAT WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND THE OIL LEAK, WHICH WAS ALSO SUBSTANTIAL.

NHTSA complaint #10182035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE WAS BROKEN. THIS MANUFACTURES DEFECT CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE CB UNIT AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHERE THE CB UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING A PART TO ARRIVE FOR THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO PERFORM A REPLACEMENT. THERE WERE NO RECALL NOR COMPLAINT FOUND ON THIS PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/05/06.

NHTSA complaint #10173021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

MY 2002 DODGE NEON ES HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS LEADING UP TO THE EXPIRATION OF MY WARRANTY. EVERYTHING FROM ELECTRICAL ISSUES TO RADIATOR PROBLEMS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AT 65,000 MILES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. MY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. I KNEW THEY WERE LYING AND SURE ENOUGH, AT 72,000 MILES, 2,000 MILES AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY TRANSMISSION IS DEAD. CHRYSLER CORP. REFUSES TO FIX OR EVEN DISCOUNT A TRANSMISSION FOR ME SAYING THAT MY CAR IS "ABOVE AND BEYOND" ANY WARRANTY. I DON'T CONSIDER 2,000 MILES ABOVE AND BEYOND, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE CAR HAD 5,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND WAS CONSIDERED BRAND NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10160239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

ON FEB 14, 2006 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR STARTED MAKING DINGING NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND I HEARD A BUBBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AS I PULLED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR STOPPED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THEY RAN A CHECK THROUGH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM. WHAT THEY FINALLY FOUND WAS THAT THE RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE (THAT THE RADIATOR SEAL HAD FAILED) AND LEAKED BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO MIX. SINCE THE CAR IS A 2002 AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 YRS AND 3 MONTHS WITH ONLY 68,348 MILES ON THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY STATED, BECAUSE THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND IT (THE RADIATOR) WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I EXPLAINED TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRYSLER ON THE PHONE, THAT INDEED THE RADIATOR IS ONE OF THEIR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR AND ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED (AS STATED BY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP), AND IT WAS FACTOR FOR THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS ALSO THE MAIN FACTOR THAT RESULTED IN THE CAR STOPPING WHILE BE DRIVEN ON A BUSY ROADWAY, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT, PERSONAL INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10150791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

DT: THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED A VEHICLE, AND WHEN CHECKING OUT THE VEHICLE IT HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THE FRAME WAS BENT, THE RADIATOR WAS BENT INTO THE FAN, THE AIR CLEANER WAS NOT BOLTED ON THE SIDE, THE RADIATOR WAS PAINTED RED AND BENT, THE CORE SUPPLIER WAS DAMAGED, AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THE WIRING WAS FRAYED. THE CONTACT JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, AND HE FOUND THE AFOREMENTIONED THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD SELL A CAR IN THAT CONDITION. THE CAR IS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WOULD CONTACT FTC ON THE DEALERSHIP SELLING THE CAR IN THAT CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10139652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

DT: THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED A VEHICLE, AND WHEN CHECKING OUT THE VEHICLE IT HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THE FRAME WAS BENT, THE RADIATOR WAS BENT INTO THE FAN, THE AIR CLEANER WAS NOT BOLTED ON THE SIDE, THE RADIATOR WAS PAINTED RED AND BENT, THE CORE SUPPLIER WAS DAMAGED, AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THE WIRING WAS FRAYED. THE CONTACT JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, AND HE FOUND THE AFOREMENTIONED THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD SELL A CAR IN THAT CONDITION. THE CAR IS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WOULD CONTACT FTC ON THE DEALERSHIP SELLING THE CAR IN THAT CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10139652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

DT: THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED A VEHICLE, AND WHEN CHECKING OUT THE VEHICLE IT HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THE FRAME WAS BENT, THE RADIATOR WAS BENT INTO THE FAN, THE AIR CLEANER WAS NOT BOLTED ON THE SIDE, THE RADIATOR WAS PAINTED RED AND BENT, THE CORE SUPPLIER WAS DAMAGED, AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THE WIRING WAS FRAYED. THE CONTACT JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, AND HE FOUND THE AFOREMENTIONED THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD SELL A CAR IN THAT CONDITION. THE CAR IS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WOULD CONTACT FTC ON THE DEALERSHIP SELLING THE CAR IN THAT CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10139652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I WORK IN THE MIAMI AREA AND WAS GOING HOME AFTER EATING ; IT HAD BEEN RAINING THAT DAY AND THERE WAS SOME SMALL PUDDLES ON THE ROADWAYS. I WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE; THEN THROUGH A RED LIGHT ;WHEN MY CAR QUIT IN THE INTERSECTION WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT START. SO I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND GET A TAXI HOME UNTIL MORNING WHEN I COULD TRY TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2002 DODGE NEON WHICH I PURCHASED ON JAN 17,2004 AT CAPITAL CHEVROLET IN MONTGOMERY ALABAMA. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE NEXT MORNING I COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MAROONE DODGE DEALER IN MIAMI FL. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CAR HAD SLUNG A ROD WHICH THE WARRANTY REFUSED TO COVER THEIR STATED REASON WAS THAT THE CAR TOOK ON WATER THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE WHICH SEIZED THE MOTOR AND CAUSED THE ROD TO BREAK. AFTER CHECKING WITH OTHER MECHANICS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEIR REASON IS NOT POSSIBLE AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES LIKE THIS REPORTED. YOUR HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10107765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10099644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PANEL LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. *BF THE DAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR WHAT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT WAS A FAULTY WIRING PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $825.00 TO REPAIR THE INSIDE CLUSTER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE VEHICLE HAD OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RESERVOIRS, IN ADDITION TO THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RATTLING, THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BELT AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10097334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

