2000 Dodge Neon Transmission Problems

I AM WRITING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHO IS IN THE HOSPITAL UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR INJURIES SHE RECEIVED WHEN HER CAR DROPPED INTO REVERSE FROM PARK WHILE SHE WAS GETTING ITEMS OUT OF THE TRUNK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. SHE WAS PINNED UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE A FAMILY MEMBER FOUND HER AND MOVED THE CAR OFF HER. SHE HAS MULTIPLE ABRASIONS, SOME STITCHES, AND IS UNDERGOING TESTING FOR INTERNAL INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257990

Incident

Feb 7, 2009

MAKE: DODGE MODEL: NEON TYPE: PASSENGER CAR YEAR: 2000 SUMMARY: AS NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, WITH ANY HEAVY RAINFALL, THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEATS FILLS WITH WATER (UP TO AN INCH OR MORE). APPEARS TO BE ENTERING THROUGH THE TRUNK AREA, AS THE SPARE TIRE WELL ALSO FILLS WITH WATER. USING SPONGES AND A SHOPVAC TO SOAK UP THE WATER AND THEN LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN TO DRY IT OUT IS MY ONLY REMEDY TO THE MOISTURE AND ODOR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. THE DEALER IS OF NO HELP BECAUSE (MERCIFULLY FOR OTHERS) THAT DEAL WENT BANKRUPT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. I HAVE A LITANY OF OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE 2000 NEON. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE (CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY - PARTLY A PROBLEM WITH RECORDS AS THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE/INITIAL MAINTENANCE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS), EACH TIME I START THE CAR, THE FUSE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THOUGH ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND LOOK OK. AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT I HAVE NO FUNCTIONING INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS OR EXTERIOR BACKUP LIGHTS. REPEATED EFFORTS BY SEVERAL REPAIR FACILITIES TO LOCATE THE CORRECT HARNESS HAVE FAILED. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 72,000 MILES OF RELATIVELY EASY CITY DRIVING (COMMUTE TO WORKPLACE) OR DIVIDED HIGHWAY DRIVING), YET MOST FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED (ALL STRUTS, SWAY BARS, ETC). TRANSMISSION FLUID HOSE OR CONNECTOR FAILED ON FEB 19, 2006, RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150653

Incident

Feb 19, 2006

DT: WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND FIRST STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE LANE THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON ,AND THE CAR WAS IN FIRST GEAR. WHEN TRYING TO PLACE CAR IN SECOND GEAR CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT AND FELT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE GEARS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO THE NEAREST TURNOFF LANE. A POLICE OFFICER FOLLOWED CONSUMER AS TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THE CROSSOVER CABLE BROKE. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. CONSUMER HAD THIS REPAIRED AND HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE REPAIR. *AK THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE GASKET WERE REPLACED BECAUSE WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE CAR DURING RAINSTORM. THE RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT CRACKED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130298

Incident

Jul 23, 2005

Mileage

44,819 mi

DT: BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE RADIATOR SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. HAD TWO DIFFERENT COMPARTMENTS FLUSH AND RADIATOR REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10126189

Incident

Jun 18, 2005

Mileage

71,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION FUEL IT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PLENTY OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THAT ALL OF THE FLUIDS HAD RECENTLY BEEN CHECKED AND CHANGED IF NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107115

Incident

Jan 9, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

2000 DODGE NEON-I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND USE IT SOLELY FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK. I AM A CAREFUL DRIVER AND DO NOT ABUSE THIS VEHICLE. *AK DURING THESE 5 YRS I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING WORK ON THIS CAR; REPLACED THE BRAKES TWICE WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YRS REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES OVER 5 YEARS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 70K REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT 70K THE CAR PERFORMS VERY POORLY IN ICE AND SNOW. I HAVE SPUN OUT ON SEVERAL MAJOR HIGHWAYS MERELY DOING LESS THAN 10 MPH IN SNOW/SLUSH. I WAS TOLD MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND POOR DESIGN OF MY VEHICLE THAT THIS HAPPENS. MY TIRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED/REPLACED WHEN TREAD WAS GETTING LOW. I RECENTLY PAID $400 FOR A SET OF NEW MICHELIN HARMONY TIRES HOPING THAT THE UPCOMING SNOW AND ICE SEASON MAY NOT KILL ME. CAR HAD A MUSTY/FISHY ODOR WHEN I USED THE HEATER DURING THE FIRST 2 YEARS. THIS HAS SINCE GONE. MY TRANSMISSION DIED DURING A THUNDERSTORM ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. IT GAVE NO WARNING, ALL FLUIDS HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED THE WEEKEND BEFORE WHEN MY OIL WAS CHANGED. THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN OVER $1900 WORTH OF REPAIR CHARGES. I HAD JUST BOUGHT OUT MY LEASE THAT VERY WEEK. THE $1900 I PAID WAS MY ENTIRE SAVINGS. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR WORK OUTSTANDS; CDPLAYER IS DEAD. IT CHEWED UP MY CDS. (1 YEAR) MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BUZZES WHEN I LOCK IT. IT APPARENTLY NEEDS A NEW DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND ACTUATOR. (2ND YEAR) THE TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LOCK. (1ST YEAR).

