2000 DODGE NEON Complaints

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR BACK AND FORTH FROM COLLEGE AND RUNNING ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE A COMPLETELY STOCKED 2000 DODGE NEON ES. I USE THE HEADLIGHTS MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN DURING THE DAY, TO INCREASE VISIBILITY. ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY TOWN. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING BUT NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT SINCE I WAS NEAR A RURAL AREA THAT COULD HAVE CAMP FIRES LIT. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AS THEY USED TO. THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES NOT. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS JUST A SWITCH AND NOT A BIG DEAL SO I DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. THEN MY HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I DID A BIT OF RESEARCH TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I STUMBLED UPON A WEBSITE AND READ ABOUT LOOKING AT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST GOT FINISHED CHECKING OUT MY CAR. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE MFS IS MELTED AS HAS EVIDENCE OF BURN MARKS. THE HEADLIGHTS CURRENTLY WORK BUT THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS DO NOT. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE MELTED HARNESS AND WILL SEND THEM TO WHOEVER I NEED TO. I HAVE READ UP ON REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS BUT IT IS RATHER EXPENSIVE. ESPECIALLY IF IT WILL MELT AGAIN SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I BELIEVE THE PART NUMBER IS 5183442AA BASED ON SEVERAL SOURCES. I WILL BE REPLACING THIS PART PROBABLY ON MY OWN TO SAVE SOME MONEY, ESPECIALLY ON A PART I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ORDERING IN THE FIRST PLACE. *JN

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING THAT TIRE TO LEAN. THE TRAVEL SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE ROD ENDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 90,898. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. *AK

WATER LEAKING IN BRAKE POWER BOOSTER CAUSE BRAKES TO FREEZE IN COLD; BRAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ABS SYSTEM DISCONNECT- NOT WORKING PROPERLY - CONTROLLER GIVEN OFF ERROR CODE - POSSIBLE NEED TO BE REPLACE; ALL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS ON IN CAR - NO DIAGNOSIS FOR PROBLEM; RATTLING NOISE IN DASH BOARD; HIGH HUMMING NOISE UNDER CAR WHEN DRIVE - UNABLE TO HEAR RADIO BETWEEN RATTLING & HUMMING NOISES; AC WORK BUT NO HEAT; WHEN DRIVING WHEELS SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF; RECENTLY FOUND OUT CAR FAILED NYS EMISSION TEST ON DATE OF PURCHASE; I FILED COMPLAINT WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING DEALER WHERE I BROUGHT CAR FROM - THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED,THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,150, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,200.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO ACTIVATE. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THE WIRES HAD MELTED TOGETHER. DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED HE COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED CONTACT TO A DODGE DEALER. *AK

WATER LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK AREA AND THE FLOOR BOARDS OF THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING MILDEW, RUST AND DAMAGE TO STORED PROPERTY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB

AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAINFALL THE FLOORS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FILL WITH WATER. IT IS SO BAD THAT NOW IT FILTERS OVER INTO THE FRONT SEATS. I HAVE BEEN HAIVNG THIS PROBLEMS FOR A FEW YEARS BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. DEALERS AND AUTO MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. *NM

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.