1998 Dodge Neon

I NO LONGER HAVE MY CAR, AS OF AUGUST 16, 2000 I RETURNED IT TO THE BANK. THE WARRANTY HAS LONG SINCE EXPIRED AND THE COST TO MAINTAIN THE CAR WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS IT HAS PROVED TO BE MORE THAN I COULD AFFORD, AND MUCH MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. MY MAIN OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEMS I HAD ARE KNOWN SO THAT MAYBE IT WILL PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. GRANTED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS SUCH AS LEAKS AROUND THE DOORS AND TRUNK ARE NOT AS SERIOUS, OTHERS SUCH AS THE STEERING KNUCKLE WEARING OUT AND HAVING TO BE REPLACED, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WHEN I RETURNED MY CAR LAST WEEK , TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I REALIZE THAT I WILL NEVER GET ANY OF THE MONEY BACK I HAVE SPENT ON THE CAR, BUT IF THIS KEEPS EVEN ONE PERSON FROM GETTING HURT OR KILLED IT WILL BE MORE THAN WORTHWHILE. CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND, I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION, AND RETAINED A LAWYER FOR THE LEMON LAW, BUT THE DEALERSHIPS FAILURE TO DOCUMENT EACH TIME MY CAR WAS IN FOR REPAIRS, MADE IT MY WORD AGAINST THEIRS, SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO LEGALLY TO MAKE THEM PAY. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A COPY OF ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS I HAVE, IF IT WILL HELP YOU. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT IN THESE CARS. THEY ARE A DEATH TRAP.

AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. REPAIRED ON JULY 29, 1999. REPAIR REQUIRED VALVE EXPANSION, FREON, GASKET, AND RECHARGE. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999, RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE. FRONT END WAS CLEANED AND LUBED BY DEALER. NOISE RETURNED 8 DAYS LATER. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999 DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND CALIPER SLIDES DRY AND AGAIN LUBED TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS. COMPLAINED ON SEPTEMBER 12. 1998 OF BACK FIRE OF ENGINE WHEN A/C ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A NEW PROBLEM FELT AFTER 2,035 ,MILES DRIVEN. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 HEADLIGHT BEZEL CAME LOOSE FROM VIBRATION FROM TIE ROD BEING LOOSE. PART OF DASH PANEL REMOVED TO CORRECT LOOSE SWITCHES. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 VEHICLE WAS INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO DOOR TOP WEATHERSTRIPPING TABS FALLING OFF. DEALER HAD TO ORDER PARTS AND HAVE VEHICLE RETURNED AFTER PARTS ARRIVED TO REINSTALL. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 THE FRONT AND REAL WHEEL TOE ADJUSTMENTS, RETIGHTEND NUTS ON TIE ROD AND ALIGNEMENT OF VEHICLE WAS DONE DUE TO VIBRATION. ON MAY 11, 1999, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW BY MYSELF. IT ALSO HAD BLACK FLAKES ON THE DIP STICK. "YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SHOT" WAS THE REPORT FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TRANSMISSION WAS RECONDITIONED, FLUSHED, NEW BAND AND GASKET INSTALLED AT 7136 MILES. VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO REPAIRS ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 TO HAVE BODY WELD REBENTED AND PAINT TOUCHED UP DUE TO DAMAGE FROM LIFT FROM PREVIOUS REPAIR. SEVERAL CALLS TO MR. JOHN BRUNSON ON OCTOBER 23, 1998, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF DAYTON ANDREWS DODGE, ST. PETERSSBURG, FLORIDA, BUT WERE NEVER ANSWERED OR RETURNED. I HAD SEVERAL TALKS WITH MR. MIKE ARMUS, SALESPERSON, WHO STATED HE COULDN'T GET ME ANY STRAIGHT ANSWERS FROM STEVE, SERVICE MANAAGER, REGARDING THE LOOSE FRONT END PROBLEMS.