JUNE 1, 2004. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE CAR STARTED IDLING REAL ROUGH AND I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I WOULD STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT WOULD IDLE REAL ROUGH. FINALLY THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND THE CAR DIED. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND THEY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. A MONTH LATER ON JULY 2 THE CAR STARTED IDLING REAL ROUGH. I DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER DRIVING IT OUT ON THE STREET CAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD BREAK DOWN ON ME AGAIN. I SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND EACH TIME IT WOULD IDLE REAL ROUGH. GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WHERE I WAS TOLD ALL THEY COULD FIND IT NEEDED WAS A TUNE UP. I GOT THE TUNE UP DONE TO IT AND EVER SINCE THEN IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING PAST 60 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10082329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE LIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A REST STOP. UPON DRIVING UP THE RAMP TO THE REST STOP VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SLUDGE BUILD UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #10076115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DRIVING DOWN I95, OIL AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO REST STOP <1 MILE AWAY. CAR DIED ON RAMP. LAST OIL CHANGE 23,000 MILES, CAR HAS 30,000 MILES. REALIZE LATE FOR CHANGE, BUT DEAL SAYS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. STATES THAT FAILURE TO HAVE DEALER DO MAINTAINAN INVALID WARRANTY. STATES THAT PROBLEM CAUSED BY NEGLECT. 7000 MILES SINCE LAST CHANGE, WHILE LATE SHOULD NOT BLOW ENGINE. NO ASSISTANCE OFFERED BY DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10075191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CAR SHAKES WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP, AND CONTINUES TO UNTIL YOU BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE HAVE THE BATTERY GO DEAD TWICE SINCE I HAVE HAD IT. IT HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT THEY SAID THAT IT HAD THE WRONG SPARK PLUGS IN IT. WHY DIDN'T THEY FIND THIS SOONER. THE CAR ACCLERATES BETTER NOW ON TAKE OFF, BUT IT STILL SHAKES ALOT WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. IT STILL CONTINUES TO SHAKE WHILE YOUR STILL SITTING THERE. THIS HAS STARTED TO HAPPEN ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I RECEIVED THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10047188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING HESITATION PROBLEMS WHEN ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WHILE UNDER LOAD SUCH AS CLIMBING A MEDIUM GRADE ROAD. ENGINE FEELS LIKE ITS STARVING FOR FUEL. HAD ONE CASE WHERE ENGINE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR NO REASON. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE BOGGED DOWN WITH NO POWER AT ALL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IS TO COME OUT WITH AN UPDATE FOR THE ENGINE COMPUTER BUT AFTER 1 YEARS AND 20000 MILES, I HAVE NOT SEEN A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2002.

NHTSA complaint #10045757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10042501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THE SCREW ON THE REAR OF THE RADIATOR BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE RADIATOR'S HOSES. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKED WHEN ENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #10037931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2002 WITH 10,000. MILES ON IT. RECENTLY MY CAR IDLES NOW BETWEEN 4-500 RPM. DRIVING MY CAR; CAME TO A STOP LIGHT MY CAR STALLED. NOW SITTING AT RED LIGHTS/ STOP SIGNS THE RPM'S DROPALL THE WAY TO 300 RPM CAR STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. ONE THE TECH'S WHO TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROAD TEST SAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER. THE CAR IS DECIDING ON ITS OWN FOR THE RPM'S TO DROP BUT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER ANALYSES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR A "FLASH UPGRADE TO BE INSTALLED"; ALSO THE CD PLAYER IN THE CAR HEATS UP THE CD'S BURNED MY HAND WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE IT OU. ON 7-9-03 THEY GAVE ME A LOANER AND ON 7-12-03 THEY TOOK IT BACK. THEY SAID THE ONLY REASON THEY GAVE ME THE LOANER IS BECAUSE I WAS UPSET. THEY REPLACED THE CD PLAYER BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING IS STILL NOT FIXED. ON 7-13-03 CAR STALLED AT A STOP SIGN. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT'.

NHTSA complaint #10026009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NOTICED CAR WAS LEAKING OIL; CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND OIL WASN'T EVEN REGISTERING ON THE OIL DIPSTICK. REQUIRED TWO (2) QUARTS OF OIL TO FILL TO PROPER LEVEL. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE OIL IS FINDING ITS WAY INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND BEING EXPELLED FROM THE COOLANT OVERFLOW (EXPANSION) TANK. ALMOST TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE REQUIRED ANOTHER QUART AND WAS LOSING OIL AND COOLANT AT AN ALARMING RATE (POURING OUT OF THE VEHICLE). DEALER HAS INSISTED PROBLEM DOESN'T EXIST AND HAS ACCUSED ME OF PUTTING OIL INTO COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK. THIS IS A BLATANT LIE ON THEIR PART TO AVOID WARRANTY LIABILITY. HE INSIST THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR OIL TO FIND ITS WAY BACK INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS STATEMENT AND IT IS UTTERLY FALSE (EITHER THE HEAD GASKET OR THE WATER JACKET COULD BE RESPONSIBLE, AMONG OTHER THINGS). THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR FIX IT INSTEAD INSISTING THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO FACTORY SPECIFICATION AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, ENGINE SEIZURE, ETC., ANY ONE OF WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE, MINE OR MY FAMILY.

NHTSA complaint #10016928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.