SERVICE BRAKES
RUNNING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING (ON A CITY STREET), WHEN REPAIRED, WAS DUE TO A WIRE IN THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH BURNING OUT AND MELTING THE CASING OF THE MFS
NHTSA complaint #10884541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dodge Neon brake problems
577 of the 4,954 complaints filed about the Dodge Neon are about the braking system — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
577
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
85
Crashes
8
Fires
Brakes complaints by model year
What owners said
SERVICE BRAKES
I SHIFTED MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT STOP CRASHED THRU MY NEIGHBORS GARAGE DOOR. THERE S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES EVEN IN NEUTRAL. I CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER OR BLOCKING THE GAS PEDAL. NO MATS IN CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10863951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD AN CAR WRECK IN MY 1998 DODGE NEON (BLUE) IN NOVEMBER 24,2002 DUE TO THE BREAKS & THE TIRES & THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT WHEN I WRECK & I GOT STUCK IN MY SEAT BELT OUT THE CAR WRECK & THEN I HAD ANOTHER 1999 DODGE NEON (WHITE) & I HAD CAR PROBLEMS WITH IT TO
NHTSA complaint #10788687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
ON 10/6/15 MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS MERGING ONTO THE PARKWAY WHEN THE SUV HE WAS FOLLOWING CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT DOING THE SAME, BUT WHEN MY SON TRIED TO BREAK THE BREAKS WERE COMPLETELY OUT CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE BACK OF SUV HE WAS FOLLOWING, WITH HIS QUICK THINKING HE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAKS TO PREVENT HIT SUV AGAIN AS IT WAS PULLING OVER.
NHTSA complaint #10781464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING .BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM SHOE .THAN BRAKE LINES STARTED LEAKING AT FRAME HOLD DOWN BRACKET. THESE ARE ORIGINAL PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10641666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR, I HAD/HAVE LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM MY BREAKS WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I WAS TOLD, FROM THE DEALER, NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS. I THOUGHT THAT MAY BE THIS WOULD STOP, BUT IT IS STILL ALWAYS HAPPENING.
NHTSA complaint #10639061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
UNFORTUNATELY I RAN INTO A DRIVER WHOM WAS IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY & BAD BRAKES. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DULL & FOGGY. ALSO, WHOMEVER OWN THE CAR BEFORE ME HAD THE BRAKE VACUUM REPLACED DUE TO RECALL & EVER SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THE CAR THERE'S BEEN A BRAKE PROBLEM. SUCH AS NEEDING A NEW MASTER CYLINDER, NEW PROPOSITIONING, NEW BRAKE SHOES, AND WHEEL CYLINDER. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF ALL WORK COMPLETED. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD WHOM RIDE ALONG AND I'M HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SAFETY. I LOVE THE CAR BUT IF IT CONTINUES I WILL JUNK OUT MY CAR AND LOOK TO SUE DODGE CHRYSLER AND WHOMEVER ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAKING OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10621019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HE GOT TO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE WE LIVE AND HIS BACK DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL LOCKED UP. WE TOOK IT TO A SHOP HERE IN RUTHVEN AND THEY TRIED TO FIX IT. WE LATER HAD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER IN SPENCER IOWA. ASHER MOTORS. IT NEED A BREAK KIT BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON IT HAD COME APART AND THE SPRING WAS MISSING. AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE E-BRAKE NOW YESTERDAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. I WAS READING UP ON THE OTHERS THAT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RECALLS ON THERE BREAKS AND THINK THE 2004 SHOULD ALSO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER NEON OWNERS AND THEY TO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY CAN LOOK UP RECALLS AND MY CAR HAS NOT HAD THAT PROBLEM BUT WE CAN SAVE OUR RECORDS AND IF IT IS A RECALL THEN WE CAN FILE TO BE RE PAID BACK. IDK WHAT ALL IS INVOLVED IN GETTING OR EVEN HAVING A RECALL LOOKED INTO BUT THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD START.
