1997 Dodge Neon Brakes Problems

MY FIRST COMPLAINT WOULD BE ABOUT THE PAINT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PEELING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS NOW, IT BUBBLES THEN PEELS AND GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY. IT IS NOW PEELING IN 6 SPOTS, THE LARGEST IS THE SIZE OF A WATERMELON. VERY UNHAPPY!!!! SECOND, THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, THE SQUEALING OF METAL ON METAL HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DAY 1 OF GETTING MY CAR. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING LIKE CRAZY. I PULLED OVER AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 60KM/HR. I TRIED DRIVING MY CAR TO THE MECHANICS BUT IN THE END DID NOT GET VERY FAR. I PULLED OVER ONCE AGAIN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL. I ALSO NOTICED THE WHEEL WELL CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE FRICTION. MY CAR WAS THEN TOWED AND MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CEASED CALIPER. BEWARE, THIS WAS SCARY. MY WHOLE FRONT END BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOO ADD, I FIND IT'S HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE HEAD LIGHTS. THEY ARE FOGGY AND DON'T GIVE OUT ENOUGH LIGHT. LASTLY, I FIND THAT THE SEALANTS ON THE WINDOWS OF MY TWO DOOR ARE HORRIBLE. I HAVE TO PUSH ON MY WINDOW WHEN CLOSING IT IN ORDER FOR THE WINDOW TO SEAL. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, MY CAR WAS STOLEN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PAINT, BREAKS AND HEADLIGHT COVERS AND WINDOWS/SEALS!!! *JB

NHTSA ID

10155727

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AFTER 45,000 MILES.. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2002.. BBRAKES ARE HORRIBLE.. BRAKES MAKE NOISE, SYSTEM OPERATING NORMAL FAN RELAY SWITCH .. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.. AND WAS ALSO RECALLED.. IN ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO.. AND NEVER NOTIFIED.. FRONT END ALWAYS CLANKING.. WHEN U TURN..

NHTSA ID

10129445

Incident

May 2, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

BRAKES SQUEL AND MAKE NOISE, CAR WON'T STOP ABOVE 50 MPH IN SAFE DISTANCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088775

Incident

Jun 12, 2002

Mileage

10,000 mi

VEHICLE'S BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A BAD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, THREE TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, STICKING THROTTLE BODY, AN OIL PAN LEAK, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAD AN AIR LEAK WHICH WHISTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10079946

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

CONSUMER STATED HER BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ON THE BELTWAY. AS SHE APPROACHED SHE SAW THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER APPLY HIS BRAKES, SHE THEN APPLIED HER BRAKES. HER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SHE RECEIVED SOME MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AND WAS VERY SORE. HER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WON'T CLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE. *PH *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10032439

Incident

Aug 3, 2003

Mileage

62,000 mi

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED TWICE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, AND THE CALIPER PIN. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038306

Incident

Sep 5, 2003

SPEED CONTROL SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. REPLACE THE SENCSOR BUT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTOR,CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PAINT. IT'S BUBLING AND PEELING OFF IN LAYERS ALL OVER CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025874

Incident

Jun 4, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLYED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER HAD TO PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020374

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND MOAN WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES YET IT REOCCURS. MANUFACTURERS HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM *YH

NHTSA ID

8020047

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING A COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