NHTSA ID

10100566

Incident

Oct 15, 2004

Mileage

71,000 mi

ON NUMEROUS INSTANCES MY CLUTCH WOULD STICK, AFTER DEPRESSING ONE MORE TIME IT WAS RELEASED. THIS CONTINUED, UNTIL FINALLY IT REMAINED STUCK WITH ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THIS CONDITION THEN REQUIRED A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THE FAULTY CLUTCH CABLE WHICH CAUSED THE CONDITION. THE CABLE CONSISTENTLY FOLDED UPON ITSELF, AS I AM TOLD, AND WAS KINKING UP IN THE ENGINE. I DON'T AGREE THAT A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD AND UNFORTUNATELY JUST OUT OF WARRANTY SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING SUCH COSTLY OR DANGEROUS PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10062760

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

SEE COMPLAINT 10053281 FOR INITIAL BACK ROUND INFO. RADIATOR REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT TRANSMISSION BLOW-OUT. THAT COST ME $500. THEN WHEN THE 5 STAR DEALER TESTED THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER WANTED 600 JUST TO INVESTIGATE AND SAID THAT IT COULD COST AS MUCH AS $2,500 ADDL TO REPLACE. I JUST READ ABOUT COMPLAINT 10039597 WITH SAME PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A MFG DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT OWNING UP TO. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY EXTENDED COVERAGE. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME. THANK YOU. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054344

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

Mileage

84,800 mi

VEHICLE HAD ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH JERKING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN 10-15 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH ON ONE OCCASION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL RECURRING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10041968

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

FITTING IN BOTTOM OF RADIATOR POPPED OUT CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT. REPLACED RADIATOR AND 3 MONTHS LATER HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FIXED. AT THE TIME OF THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTION THE CAR HAD 34,000 MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE CAR HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT. THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1, 2003. THE FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, 2003. DAIMLER CHRYSLER ONLY PAID $250.00 TO HAVE RADIATOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF A 5-STAR CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HARMED AT THE TIME THE RADIATOR FAILED. IT COST ME $1251.00 TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FIXED. THE SECOND GEAR BAND WAS IN PIECES IN THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10039597

Incident

Mar 20, 2003

Mileage

34,022 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2000 DODGE NEON USED IN 2002 FROM REILIABLE CHEVROLET IN SPRINGFIELD, MO. THE CAR HAD APROX 48,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR A FEW WEEKS, I NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND WHENEVER THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED THE KNOCKING SOUND WENT AWAY. I TOOK IT TO CENTRAL DODGE (MY 5 STAR DEALER) WHICH TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE THROW OUT BEARING. AFTER HAVING THEM FIX IT, WHICH ONLY COST ME $100 BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRENTY, THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN, JUST AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033172

Incident

Nov 22, 2002

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE NEON I BOUGHT AT 32,000MILES. STARTED OVER HEATING AT 34,000MI. ONLY ON REALLY HOT DAYS. NOW AT 56,000 MILES OVER HEATS ALL THE TIME. CAN'T DRIVE IT. FOUND OUT IT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER ESTIMATES $2500 REPAIR. (SINGLE MOM, CAN'T AFFORD IT) FOUND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH AND MECHANICS THAT NEONS ARE PRONE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS BETWEEN 30 TO 60 THOUSAND MILES. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE GASKETS CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS WITHIN THE METALS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER USEING THOSE GASKETS AND HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH NEW ONES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT ONCE REPLACED THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REOCCURING PROBLEMS. THIS LEAVES ME WONDERING WHY THE GASKETS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. THANK YOU BRANDI

NHTSA ID

10005793

Incident

Feb 11, 2003

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE IT WILL START TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE REAL HARD, IT WILL LAST UNTIL VEHICLE IS TAKEN OUT OF REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

