1996 Dodge Neon

WHILE DRIVING ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. HAD NO INTERIOR OR OUTSIDE LIGHTS. HAD SOME LEAKAGE FROM TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPAIRED LEAKAGES/STARTER/HEAD GASKETS/ OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*AK WATER LEAK FROM THE TRUNK TO REAR FLOOR BOARDS CAUSED CORROSION. ALSO, SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED TO GO OFF. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BEFOR E PURCHASE. *YH

CAR WAS SERVICED FOR OIL/FILTER CHANGE, 4 CYLINDER TUNE UP, TRANSMISSION SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 29, 2000. DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED. CALLED DEALER TO INFORM THEM OF SITUATION. TOWING SERVICE WAS CALLED. WAITED ONE HOUR FOR TOW TRUCK. VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVING TO OWNER'S RESIDENCE. CALLED TOWING SERVICE AGAIN ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 1, 2000. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HENDRICK DODGE. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL. COIL WAS REPLACED ON MARCH 1, 2000. OWNER PICKED UP VEHICLE ON THE AFTERNOON ON MARCH 1, 2000. VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE HENDRICK DODGE. TOWING SERVICE WAS CALLED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO HENDRICK DODGE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS AND CAM/CRANK SENSOR. ON MARCH 8, THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPLACED THE FAULTY MECHANISMS AND CREDITED THE OWNER THE COST OF THE UNNECESSARILY INSTALLED DISTRIBUTOR COIL.

THE HEADGASKET AND CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED AT 37687 MILES WHICH IS CLEARLY PREMATURE . THE ESTIMATED REPAIRS PLUS THE NECESSARY TOWING CHARGE WERE IN EXCESS OF $600 . AFTER A COMPLAINT BY TELEPHONE THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COVER THE FULL AMOUNT. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT NOT FOR MY OWN BENEFIT ,SINCE MY COST OF REPAIR WAS COVERED , BUT TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE DODGE NEON'S 2.0 L ENGINE HAS AN APPARANT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET ASSEMBLY. THE CAR LEAKS OIL. OUR PARTICULAR CAR RECEIVED DEALER SERVICE ONCE ALREADY FOR THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT BUT THE OIL LEAK PERSISTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO APPARANT LEAK. CLOSE AFTER THAT OUR FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. OUR CAR NOW LEAKS ALMOST A QUART OF OIL EVERY DAY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONE ISOLATED TO JUST OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES OF FAILED HEAD GASKETS RECORDED AND SHARED BY NEON OWNERS. ACCORDING TO A USER WEBSITE "NEONS.ORG" 32% OF ALL NEON OWNERS HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE DEFECIVE PART WITHIN 30,000 MILES OF THE VEHICLE'S LIFE; MOST AT THEIR OWN COST. PLEASE DOCUMENT AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES NEON OWNERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO BUY A RELIABLE LITTLE CAR. THANK YOU.