1995 Dodge Neon complaints

VEHICLE LEAKING OIL /HEAD GASKET

DIFFICULTY HAVING STEERING COUPLER REPAIRED UNDER RECALL DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS.

SERVICE MANAGER ADMITS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HE THINKS DODGE WILL HELP PAY $150 TO $200 DOLLARS OF TOTAL FOR REPAIR.

I HAD THE HEAD GASKET GO OUT ON MY NEON WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING IT. I KNOW HAVE THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING AGAIN, AND I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE NOT DRIVEN OVER 35,000 MILES SINCE THE FIRST REPLACEMEN.T I SHOULD CALL AND COMPLAIN. WHEN I DID I FIND OUT FROM A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP HERE IN KANSAS CITY THAT THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF NEON'S COME IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I REFUSE TO PUT OUT THIS KIND OF MONEY ON A CAR THAT I'M STILL PAYING ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS WAS REPLACED A SHORT TIME AGO. I FEEL NEON'S ARE A PIECE OF JUNK!! I HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT DODGE ,AND I HOPE I CAN DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM BUYING ONE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED PART BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND OF REPLACEMENTS. I WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE MY MONTHLY PAYMENTS SO THAT SHOULD TELL YOU THAT I DO NOT HAVE SPARE CHANGE SITTING AROUND FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I FOUND OUT FROM MY MECHANIC THAT IT WILL COST ABOUT $150 IN PARTS AND $685 DOLLARS IN LABOR TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER, AND THEY GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER OF 5515266. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO ANOTHER PLACE, AND WAIT FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO COME BACK AND TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TODAY IN ORDER TO GET HELP. I WAS SO MAD THAT I WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN WHILE ON THE PHONE TO CHRYSLER. I HOPE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE IN MY SITUATION, AND TOGETHER WE CAN TELL THE WORLD TO STAY AWAY FROM DODGE NEONS!!!!! *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING; DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE NOT UNDER RECALL. NHTSA RECALL #94V033. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON NARROW ROAD, VEHICLE VEERED TO SIDE & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER (SISTER) OVERCORRECTED INTO OTHER LANE & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER (SISTER) DIED. POSSIBILITY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE BROTHER (ERIC NELSON). *AK

HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER NEON OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WAS EVEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT, BUT CAN'T FIND IT. NO DEFECT (S) LISTED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, MAY BE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

ENGINE HEADGASKET FAILED.CAR WAS SMOKING UNDER HOOD. HEATER FAILED AS WELL, APPARENTLY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY NEONS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AS OF YET/CALLED DEALER AND PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS/SOMEONE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING IT. *AK

WITH CAR IN MOTION AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING SYMPTOMS, CLUTCH CABLE FAILED WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DRIVER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND INTENDED TO STOP THE CAR. AS A RESULT, THE CAR WAS "STUCK" IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH ENGAGED, THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND THE CAR MOVING FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS USED TO "STALL" THE ENGINE AND STOP THE CAR IN THE INTERSECTION THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS FOUND TO BE FAILED AT THE POINT OF ENTRY INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH ALLOWED THE CONNECTING BOLT TO FALL INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING DISASSEMBLY OF THE TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE PARTS. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY (ABOUT 2 YRS / 40 K MILES) EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT SQUEAKING NIOSE AS CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED & RELEASED. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT THE TIM (2/97) WHO COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE NOISE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. *ET

NEOPRENE COVER OVER FUEL DRAIN NIPPLE CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL LEAK. PART LIKELY COSTS $2. HILL KELLY DODGE (DEALER) INSISTED THE ONLY MEANS TO CORRECT WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP FOR $365. THEY ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE WITH THE LEAK AFTER I REFUSED TO PAY $365, AND DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE SAFETY SHIELD OVER THE AREA WHERE FUEL PUMP/ FILTER/WIRES, AND TUBES WERE LOCATED, THUS ALLOWING FOR POSSIBILITY OF OBJECT IMPACT WITH FUEL ASSEMBLY. *AK

OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. TECHNICIAN SAID THIS PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED 25 TO 30ENGINE HEAD GASKETS IN THE LAST YEAR.*AK

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AN D WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. THE ALARM WENT OFF. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND WENT TO A GAS STATION, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK

HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED CAUSING IT TO BE DANGEROUS TO SPEED (FEAR OF FURTHER DELAYS) TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM (RESIDENCE OUT OF AMBULANCE ARE, WOULD HAVE TAKEN LONGER TO CALL 911) , WIFE MISCARRIED, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF ARRIVED SOONER.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 TO 40 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE EHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, SOMEHOW THE VEHICLE ROLLED ACROSS THE STREET, CROSSING OVER THREE YARDS, AND ROLLING ACROSS DRIVEWAYS. GEAR WAS STILL IN PARK POSITION. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, WHICH HAD TO BE REPAIRED THREE TO FIVE TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND BE STUCK IN CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP/SPARK PLUGS, ETC. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WHILE AND A FIRE STARTED AT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. NO ONE HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CURRENT OWNER WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK AFTER DROPPING THE BABY OFF AT THE BABY SITTERS. SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ACCELERATING TO CRUSING SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND SHE COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND RAN OVER THE CURBING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE CAR. WHEN SHE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT, THEY COULD NOT SEE FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT THE CAR AN DENIED ANY LIABILITY. THIS IS AN 18 YEAR OLD SINGLE PARENT WITH NO MONEY AND NO TRANSPORTATION TO WORK, NOW. SHE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP SHE CAN GET, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ALREADY REPORTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY NAME IS LARRY E. JOHNSON. I'M HER GOD FATHER. SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO TURN TO. THANK YOU.

