1999 Dodge Neon Problems

I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 44,000 MILES. ENGINE NOW LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL, SO BADLY THAT I AM ADDING 1-2 QUARTS 3 TIMES A WEEK. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE HEAD GASKET AND ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR RANGE FROM 700-1200.00. HOW CAN SUCH A LARGE COMPANY SCAM SO MANY INNOCENT CONSUMERS AND NOTHING BE DONE???????*AK

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH RAIN OR THROUGH A PUDDLE THE STEERING GOES OUT AND LOCKS UP. WHEN THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO TURN LEFT VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO RIGHT. ALSO, THERE IS AN OIL LEAK. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED FROM WHERE THE LEAK ORIGINATED. THE VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT 2 QUARTS PER DAY. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ARE COVERED WITH OIL, BUT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETECT THE OIL LEAK. *AK

RECENTLY BOUGHT A 99 DODGE NEON. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS WHOLE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTENTIMES THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE THE COLD SODERS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE TO BLAME, AND ARE BAD ON MOST CHRYSLER VEHICLES FROM THIS ERROR. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

I HAVE A DODGE NEON WHICH KEEPS STALLING IN TRAFFIC. IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. IT IS 1999 MODEL. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK THROUGH THE COLUMN.

SINCE OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM 0 TO 36,000 MILES MOST WERE MINOR AND WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER (ALTHOUGHI HAD TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS WRONG - THEY REPLACED THE WRONG PARTS THE FIRST TIME!). UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE PROBLEMS OCCURED AFTER 36,000 MILES WERE ON THE ODOMETER AND CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN TOO RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTNACE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO FIX IT BUT WHO WANTS TO PAY $75.00 SO THAT A TECHNICIAN CAN LEARN TO FIX MY CAR. IN FRUSTRATION, I HAVE PURCHASED A SHOP MANUAL AND HAVE STARTED TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS MYSELF. MY SUN ROOF NEEDS A 10 CENT PLASTIC PART WHICH CHRYSLER DOES NOT STOCK SO IN ORDER TO GET IT I NEED A NEW $500 SUNROOF MECHANISM! NOW, MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY (IN ALL GEARS) AND I EITHER NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACE THE CLUTCH OR THE CLUTCH CABLE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATOIN ON MY SAGA PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME.

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE NEON. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2002 AT BRUCE CAMPBELL DODGE IN REDFORD, MICHIGAN. MY SUNROOF WENT OUT IN SEPTEMBER 2002. AFTER ARGUING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH (OR THE WIRES). I HAVE THE POWERTRAIN EXTENDED WARRANTY (ADDED CARE). THE NEXT OCCURENCE (MAY, 2004) WAS WHEN I KEPT HEARING NOISE IN MY DRIVER WHEEL AREA. I TOOK MY CARE TO BRUCE CAMPBELL TO CHECK 3 TIMES, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE 3RD TIME, I TOOK IT TO BIRMINGHAM CHRYSLER AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE CYLINDER WAS CRACKED. I WAS GRATEFUL THAT MY WARRANTY COVERED THAT PROBLEM (I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS). I STILL HAVE A TREMBLE IN MY STEERING WHEEL WHEN I REACH THE SPEEDS OF 50 TO 70 MPH. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW WHEELS, RIMS, AND HAVE HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED IN MAY, 2004, BUT I STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TREMBLING. I'M TOLD THAT THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THAT WAY. I'VE HAD A '93 PLYMOUTH COLT THAT DROVE BETTER. MY 3RD OCCURENCE IS NOW MY SUNROOF HAS WENT OUT AGAIN. I JUST SPENT $70.00 AT BIRMINGHAM CHRYSLER TO DIAGNOSIS THAT THE WIRE ARE BROKEN AND IT'LL COST MY AROUND $1,000 TO FIX IT. MY WARRANTY COVERS SUNROOFS FOR SWITCH PROBLEMS, BUT NOT WIRING. I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BE SPENDING ON REPAIRS WHEN I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS OF PAYING CAR NOTES. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS BECAUSE OF THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HAD 3 CHRYSLER CARS AND NO BREAK FROM REPAIR SHOPS. I NEED SUGGESTIONS. *AK THANK YOU.

WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH SUN ROOF OPENED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. SUN ROOF HINGES BROKE OFF, CAUSING SUN ROOF TO BLOW OUT.*AK

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TURNED THE CORNER CAR DOWN SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AND WAS STUCK. THE BEARING CAME LOOSE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.*JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AND CAUSED A LOSS CONTROL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK *SCC

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING/POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND HAD BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES REPLACED. *AK THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUE FOR THIS FAILURE (RECALL 99V-114). THE CONSUMER CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED. *MR THE CONSUMER ENTERED A PARKING LOT AREA AT A LOW ACCEPTABLE SPEED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ENTIRE FRONT AXLE AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY FELL. THE AXLE DISENGAGED FROM THE DRIVE UNIT, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WAS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO NORMAL POSITION. *SC *JB

