1998 Dodge Neon

NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKET AT 62,000 MILES. PAINT IS FOGGING UP ON THE BACK FOR NO REASON. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS COMPLAINING OS SIMILIAR NATURE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN GOING OUT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH THE HEAD GASKET. THIS IS A SERIOUSLY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.*AK

WHILE I WAS GETTING MY OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY REAR DRUM BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC AT PRECISION TUNE IN ENCINITAS, CA, MENTIONED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DRUM BRAKE COMPONENTS. BECAUSE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED AND RUSTED THE INSIDES OF THE THE BRAKES, HE ALSO DID MENTION THAT MY RIGHT REAR TIRE DID NOT SPIN AS IT WAS SUPPOUSE TO SPIN DUE TO DAMAGE IN THE DRUM BRAKE. WHILE SHOWING ME THE INSIDES OF MY BRAKES, HE MENTIONED THAT MY CAR WAS ALSO LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. SINCE MY DRUM BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE DRUM BRAKES DISTORT MY FRONT DISC BRAKES FROM MAKING MY CAR STOP NORMALLY. THEREFORE NOT ONLY PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER, BUT ALSO PUTTING MY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS LIFES IN DANGER.*AK

I WAS RECENTLY IN A FRONT OFFSET (PASSENGER SIDE)IMPACT COLLISION IN MY DODGE NEON, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND I WAS THE PASSENGER. HE HAD THE CRUISE SET AT 70 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF US. WE LEFT 102' OF SKID MARKS BEFORE THE POI AND TRAVELLED ANOTHER 22' BEFORE THE POR. I CONTACTED DC ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE BEEN BRUSHED OFF. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY DID AN INVESTIGATION, AND THE RATE OF DECELERATION WAS NOT MET. HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A CRUSHED ALUMINUM CAN ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED, AND I KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING AT LEAST 30 MPH WHEN WE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE ROAD IS A HIGHWAY THAT HAS RECENTLY HAD NEW BLACKTOP LAID, AND IS VERY SLICK. I DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF THIS MATTER HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED. THE SUPPOSED INVESTIGATOR LOOKED AT THE CAR ON SEPT 19, AND THE LETTER THAT I RECEIVED REGARDING THAT IS DATED SEPT 21. TWO DAYS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LONG TIME TO ME FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE "INVESTIGATOR" COULD NOT HAVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON ON THE 19TH AS I WAS AT THE SALVAGE YARD REMOVING THINGS FROM MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER FOR THE MAN WHO TURNED IN FRONT OF US. I AM SORRY TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, JAMIE EASLY. *AK

NOTICED SMALL OIL LEAK WHILE CHANGING OIL, LOOKED OVER ENGINE BUT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY COULD NOT LOCATE LEAK.A MONTH OR SO LATER NOTICED OIL PUDDLE UNDER WHERE CAR WAS PARKED.MADE A FEW CALLS AROUND ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT FOUND OUT NOTHING.KEPT REGULAR CHECKS ON OIL LEVEL AND AT FIRST CAR USED ABOUT 1 QT OF OIL EVERY 2 OR 3 THOUSAND MILES.BUT IT STEADILY GOT WORSE SO I GOT A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A MECHANIC TO COME BY AND CHECK IT FOR ME.HE CAME BY AND GAVE IT A GOOD LOOKING OVER.ACCORDING TO HIM THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE THE HEAD GASKET.SUGGESTED I CONTACT A DEALER TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM OR NOT.WELL I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM.FRANKLY I WAS ASTONISHED AT THE # OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.(A BAD HEAD GASKET WAS USED)THERE IS A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS POSTED BUT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED.EVEN THOUGH DAIMLER/ CHRYSLER ORDERED A NEW HEAD GASKET SET MADE FOR THIS CAR THE CONSUMER HAS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE LABOR ON THE REPAIR.OF COURSE I REALIZE THAT UNLESS FORCED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, DAIMLER / CHRYSLER IS GOING TO STICK THE CONSUMER WITH AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.FINE,BUT I WILL NO LONGER EVEN CONSIDER THEM WHEN I PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE.THEY ARE NOW ON MY S_ _ T LIST.I WILL TRUTHFULLY TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS AND THAT THEY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER CUSTOMER SERVICE WHEN BUYING A NEW VEHICLE.THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THE COMPANY.I AM NOT AT ALL HAPPY ABOUT THIS AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME. IN MY OPINION, DAIMLER/ CHRYSLER HURT THEMSELVES MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF FUTURE SALES THAN THEY WOULD HAVE LOST BY DOING THE RIGHT THING. BUT WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE COME TO EXPECT THIS FROM LARGE COMPANIES.PROFIT MARGIN AT ANY GIVEN TIME IS THE BOTTOM LINE.SHAME , SHAME N