8017261

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL START TO PULSATE AT ANY SPEED. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THE FOLLOWING AS PROBLEMS OCCURED: THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, THROTTLE BLADE ICING, DEFECTIVE ROTORS, CHARGING SYSTEM OVER CHARGING-NO TROUBLE CODES; 3 BATTERY REPLACEMENTS(DEFECTIVE PER MECHANIC), MANY GAS TANK REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS(WOULD NOT TAKE GAS WITHOUT CLICKING AND TICKING/FILLER TANK/GAS TANK), WARNING BRAKE LIGHT AND BUZZER CHIMES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED ALSO WITH THE GAS PEDAL WHEN APPLIED (DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS AND LACK OF BRAKE FLUID, TRANSMISSION PROBLEM-GRINDING NOISE/WON'T GO IN REVERSE, BRAKE NOISE IN REAR TIRE/BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACE PER RECALL-NEEDS ROTORS & PADS IN FRONT, A/C BLOWS WARM AIR-COMPESSOR CLUTCH WOULDN'T ENGAGE(FOUND BROKEN WIRE), PROBLEM WITH THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, AND NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8017260

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

OCCASIONALLY WHEN PUTTING DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOWN, ALL GAUGES GO UP AND DOWN, AND THERE IS A LOUD CHIMMING NOISE. TRANSMISSION WENT @ 50,000 MI. CHRYSLER PAID HALF AT DEALERSHIPS REQUEST, AFTER CAR WAS SERVICED, I SENT CHRYSLER A LETTER EXPLAINING ALL OF MY PROBLEMS, AND RESPONSE WAS: DEALERSHIP HANDLED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP ME, AND THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM THAT I NEVER REPORTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGES (THIS IS BECAUSE I LIVED IN ANOTHER LOCATION AND TOOK MY CAR TO A 5 STAR DEALERSHIP IN CT, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM). OIL LEAKING, (WAS FIRST INFORMED OF THIS WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FIXING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM) THERE IS NOW A PUDDLE OF OIL RESTING IN THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE, CAR STALLED AT LIGHT, VERY STRONG FUMES UPON STARTING AND WHILE DRIVING, AND CAR SEEMS TO BE SHIFTING LATE...CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND MADE APPT. FOR 8-15-02. ALSO, REAR BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP AND MAKE ALOT OF NOISE, FRONT BRAKES SQUEAL. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

765356

DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME REPEATDLY THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY CAR ARE ALL IN MY HEAD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

761732

ENGINE KNOCKIS IN MORNING WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSOR FOR AIR CONDITIONER, AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION. BUT, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8001223

Incident

Aug 15, 2001

TRANSMISSION LINE HOSE CONNECTOR BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND DIE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND RADIATOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON.*AK

NHTSA ID

895033

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMMITION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000. IT SHIFS HARD AND AT TIMES SEEMS TO MISS 2ND GEAR. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY SO DODGE WOULD NOT AUTHERIZE MONDAY CHEV. (WHO I BOUGHT IT FROM)TO DO THE REPAIRES. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AN ADJUSTMENT, SECOND WAS A MODUAL CHANGE OUT AND SO WAS THE 3RD REPAIR. ON THE FOURTH TIME OF TAKING THE CAR TO TO ONE OF THE DODGE DEALERS THEY SAID THEY "DID A COMPLEAT OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMMITION". AT THIS TIME I AM STILL HAVING TROOUBLE WITH THE SHIFTING. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK THIS MORNING AND THE THROUTAL STUCK OPEN WHEN I STEPED ON THE GAS.THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARENTY. THERE WAS A RECALL IN JULY 2001ON THE HOSE TO THE BRAKE EACH TIME I CONTACTED ARCHER DODGE THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THE SHOP AGAIN AND I AM SURE THIS HAS SOMEETHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

750929

Incident

Aug 21, 2001

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE CONNECTOR TO RADIATOR HAVE POPPED OUT AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

894150

Incident

Jul 26, 2001

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT POWER SURGES (LOSS OF POWER) WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH UPON ACCELERATION. NLM

NHTSA ID

560488

Incident

Aug 21, 2000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LOCK INTO PARK IF INDICATOR IS STOPPED BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE LOCATIONS. THE CAR IS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE INDICATOR DISPLAYS "PARK". CAR WILL ROLL IN THIS IN THIS POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN TESTED IN FIVE OTHER NEONS AND THEY ALL PORTRAY THIS CHARACTERISTIC. THIS DEFECT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHICH INJURED MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER, AND RESULTED IN $3000 WORTH OF REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. AS MY WIFE EXITED VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY, WITH MY DAUGHTER IN HER CARSEAT IN THE REAR SEAT OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE POLE, TRAPPING MY DAUGHTER INSIDE. MY WIFE WAS PUSHED TO THE GROUND AS SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

733199

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

10 SERVICES, A/C, 3 POWER STEERING, 3 TRANSMISSION LEAKS, 3 BATTERY REALTED PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

732960

WHEN CONSUMER CHANGES GEARS VEHICLE STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, AND LOSES POWER. ALSO, TIRES TREAD WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

869547

Incident

May 1, 2000

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES. VEHICLE WOULD LOCK UP AND WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS BEING ABUSED, AND WANTED NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

857663

Incident

Sep 10, 1999