NHTSA ID

8014743

Incident

Jun 11, 2002

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY"--AT 20,871 AND 54,049 MILES. NOW SUPPOSEDLY ONLY DEFECTIVE CAMSENSORS ARE THE PROBLEM. OTHER DEFECTS BEGINNING 20,000 MILES: RADIO/TAPE PLAYER, VIBRATION, CLINKLING/CLUNKING SOUND, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE, "TOE" PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE TIRE CONSUMPTION (TIRE & WHEEL RUN OUT), ABS FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, BRAKE HOWLING, BRAKE METAL TO METAL CONTACT, NEED FOR LARGER BRAKE DRUMS, TRUNK WEATHERSTRIPPING DEFECTIVE, FAULTY DESIGN RESULTS IN LEAKS TO INTERIOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE, CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, TIRES COLLAPSE AND FLY OFF, AC FAILURE (HOSE LEAKS, COMPRESSOR REPLACED), NEW BATTERIES REPEATED REPLACED ( AAA CALLED 12 TIMES AND RECHARGER PURCHASED) NOW A TBS SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RKE TRANSMITTER, 02 SENSORS, VARIOUS SEALS LEAK, WIRING DEFECTIVE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED (NOTHING BUT SHARDS OF METAL LEFT--ON DISPLAY AT TRANSMISSION SHOP), TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED, OIL LEAKAGE, LIFETIME BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTHS, INSUFFICIENT POWER ON INCLINE, WITH PARKING BRAKE AND FOOT BRAKE ON CAR ROLLS OR LURCHES WHEN IGNITION TURNED OFF, STEERING COLUMN SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT 45 MPH, DIFFICULT TO STEER AT UNDER 45 MPH, DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, TURN SIGNAL DEFECTIVE, SEPARATION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT, WHEELCOVER LOSS DUE TO MISSING OR LOOSE BOLTS, RIM REPLACEMENTS DUE TO TIRES FLYING OFF, OIL LEAK, GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH FAILURE, POOR DESIGN WITH NO LIGHTS AROUND LIGHTER, AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS A NEGLIGENT MANUFACTURER AND ALL NEONS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

759610

WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES LOOSE. VEHICLE SHIFTING BY ITSELF DUE TO A STICKY CABLE. OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. DEALER FOUND HEADGASKET FAILURE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. CAMSHAFT REPLACED. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHILE BRAKING. WEATHERSTRIPPING FELL OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP. BATTERY CLAMP LOOSE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO STAY ON. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8005218

Incident

Apr 20, 2000

NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES WHEN APPLIED. CARBON DUST BUILD UP IN BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001374

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. HERE IS JUST A BRIEF LIST: INCORRECT GAS MILEAGE BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BRAKES SQUEAKING, AIR COMING THROUGH BAD WINDOW SEALS, DEFROST NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, 3 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED, 2 HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, AND WATER COMING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH HAS CAUSED THE JACK AND TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT TO RUST. ALSO THE WATER THEN LEAKS INTO THE BACK FLOOR WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SMELL. THE CS FOR DODGE WILL NOT AGREE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL ROOF DESIGN WHICH WOULD CORRECT THE WATER FROM COMING INTO THE TRUNK. FOR THE PAST YEAR, ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE CAR WHICH HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 62,000 MILES AND PROPER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED.*AK

NHTSA ID

754459

Incident

Jul 28, 1997

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

746663

Incident

Nov 25, 2000

HEAD GASKET BLEW. OXYGEN SENSOR BLEW. LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF AND JAMMED IN THE DRUM RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNMOVABLE. UPON INSPECTION, HAD TO REPLACE BOTH DRUMS, BOTH DISCS, AND NEW PADS ON FRONT AND BACK BOTH SIDES. WINDOW SEALS HAVE FAILED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW. WATER LEAKS IN AND AIR LEAKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOWS CAR DOWN IMMENSLEY AND CAUSES MORE FUEL CONSUMPTION. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HARSHLY SCRATCHED. GETS WORSE AS TIME GOES BY, HAVE SEEN OTHER NEON'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FUEL FILTER WENT, CAUSING THE ENTIRE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

745430

Incident

Apr 25, 2000

ENTIRE BRAKES SYSTEM AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY MECHANIC DUE TO SYSTEM BEING RUSTY AND MAKING SQUEALING NOISE.

