1995 DODGE NEON Complaints

I HAVE AN APPT WITH KUHN CHRYSLER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ I SAY IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT I AM RIGHT AND IT IS THE HEAD GASKET. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. T HE DEALER THAT I TALKED TO SAID THAT CHRYSLER IS OFFERING PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT ON SOME OF THE REPAIRS. PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT!! THIS IS OBVIOSLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR FULL REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY MAY NOT PAY ANYTHING AT ALL AND IT IS MY PROBLEM.. GET A CLUE LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS!!! I AM GETTING VERY DISGURAGED WITH EVERYONE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO AND ABOUT READY TO SELL THE CAR, CUT MY LOSSES, AND KNOW BETTER IN THE FUTURE NEVER TO BUY A DODGE AGAIN!!!*AK

ENGINE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS ON A DAILY BASIS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THERE IS EVIDENT OF A HEAD GASKET LEAK. *AK *ML

THE CAR WAS TOTALLED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THE REAR OF A LARGE CADILLAC. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE ESTIMATE THE SPEED AT IMPACT TO BE ABOUT 20 TO 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT END OF OUR NEON APPEARED TO BE SEVERELY DAMAGED (CRUMPLED HOOD; DESTROYED RADIATOR; ETC . . .). THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT "DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF YOUR VEHICLE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT OF THIS LIFE SAVING DEVICE." THIS SEEMS LUDICROUS TO US, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH THE SPECIFIC INTENT OF PROVIDING IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROTECTIONS FOR OUR DAUGHTER. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECIEVED SIMILAR INFORMATION FROM OTHERS AND WHAT IF ANY ACTIONS HAS BEEN OR MAY BE TAKE TO HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE PREMATURELY BLOWN OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONS.*AK HEAD GASKETS FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED, ENGINE KOCKING AND STEAM, BUBBLING/CRACKING OF COOLANT CONTAINER. A/C MALFUNCTION AND FAN MOTOR BECOMES LHOT WHEN TURNING ON. *YH

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 46,000 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING OIL. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED REPLACING A SECOND TIME. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 78,000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP BEGINING OF MAY, THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET, SPENT $545 TO REPAIR. SOMETIME NEAR THE END OF THE MONTH I NOTICED OIL LEAKING AGAIN - HAD SENT NOTE SAYING CK REAR SEAL -- THEY HAD TO REPAIR MAIN REAR SEAL - $350 --- IF I HADN'T NOTICED THE OIL IN THE DIRT, AND NOT TRUSTED THAT IT WAS "FIXED" OR BRUSHED IT OFF -- I COULD HAVE FACED A CRACKED HEAD --- THERE WAS PRACTICALLY NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. I PUT IN 2 QTS TO GET TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IN $10 WORTH OF OIL -- PROBLEM SEEMS FIXED, BUT $1,000 IS A LOT FOR A CAR NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD YET. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, SUPPOSEDLY THEY WILL PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKET, HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY 1995 NEON OWNERS, ALL HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.... PLEASE LOOK INTO - THANK YOU!!!. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. DON'T KNOW YET IF DAMAGE TO HEAD. CAR HAS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL "GLITCHES" THAT DON'T AFFECT SAFETY. HAS ALSO FAILED TWICE BEFORE - FUEL TANK SENSOR CAUSED CAR TO NEVER REGISTER LESS THAN 1/4 TANK SO RAN OUT OF GAS. ALSO ANOTHER TYPE OF FUEL SENSOR CAUSED CAR TO LOSE POWER - GAVE IMPRESSION THAT CAR WAS LOSING INJECTORS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN A SCHOOL ZONE, TRAVELING 15MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY AND WAS REARENDED. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK *ML

BLINKER AND HAZARD SWITCHES SHORTING AND SMOKING, LIGHTS GO OUT AND FLIP TO BRIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

FUEL PUMP - HAS EXTRA PORT THAT IS CAPPED WITH A NON-REENFORCED RUBBER CAP. THE RUBBER CAP APPEARS TO HAVE EXPLODED ON THE END OF THE CAP WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. THE RUPTURE OF THE CAP ALLOWED GASOLINE TO DRIP ABOUT 1 DROP PER SECOND. ON THIS CAR THE EXHAUST PIPES ARE CLOSE TO THE FUEL TANK. GAS FUMES WERE HIGHLY NOTICEABLE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THANK GOODNESS FOR NONSMOKER, NO SPARKS, AND A GUARDIAN ANGEL...MY DAUGTHER DROVE THE CAR 7 MILES HOME. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE FORD PINTO FIRE POSSIBILITIES. MOPAR PARTS DOES NOT STOCK THE RUBBER CAP (MAYBE $1) BUT WILL SELL THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP FOR JUST UNDER $300 PLUS INSTALLATION. 2) ENGINE - ENGINE FAILED ON CYLINDER 4 WITH LOST POWER, ETC. HAD WARRANTY AND MOST OF PART/LABOR COVERED. CALLED CHRYSLER HOTLINE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ASSURED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS BEING REPORTED WITH THIS CAR (SAME STORY AT DEALER). 3) BRAKES/AIR CONDITIONER - FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER CAR 1 YR OLD, WARRANTY COVERED MOST OF COSTS 4) THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP COMPONENT IS THE MOST STARTLING OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT NO OTHER NEON OWNER EVER EXPERIENCES THIS PART FAILURE. *AK