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH RAIN OR THROUGH A PUDDLE THE STEERING GOES OUT AND LOCKS UP. WHEN THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO TURN LEFT VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO RIGHT. ALSO, THERE IS AN OIL LEAK. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED FROM WHERE THE LEAK ORIGINATED. THE VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT 2 QUARTS PER DAY. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ARE COVERED WITH OIL, BUT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETECT THE OIL LEAK. *AK

1999 DODGE NEON SPORT - STEERING LOCKS UP UNDER VEHICLE MOTION, SEEMS TO PULL CAR TO THE SIDE. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE MOST RECENT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON A CLEAR, DRY DAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55 MPH+), A LANE CHANGE FROM THE RIGHT TO PASSING LANE WAS ATTEMPTED. AS THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR, THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME UNLOCKED, CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. NOW THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING HARD LEFT, CORRECTION ATTEMPT BACK TO THE RIGHT CAUSED VEHICLE TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY, CROSSING 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, LEAVING THE ROADWAY, PASSING BETWEEN 2 METAL LIGHT POLES, AND STOPPING IN A DITCH. NO INJURIES, COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS, OR MAJOR VEHICLE DAMAGE OCCURRED. VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM DITCH BY A TOW-TRUCK AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. CHECK OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM REVEALS FULL FLUID LEVEL, BELTS SEEM TIGHT, NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS SEEN. WILL HAVE VEHICLE EVALUATED BY MECHANIC ASAP. *JB

THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. IN DETAIL, THE BUCKLE HALF THAT IS ATTACHED ON THE BELT ITSELF (NOT THE SEAT) FELL APART. SPECIFICALLY, THE SMALL PLASTIC PIECES THAT MAINTAIN TENSION ON THE BELT WHEN THE BELT IS PULLED TIGHT THROUGH IT BROKE OUT OF THAT HALF OF THE BUCKLE. IF AN INDIVIDUAL NOT SITS IN THE REAR SEAT AND FASTENS THE BELT, HE/SHE CAN NOT PULL THE BELT TIGHT, AS IT HAS NO FEATURE TO MAINTAIN THE TENSION. THIS AFFECT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BELT ASSEMBLIES. THE DEALER EXCLUDES COVERAGE UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1990. WHY? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS IT FAILED DURING NORMAL OPERATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BROADSIDE AND BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON REARVIEW MIRROR,AND THE PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. PASSENGER WAS SUFFERING FROM NUMBNESS AND TINGLING OF LOWER BODY. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

ON 5/614, I NOTICED A SHREDDED PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM A BLUE TARP WAS UNDER MY 1999 DODGE NEON. APPARENTLY IT HAD BLOWN UNDER THE CAR BY THE WIND. I PULLED THE PLASTIC PIECE OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR, AND IN SO DOING I HEARD A DISTINCT "TWANG" NOISE. CURIOUS, I KNELT DOWN AND PEERED UNDER THE CAR AND WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE ONE OF THE METAL STRAPS THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK UP WAS BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION. ONE SECTION WAS HANGING DOWN SEVERAL INCHES, BUT NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE GROUND. THERE ARE TWO STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE, THE SECOND STRAP IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED BUT STILL APPEARS TO BE INTACT WITH NO APPARENT VISIBLE RUST-THROUGH. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF BOTH STRAPS LET GO THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THE TANK UP WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE TANK DROPPING TO THE ROAD WITH THE END RESULT BEING AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. IF IT WASN'T FOR A WIND BLOWN, 3 FOOT LONG PIECE OF SHREDDED PLASTIC GETTING SNAGGED ON MY FUEL TANK STRAP, I MOST LIKELY WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THERE TO BE A PROBLEM. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS HASN'T ALREADY HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINE INTO THE FUEL RAIL HAD DEVELOPED SEVERAL PIN HOLE LEAKS. GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING OUT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM

HAD CAR REPAIRED FOR A CRACKED HEAD GASKET AND CRACKED RADIATOR. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T THERE A RECALL ON CRACKED GASKETS I WAS TOLD FOR THE 98 DODGE NEON. GOT NEW BRAKE PADS. THEY SQUEAL LOUD AND IT TAKES A LOT FOR CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HAD TO GET A NEW THERMOSTAT ON MY CAR BECAUSE IT KEPT RUNNING HOT. IF THEY REPLACED MY RADIATOR IN JAN 2003 WHY IS MY THERMOSTAT OUT. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INDUCTOR REPLACED ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS.

I CAN NOT GIVE EXACT DATES BUT HAVE ALL SERVICE BILLS. I HAD THE HEAD GASKET CHANGED WHEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE AIR COMPRESSOR IS BAD AND NOW MY STRUTS ARE BAD ALL AT 44 THOUSAND MILES. ALL THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WERE REPLACED WAY BEFORE THE WARRANTY. I HAD MIDAS PUT MY NEW BRAKES ON SO I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK AND REPLACING THEM THROUGH SPIZTER DODGE. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I EVER HAD AND I HAD A YUGO THAT SAYS ALOT

ON 5/614, I NOTICED A SHREDDED PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM A BLUE TARP WAS UNDER MY 1999 DODGE NEON. APPARENTLY IT HAD BLOWN UNDER THE CAR BY THE WIND. I PULLED THE PLASTIC PIECE OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR, AND IN SO DOING I HEARD A DISTINCT "TWANG" NOISE. CURIOUS, I KNELT DOWN AND PEERED UNDER THE CAR AND WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE ONE OF THE METAL STRAPS THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK UP WAS BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION. ONE SECTION WAS HANGING DOWN SEVERAL INCHES, BUT NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE GROUND. THERE ARE TWO STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE, THE SECOND STRAP IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED BUT STILL APPEARS TO BE INTACT WITH NO APPARENT VISIBLE RUST-THROUGH. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF BOTH STRAPS LET GO THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THE TANK UP WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE TANK DROPPING TO THE ROAD WITH THE END RESULT BEING AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. IF IT WASN'T FOR A WIND BLOWN, 3 FOOT LONG PIECE OF SHREDDED PLASTIC GETTING SNAGGED ON MY FUEL TANK STRAP, I MOST LIKELY WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THERE TO BE A PROBLEM. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS HASN'T ALREADY HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

A 20" AREA ON RIGHT-HAND SIDE BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WINDOW WITH MIRROR OBSTRUCTING VIEW FROM DRIVER WHOSE SEAT IS FORWARD BECAUSE OF HEIGHT. *TR

I CAN NOT GIVE EXACT DATES BUT HAVE ALL SERVICE BILLS. I HAD THE HEAD GASKET CHANGED WHEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE AIR COMPRESSOR IS BAD AND NOW MY STRUTS ARE BAD ALL AT 44 THOUSAND MILES. ALL THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WERE REPLACED WAY BEFORE THE WARRANTY. I HAD MIDAS PUT MY NEW BRAKES ON SO I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK AND REPLACING THEM THROUGH SPIZTER DODGE. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I EVER HAD AND I HAD A YUGO THAT SAYS ALOT

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SHEARD OFF COMPLETELY FROM THE SIDEWALL, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL TIRES REPLACED(GOODYEAR EAGLE GA TIRES, SIZE 185 65R14, THE TIRES HAVE 40270K MILES ON THEM)*NLM

SINCE OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM 0 TO 36,000 MILES MOST WERE MINOR AND WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER (ALTHOUGHI HAD TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS WRONG - THEY REPLACED THE WRONG PARTS THE FIRST TIME!). UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE PROBLEMS OCCURED AFTER 36,000 MILES WERE ON THE ODOMETER AND CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN TOO RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTNACE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO FIX IT BUT WHO WANTS TO PAY $75.00 SO THAT A TECHNICIAN CAN LEARN TO FIX MY CAR. IN FRUSTRATION, I HAVE PURCHASED A SHOP MANUAL AND HAVE STARTED TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS MYSELF. MY SUN ROOF NEEDS A 10 CENT PLASTIC PART WHICH CHRYSLER DOES NOT STOCK SO IN ORDER TO GET IT I NEED A NEW $500 SUNROOF MECHANISM! NOW, MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY (IN ALL GEARS) AND I EITHER NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACE THE CLUTCH OR THE CLUTCH CABLE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATOIN ON MY SAGA PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME.

SECOND DAMAGE TO DRIVETRAIN WAS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

INTERMITTENT ENGINE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL CAR SETS AND COOLS DOWN FOR A WHILE, DIAGNOSE FUEL PUMP TO BE THE CAUSE OF ENGINE STALLING. ON ANOTHER OCCASSION CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, HAS BEEN LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND TOLD IT HAS A TSB OPEN, TEST DROVE AND INSTALLED DRB. #4 CYLINDER MISFIRE. ERASE DTC AND RETEST, NO MISFIRE PRESENT. REPROGRAM PCM PER TSB 18-46-98 TEST DROVE OK. DEFECTIVE RADIATOR (REPAIR),

THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND IN THE LEFT REAR. THE NEON WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND THE VEHICLE WHICH HIT THE NEON WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVERS SEATBACK COLLAPSED, AND THE HEAD RESTRAINT STOPPED ON THE BACK SEAT. NECK STRAIN TO THE DRIVER, RESULTED FROM THIS INCIDENT. DRIVER WAS LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING OF THE NEON WHEN HE RESUMED CONSCIOUSNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL. *AK

BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAD A GLAZE, ALMOST OPAQUE, CAUSING EXTREMELY REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING THE NIGHT, AND OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHEN BLINKERS ARE ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COMPLETELY GO OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ENGINE SURGED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE DAY. ENGINE HAS SURGED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RAM INTO A GARAGE DOOR, AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING OTHER PASSENGERS' VEHICLES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN UNDER CRUISE CONTROL, IT SPEEDED 11MPH BEYOND SET SPEED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN IT RAINS MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WITH GO OUT ON ME. I HAVE HAD ALL BRAKES AND BELTS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR WHEN IT IS RAINING. VERY UNSAFE!!!*AK