2001 Dodge Neon

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SMOKE HAS BEEN EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN. INITIALLY, FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. LATER, SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE FOG LIGHTS TURNED OFF, BUT WOULD NOT TURN ON. 1 MONTH LATER, MORE SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, WITH A BAD ODOR, AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. NOW, I HAVE HAD TO BUY THE MFS (MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH) BUT IT DOES NOT WORK, AS THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRES ARE BURNED. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING LOOM HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC, SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OTHER NEON OWNERS HAVE HAD TAILLIGHTS GO OUT, TURN SIGNALS NOT OPERATE, ETC. I CHECKED 7 CARS IN JUNK YARDS TODAY, AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THEM HAD BURNED WIRES AND HARNESSES. DODGE SHOULD REMEDY THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS CLEARLY RELATED TO SAFETY. *TR

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. *NM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT. THE SMELL COMES FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR THE ELECTRICAL DEFECTS BEGAN TO SURFACE. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, IT DRAINS POWER FROM THE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHT FAILED, BUT THE HIGH BEAM WAS OPERABLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HIGH AND LOW DIMMER SWITCH AND THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG ATTACHMENT TO THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB *SC

WHILE TURNING ON THE DIMMER SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHT, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE LOW HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK, BUT THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT WERE OPERABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT THE CONSUMER HAS TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB