2000 Dodge Neon

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS THE VEHICLE CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AT THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS PROCESSED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT ON THE SCENE BUT A FAMILY MEMBER EVACUATED THE CONTACT TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. UPON THE IMPACT, THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO ANY DEALERSHIP.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS VERY RUSTY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO AGREED, BUT THERE WAS NO CLEAR DETERMINATION OF HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. UPDATED 5/31/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HITTING A PATCH OF ICE, THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED, HIT A TREE, FLIPPED ON IT'S TOP AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.

MAKE: DODGE MODEL: NEON TYPE: PASSENGER CAR YEAR: 2000 SUMMARY: AS NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, WITH ANY HEAVY RAINFALL, THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEATS FILLS WITH WATER (UP TO AN INCH OR MORE). APPEARS TO BE ENTERING THROUGH THE TRUNK AREA, AS THE SPARE TIRE WELL ALSO FILLS WITH WATER. USING SPONGES AND A SHOPVAC TO SOAK UP THE WATER AND THEN LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN TO DRY IT OUT IS MY ONLY REMEDY TO THE MOISTURE AND ODOR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. THE DEALER IS OF NO HELP BECAUSE (MERCIFULLY FOR OTHERS) THAT DEAL WENT BANKRUPT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. I HAVE A LITANY OF OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE 2000 NEON. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE (CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY - PARTLY A PROBLEM WITH RECORDS AS THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE/INITIAL MAINTENANCE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS), EACH TIME I START THE CAR, THE FUSE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND LOOK OK. AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT I HAVE NO FUNCTIONING INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS OR EXTERIOR BACKUP LIGHTS. REPEATED EFFORTS BY SEVERAL REPAIR FACILITIES TO LOCATE THE CORRECT HARNESS HAVE FAILED. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 72,000 MILES OF RELATIVELY EASY CITY DRIVING (COMMUTE TO WORKPLACE) OR DIVIDED HIGHWAY DRIVING), YET MOST FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED (ALL STRUTS, SWAY BARS, ETC). TRANSMISSION FLUID HOSE OR CONNECTOR FAILED ON FEB 19, 2006, RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. *NM

2000 DODGE NEON OWNED BY MS. JERRY KIMBELL OF HAUGHTON LOUISIANA BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER REAR END COLLISION. 2000 NEON HAS FUEL SENDING UNIT LOCATED ON BOTTOM OF GAS TANK AND POORLY ROUTED FUEL LINES. ACCORDING TO NHTSA STUDY, COST TO PLACE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON TOP OF TANK AND REROUTE FUEL LINES WOULD ADD ZERO COST IN PRODUCTION. THIS COMPLAINT IS FILED BY SAM GOODWIN, ATTORNEY FOR RENE RIVERS, THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED. *NM

HEAD GASKET BLOWN. LARGE OIL/FUEL LEAKS AND/OR CONTAMINATION THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING CAPTURED IN MOTOR-MOUNT BAY ACTING AS A RESEVOIR DAM. *NM GOOGLE ALONE DEMONSTRATES SOME 111,000 REPORTED "NEON HEAD-GASKET" ITEMS WITH A MAJORITY PERCENTAGE SAMPLED SHOWING AS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD-GASKET! PLEASE HELP! NOT ONLY IS THIS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM ($450) TO REPLACE, BUT IT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE!

THE CAR IDLES VERY HIGH AND THEN ACCELERATES TO HIGHER SPEEDS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE IS A HIGH ACCELERATION BOOSTS AND SPURTS WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN NOT USED DAILY, SUCH AS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR, BUT NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND WITH EITHER PARTS UPON INSPECTIONS BY A MECHANIC. FRONT AXLES POP WHEN TURNING. KEY IS HARD TO DISENGAGE OR REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY SQUEALING AND WEAR EVERY 3-6 MONTHS REGARDLESS F HOW THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THOUGH IT MAY OR NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME, THE FOLD DOWN SEATS IN THE REAR SEAT DO NOT HAVE A DISENGAGE LEVER FROM THE TRUNK. OVER-HEAD DOME LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HAS FAULTY WIRING, SO THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED THE DOME LIGHT NEVER SHUTS OFF. THERE IS CONSTANTLY A FUSE LIGHT THAT FLASHES IN MY DASH, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL ARE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER, THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE WARNING LIGHT STILL FLASHES. THE UTILITY OUTLET/CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET DOESN'T AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2004. FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WATER LEAKS IN FROM RAIN OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAUSING MUSTY ODOR IN THE CAR. CAR CONSTANTLY OVER-HEATS DURING TRAVEL OVER 35-40 MILES AND LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE, THOUGH NO LEAKS OR PIN HOLES OF ANY KIND COULD BE FOUND. TRUNK STICKS MAKING IT HARD TO OPEN OR DISENGAGE, CAUSED KEY TO BE BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE TRUNK LOCK. *JB

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE PUT $750 INTO REPAIRS AND HAVE ESTIMATES FOR $1000 MORE WORTH OF REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEMS INCLUDED A REAR MAIN OIL SEAL LEAK, AN OIL PAN GASKET LEAK, AND A DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH LEAK. THERE WAS ALSO A BENT WHEEL, DAMAGED TIRE, AND BAD STARTER. THE DEALER (DICK MORRIS CHEVROLET) WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. *JB