ENGINE LOST POWER IN CENTER LANE OF INTERSTATE DUE TO CONTROL MODULE SHORTING OUT THE FUEL PUMP. CONTROL MODULE AFFECTED BY MOISTURE. RECALL FOR EARLIER YEARS, PROBLEM APPEARS TO AFFECT LATER MODELS ALSO. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE WINDOWS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK.ET.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OR DECELERATE DOWN TO 20 MPH, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS 95; EXHAUST GASKET OFF MANIFOLD 96,97,98; ELECTRICAL EMISION CONTROL SYSTEM96; ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE HEAD 98; AND ALL MOTOR MOUNTS. FAMILY DODGE HAS HONORED ALL REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. SPECIAL NOTE: WHEN ENGINE HEAD AND ALL MOTOR MOUNTS WENT BAD AT (APPROX. 42,000 MILES NOT UNDER WARRANTY), GARY BARBERA'S CHRYSLERLAND LOCATED AT 7810 ROOSEVELT BLVD. PHILA., PA 19152, (215)333-3700 CALLED CHRYSLER AND I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR REPAIR. *AK

BRAKES ARE MAKING LOUD NOISES AND ARE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. OIL LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED AND THE OIL LEAKS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE OVERHEATING DUE TO COOLANT BEING BLOWN OUT OF RADIATOR INTO RESERVOIR AND THEN OUT OF OVERFLOW. CHRYSLER PAID FOR HALF OF REPAIR COST BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. CHRYSLER HAS REDESIGNED THE HEAD GASKET WITH A NEW COMPOSITE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER.

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT LIGHT WAS ON CONSTANTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT LESS THEN TWO WEEKS LATER THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON. DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS. *AK

AIR SYSTEMS BRAKE FAILED. YH

CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR,THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP/ TIMING BELT AND THE PINION RING AND GEAR FAILED ALSO. *AK

WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM THE TAILPIPE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BODY SHOP AND FOUND ENGINE HEAD GASKET TO BE BLOWN. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAITING FOR HEAD GASKET TO BE REPAIRED. HEAD GASKET ON BACK ORDER. *AK

CONSUMER WAS SMELLING RUBBER BURNING. DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR, 2-3 DAYS LATER VEHICLE WOULD SKIP. MECHANIC CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS, AND NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES LAYING AGAINST THE MOTOR AND WERE MELTING BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THERE TO SUPPORT THE WIRES. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME OF UNDERHOOD FIRES, ID#IE-98-006. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL CONSISTENTLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED GASKET, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETRACT, IT BECOMES TRAPPED IN THE BLET GUIDE ON THE SIDE OF THE DOOR, AND IS HARD TO RELEASE OR PULL OUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE DEFECTS ARE DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 97V169000. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS A RECALL LETTER RECALL 97V-169, REGARDING STEERING COLUMN COUPLING. THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED VEHICLE YET. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE I'LL PURCHASED IT, I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED, MY ENGINE LIGHT KEEP GOING ON, MY RADIO KEEPS GOING OUT. IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. MY MOTHER HAS ALWAYS OWNED CHRYSLERS BUT SHE'S CHANGE HER MIND. MY DEALER ONLY CARES ABOUT THE SALE OF THE CAR, NOT THE SERVICE AFTER YOU SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE. THANKS, NICOLE

WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT BELTS ON THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, SEAT BELT WORKS SOMETIME'S, AND THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE BESIDES DRIVER. *AK

STEERING PROBLEM- WHEN GOING THROUGH PUDDLES, LOSS OF STEERING EXPERIENCED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND SOMETIMES TOTAL LOSS. CAR HAD TO BE SHUT OFF TO GAIN CONTROL BACK. POWER STEERING BELT WAS TIGHTENED BY LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE DEALERSHIP SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. TRANSMISSION- WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, TRANNY HESITATED, TOOK A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO ENGAGE. TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. TOOK VEHICLE IN A SECOND TIME AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. SERVICE BULLETIN FOUND. TRANSMISSION SERVO REPLACED AFTER 4 DAYS OF BEING IN THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO INCOMPETENCE OF MECHANICS. PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY FIXED. CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE- CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO KEEP A CONSTANT SPEED. TURNED INTO DEALERSHIP. TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. TURNED IN A SECOND TIME TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. REPLACED SPEED SENSOR. PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. OIL LEAK- OIL WAS FOUND ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM SOLVED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT- CHECK ENGIN LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP. OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM SOLVED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP. ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF. NEXT DAY IT WAS BACK ON AGAIN. TURNED IN A SECOND TIME. TURNED OFF. CAME BACK ON WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS. TOOK IN A THIRD TIME. COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. PROBLEM SOLVED. OIL LEAK- OIL FOUND ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CHECKED BY A NEIGHBORHOOD MECHANIC. FOUND THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING AT JUST 45000

DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED A FIRE IN WITHIN THAT AREA PRIOR TO THIS RECALL. STEERING COLUMN WAS FIXED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. *AK

PE97042; OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 70 MPH, A PIECE OF CEMENT HIT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. ALSO, BOTH SIDE WINDOWS SHATTERED, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC

BRAKES CONTINUALLY LOCK UP IN WET WEATHER CAUSING ONE VEHICLE COLLISION.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE JUMPS, AND WHEN PUTTING IN GEAR IT JUMPS AND MAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING NOIS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, BOTH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WENT OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. ALSO, UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO SOME BRUSHES. CONSUMER VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES, AND THERE IS STILL A PROMBLEM. DEALER CAN'T IDENTIFY THE PROMBLEM. *AK

BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. BRAKES SQUEAK AND ARE SLUGISH.