I WAS DRIVING TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WITH MY FRIENDS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY DASHBOARD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I THEN LATER NOTICE MY BRAKE,FOG,HIGH BEAMS, AND TURN SIGNALS LIGHT DO NOT WORK. I WENT ON A FORUM TO SEE IF IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SAW CARS THAT WERE BURNED AND I SAW THAT IT WAS A CONNECTION THAT WAS FAULTY. I REMOVE MY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS BURNED TOO THE EXACT SAME PLACE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH FIRE. I WENT TO A JUNK YARD TO SEE IF I COULD GET ONE AND ALL THE DODGE NEONS THAT I GOT TO THEY WERE ALL SHOTS AND BURNED. I WANT TO GET A RECALL FOR THIS THAT CANNOT BE POSSIBLE THAT ALL THE CARS EVEN MY FRIENDS CAR HAS THAT TOO AND IT'S A DODGE NEON. CAN SOMETHING PLEASE BE DONE ABOUT THIS
NHTSA complaint #10870087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO A COMPLETE STOP AND NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10711901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT FRAME THAT HOLDS ENGINE,STRUTS, BRAKES , STEERING ARE ROTTED OUT FROM RUST CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES AND POSSIBLE INJURIES AND DEATH !!!!!!!!!!! CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THESE ISSUES AND WONT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10678930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY LIGHTS ON, I BEGAN TO SEE AND SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THE SMOKE CLEARED UP AND WENT AWAY. AFTER SOME TIME, I TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM TO BE FOUND AT THIS TIME. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS YOU PULLED THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH, THEN AND ONLY AS YOU HELD THE SWITCH THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK. ( IF YOU HAVE NEVER SIT AND HELD THE SWITCH WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ( OF COURSE ) TO GET HOME IT IS NO FUN. ) THAT WEEK END I PULLED THE COVERS OFF THE COLUMN AND PULLED THE HARNESS OUT OF SWITCH TO FIND IT WAS MELTED. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM DOWN A VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10676317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE NEON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA complaint #10661558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10652405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH COULD NOT STEER CAR, PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, COULDN'T CONTROL WENT OFF ROAD, HITTING TWO TREES AND THEN CAR FLIPPED, ENDING UP ON ROOF. RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES, DRIVER AND PASSENGER GOING TO HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #10637388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 DODGE NEON. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS NOTHING BUT CLICKS. I AM HAVING SO MUCH PROBLEMS TURNING ON MY SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I AM HOPING THAT THIS IS A RECALL SO I WON'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY OUT OF POCKET.
NHTSA complaint #10576182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS HEARING A CLUNK UNDER MY CAR. TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUSTED SUBFRAME. NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED TO THE TUNE OF 1000 DOLLARS. THEY SAID NOTHING ELSE LOOKED RUSTED. HMMMM ODD.
NHTSA complaint #10492052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERE CORROSION CAUSED A WEAKNESS IN THE SUSPENSION CRADLE/ ENGINE CRADLE THAT RESULTED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY FROM ITS MOUNTING TO THE SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER/ CRADLE. THE CONTROL ARM AND ALL ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS SEEMED TO BE IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION AND DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE DRIVE AXLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNDRIVEABLE. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE FAILURE AT A VERY LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE SAME FAILURE AT POSTED SPEED (45MPH AT THE TIME) WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIKELY SEVERE CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10483446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT SUNDAY AND SOMETHING SNAPPED. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED THE FRONT END AND ONE WHEEL WAS ONE WAY AND OTHER WAS THE OTHER DIRECTION! LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW THAT THE BALL BROKE OUT OF THE SOCKET. IF THAT WOULD OF HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD BE DEAD OR SEVERELY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10465633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CRACKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,600. UPDATED 05/02/11 *CN UPDATED 05/11/11
NHTSA complaint #10386273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE FOG LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AND BECAME UNUSUALLY HOT IN TEMPERATURE. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME; HOWEVER, A BURNING SMELL FILLED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT EITHER THE WIRING HARNESS OR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH HAD FAILED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 05/06/10.
NHTSA complaint #10319237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HEARD A POP IN OUR ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, UNCERTAIN THAT IT WAS OUR VEHICLE WE CONTINUED, AS WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY WE HAD LOST POWER STEERING IT SEEMED. CONTINUE HOME ABOUT 20 MILES AND ONCE WE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WE OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND OUR POWER STEERING BELT HAD COME OFF. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE BELT, NOTICED OUR DRIVEBELT IDLER PULLEY HAD DISINTEGRATED. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ORDER THIS PART FROM SEVERAL AUTO PART STORES AND THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. IT IS ON FACTORY BACK ORDER FOR OVER THE PAST MONTH, WHICH HAS LEFT US WITH ONLY ONE VEHICLE FOR OUR HOUSEHOLD.
NHTSA complaint #10221479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE CLUTCH, ALTERNATOR AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/08/08.
NHTSA complaint #10208908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING THAT TIRE TO LEAN. THE TRAVEL SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE ROD ENDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 90,898. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER.
NHTSA complaint #10185270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. I COULDN'T TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT SWITCHING THE SWITCH FORM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS A FEW TIMES, THEN I WOULD TURN THE SWITCH OFF THEN ON, AND THE LHEADLIGHTS WOULD THEN TURN ON. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON, THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO BRIGN MY CAR IN TO BE LOOKED AT. WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS THEY THEN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE PLUG FROM THE SWITCH WAS MELTED AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO TAKE THE PLUG OUT FROM WHER IT WAS PLUGGED INTO, THE PLUG BROKE APART INTO SEVERAL PIECES. MY QUESTION TO THE SEERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS, WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THAT SWITCH TO HEAT UP AND MELT THE WAY IT DID? HE IN TURN SAID TO ME, I DON'T KNOW, YOUR CAR ISN'T THE ONLY TYPE THA HAS BEEN IN HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF MY CAR WASN'T THE FIRST INTO THEIR SERVICXE DEPARTMENT TO BE REPAIRED, THEN TO ME THIS IS A PROBLEM, THE SWITCH IS HEATING UP CAUSING THE PLUG TO MELT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COULD CASUE A FIRE, BUT I WASN'T GARANTEED THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE SPENT 250.00 PLUS TAX AND LABOR WHICH ALL TOGETHER CAME TO $354. 74. COULD SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE AND SEE IF THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL. IF IT IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL OTHER CARS. NOT ONLY MY TYPE OF CAR EITHER. I HAVE THE 2003 DODGE NEON SXT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE EMAIL ON THIS MATTER, OR CALLME. THANK YOU AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10185363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED SINCE THE CAR HAD A COUPLE OF THOUSAND MILES. STARTED OFF WITH A TICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, TO A POPPING NOISE AND THEN TO CLUNKING. THE CAR ITSELF HAD A LOT OF THE SUSPENSION REVIEWED OVER 20 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP WITH "NO PROBLEM FOUND" THEY DID REPLACE STEERING COUPLERS BASED ON TSB'S BUT THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE IT. THE CAR STILL HAS A CLICK/POP IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN ON TAKE OFF THE STEERING WHEEL STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL CLUNK. THE MAJOR CONCERNED IS THE STEERING!! AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 50 MPH THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE, IT SWAYS, SWERVES LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN TRYING TO HOLD THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE FEELS AS IF ITS TURNING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING, IT REQUIRES A LOT MORE EFFORT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THEN A RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE IS DEEMED UNSAFE BY ANY STANDARD, THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE DEALER SHIP STATES THAT ITS WITHIN "SPEC"... IF I HAVE TO COUNTER STEER ON A STRAIGHT LINE THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE STEERING ISSUE, I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH DODGE TRYING TO GET A COURTESY DISTRICT MANAGER TO REVIEW THE PROBLEMS. THEIR "OFFICIAL" ANSWER IS THAT ITS OUT OF THE STANDARD WARRANTY AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL DODGE PAY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR STEERING ISSUES EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A PREEXISTING ISSUE!! THE DEALER STATED THAT MY LOSS OF CONTROL WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE OEM GOODYEAR TIRES, SO I BROUGHT IT TO GOOD YEAR AND THEY SAID THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. I INSISTED THEY REPLACE THE TIRES, AND OUT OF GOODWILL THEY DID REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED!!!.. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT AFTER REVIEWING THE CAR THAT IS THE CARS HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAR. I KNEW IT WASN'T B/C THE CAR NEVER HAD THOSE ISSUES PRIOR TO THE 5000 MILES, THE DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED SOME SHOCKS AND OTHER ODDS AND ENDS THAT MADE NO IMPROVEMENT TO THE VEHICLES STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10151683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN 1995 NEON CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE HIS LIFE. *TS A RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT 5 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMERS SON WAS KILLED. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T PURSUE ANY LEGAL ACTION TO DETERMINE IF A STEERING DEFECT AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NOTICE CAUSED THE HER SON TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10149724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH, A WIND DRAFT WAS NOTICED IN THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, WATER WAS NOTICE IN THE BACK FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WERE THEY DETERMINED THE SEAL AROUND THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD A SMALL AREA THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN SEALED PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEALANT AROUND THE TAIL LIGHTS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10148088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.