NHTSA ID

887523

WELL LETS SEE THE FIRST DEFECT WAS A FAN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES BEFORE A WIRING DEFECT WAS FOUND NEXT WE HAVE "HARD BRAKES" WHICH CONTRIBUITED TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED 7000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 1 MINOR INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WE FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WHICH CHRYSLER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO RETURN 1/2 OF MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ALONG WITH WIRING DEFECTS AND AIR BAGS THAT DON'T COME OUT OTHER THAN THE FACT I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN EVERY OTHER CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED THEY MADE UP FOR THIS LEMON BY HAVING A BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOO.

NHTSA ID

735533

Incident

May 15, 1998

THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE.. GRIND AS IF METAL ON METAL.. HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED BY DEALER AND TWO OTHER BRAKE SPECIALITS. ALL SAY BRAKES WORK FINE.. HOWEVER GRIND HORRIBLY.. AND CHIRP CONTINUOUSLY.. NOBODY CAN FIGURE IT OUT. THE PAINT IS ANOTHER ISSUE. IT PEELS ALL OVER INCLUDING TRUNK, DOORS, ROOF, ETC. SEEMS TO BE ONLY LAPIS BLUE COLOR THAT DOES IT. I HAVE A LIST OF 12 VEHICLES IN THIS COLOR THAT ARE PEELING AS WELL AS SEVERAL PHOTOS. DEALER WANTED ME TO PAY, EVEN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY.. PHONED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND IT TOOK 4 MONTHS OF FIGHTING WITH THEM TO AGREE TO RE-PAINT HOWEVER THEY WILL ONLY RE-PAINT WHERE IT IS PEELING.. UNACCEPTABLE, AS MORE PAINT WILL CONTINUE TO PEEL IN OTHER AREAS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED WITH NO QUESTIONS.. THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.. THE BRAKES SHOULD BE FIXED ALSO. I DID NOT BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID PROBLEMS LIKE THESE.. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS LISTED ON THE COMPLAINT PAGE FOR THIS VEHICLE.. HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE SOMEONE AT THE NHTSA DOES SOMETHING FOR US??*AK

NHTSA ID

734576

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THE HEAD GASKET ON MY YOUNG NEON HAS BLOWN.I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES SQUEALING, POWER STEERING LOCKING UP IN WET WEATHER AND THE TURN SIGNAL NOW ONLY WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED THE CAR - AND IT TOOK THE DEALER NEARLY A MONTH TO GET THAT DONE.

NHTSA ID

718253

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. YH

NHTSA ID

550839

WHEN APPYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, BRAKES WILL NOT STOP INTO A FEW FEETS AWAY, AND THE PEDAL FEELS HARD AND HIGH. *AK

NHTSA ID

855257

Incident

Jan 14, 2000

WHILE BRAKING IN LINE OF TRAFFIC BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ENGAGE,CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT, THAT CAR HIT NEXT IN LINE. RECEIVED SUMMONS BUT AT LATER DATE FOUND NOT GUILTY AND FINE RETURNED. INSPECTION SAID CRUISE WAS OK. ON 23/25/99 BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TIL CRUISE CONTROL WAS HIT AT OFF BUTTON. CRUISE WAS NOT IN USE - HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE 1996 ACCIDENT. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT CONNECTED AT TIME OF PURCHASE - NORTHTOWN DODGE CONNECTED 10/4/96 WHEN FOUND CRUISE DID NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

716715

Incident

Oct 25, 1996

THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH THIS CAR WAS THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR IT (THE $1000 WAS MY ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT COST TO REPLACE THE GASKET). THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY AND COIL PACK QUIT WORKING, BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I PAID $600 OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX THEM. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE WHEN ITS COLD. THE FOURTH MOST CURRENT PROBLEM IS THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY THE PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS PROBABLY SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE VACUUM SYSTEM. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS PER INFORMATION I OBTAINED FROM A WEB SITE CALLED LEMON- AID. ****** I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN!!! I'M SPREADING THE WORD. I COME INTO CONTACT WITH MANY PEOPLE EVERDAY. SO SORRY DODGE!!!******

NHTSA ID

715511

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAK. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS.

NHTSA ID

710684