NHTSA complaint #10510601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE REPORTED INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE BRAKES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V154000-SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM) BUT NOT FOR THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #10443308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL BRAKING FUNCTION WAS LOST WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. SHE STATED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, SHOES, REAR BRAKE DRUMS, AND TWO REAR FLEX LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, WIRING HARNESS, SPEED SENSOR, COIL, VALVE COVER GASKETS AND TIMING BELT ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA complaint #10404329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NEW BRAKES INSTALLED FROM DEALER PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF THIS USED CAR IN MAY OF 2008. IN SEPT 2008, (ABOUT 5K MILES LATER) UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE AT 45 MPH - HIT GUARDRAIL CAUSING NECK INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. WAS DETERMINED BY BODYSHOP THAT BRAKES FAILED DUE TO LEAKING REAR COMPRESSOR, WHICH SOAKED BRAKE PADS. COMPLETELY REPLACED REAR COMPONENTS AT TIME OF ACCIDENT REPAIR N OCT 2008. HAVE ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 20,000 MILES SINCE THEN ...IN JUNE 2010, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED WITH REAR COMPRESSORS LEAKING, RESULTING IN NO BRAKE FLUID WHATSOEVER. ENTIRE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND COMPLETE REAR BRAKE COMPONENTS/SYSTEM HAVE JUST BEEN REPLACED JUNE 2010.
NHTSA complaint #10336614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
NHTSA complaint #10328005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2004 DODGE NEON ON THE 101 FREEWAY NEAR SANTA BARBARA, CA IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SHE HAD NO BRAKES. AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. BECAUSE SHE WAS TRAVELING SLOW SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH WAS NEARLY IN-EFFECTIVE. IF SHE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE RIGHT REAR DRUM BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING WHICH ALLOWED ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10325267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2004 DODGE NEON ON THE 101 FREEWAY NEAR SANTA BARBARA, CA IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SHE HAD NO BRAKES. AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. BECAUSE SHE WAS TRAVELING SLOW SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH WAS NEARLY IN-EFFECTIVE. IF SHE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE RIGHT REAR DRUM BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING WHICH ALLOWED ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10325267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Dodge Neon
Xxxxxxxx, RI
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 1998 NEON AND WATER IS COMING THOU THE LIGHTS INTO CAR ON FLOOR I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME DEFECT ON NOT JUST MY YEAR BUT NEWER MODULES THIS IS A MOLD ISSUE AND I LIKE MANY HAVE ALLEGE TO MOLD AND CAN TRIGGER A ASTHMA ATTACK THAT CAN KILL USE I ASKED THE DEALERS TO FIX BUT THEY SAY ITS NOT A RECALL I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR IN ORDER TO STOP THE LEAK SO WHOSE PAYING MY HOSPITAL VISIT WHEN I HAVE MY ASTHMA ATTACK AND I HAVE TO GO ON A VENTILATOR DEATH IS NOT A OPTION WHY CANT THEY FIX IT FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #10320751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. HE TOOK THE REAR BRAKES APART ON HIS VEHICLE TO INSPECT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE MAKING GRINDING NOISES. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE BACKING PLATE. ALSO THE ADHESIVE WAS SEPARATING. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10292089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON SXT. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2008. 6 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS TO THIS. AAMACO SAID THAT THE RADIATOR BLEW WHICH LED TO THE COOLANT AND TRANS. FLUID MIXING TOGETHER AND DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD NO WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. IT COST ME 3500 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE CAR IS BURNING FUEL. I AM GETTING ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 17 MPG DEPENDING ON THE DAY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS, INCLUDING A DEALERSHIP, WHO CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE WORST PROBLEM YET IS THAT WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE AND I AM DRIVING THE CAR THERE IS A SMALL THUNKING NOISE, AND THEN A LOUD THUNKING NOISE THAT LOCKS UP THE REAR TIRES AND BRINGS THE CAR TO A SKIDDING HALT. SO FAR, KNOW ON WOOD, NO ACCIDENTS, BUT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AGAIN, THE CAR HAS GONE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO CLAIMED THEY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM. HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING FROM AXLES, TO BRAKE CYLINDERS AND BRAKES. PAID APPROXIMATELY 1500 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET, AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO I REFUSE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE IN THIS CAR FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10283767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10242829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10242401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 Dodge Neon
EGG Harbor Township, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PEELING PAINT ON MY 1995 DODGE NEON. I AM ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION, REPLACED AIR CONDITIONER BECAUSE OF SMOKE UNDER HOOD, BRAKES, ROTORS, FUEL LEAKING, VALVE COVER GASKET, HEAD GASKET, NO OIL IN ENGINE HAD IT TOWED. I ALSO IN THE TIME I OWN MY NEON I HAVE HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. AFTER REPLACING ALL THIS I ONLY HAD ONE RECALL SENT TO ME ON THE STEERING COUPLER. I HAD THAT FIXED AT THE DEALER. BUT, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY OTHER RECALLS SENT TO ME. 2 TRANSMISSIONS AND ALOT OF MONEY SPENT ON A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #10231525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.