RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Neon Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
62
Latest Oct 20, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
31%
of 202 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
15
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 62 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 62, in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 20, 2019

THIS MAKES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS 2003 DODGE NEON XST . I HAVE PUT $10.000.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ! THESE ARE LEMONS!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE!!

NHTSA ID
11269793
Incident
Sep 10, 2019
Mileage
124,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 17, 2015

WELL I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD MY KID IN CAR 10-16-15 THANK GOD I A HAD ARRIVED HOME ON TIME WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I KEPT DRIVING I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE COMING OF DASH I WAS ON STREET COMING FROM JANESVILLE WI IT'S LIKE 35 MIN AWAY I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH WAY BUT LIKE I SAID IT STARTED HAPPENING WHILE APPROACHING HOUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEE INSIDE BUT THIS HAS ME SHOCKED DUE TO VIDEO I HAVE SEEN CATCHING ON FIRE WHY ISN'T NOTHING BEING DONE NO RECALL NOTHING SOMEONE CAN DIE FROM THIS I LOOKED UP PROBLEM AND IT'S A COMMON THING THATS HAPPENING THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DISAPPOINTED WITH DODGE I NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE HELP I TOOK A PICTURE OF WHEN I PARKED IT.

NHTSA ID
10783080
Incident
Oct 16, 2015
Mileage
30 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 8, 2015
Fire reported

STARTED VEHICLE DURING RAINY, FOGGY, 40 DEGREE WEATHER. HEADLAMP INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WITHIN GAUGE CLUSTER. UPON CHECKING OUTSIDE THE CAR, ONLY PARKING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING DESPITE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BEING IN THE "ON" POSITION. BURNING SMELL OCCURRED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND MULTIFUNCTION HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704440
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2015

ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC, CAUSED BY OVERHEATED WIRING (PIN 16) ON TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHT CONTROL. LIGHT WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON LOW BEAM ; WHILE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS LIT . FOG LAMPS HAVE BEEN LIT ,WHEN SWITCH IS HEADLAMP ON POSITION, FOR THREE YEARS. THEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF UNLESS YOU USED LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN HEADLAMP MALFUNCTIONED I BOUGHT REPLACEMENT SWITCH. DURING INSTALLATION, FOUND WIRING HARNESS TERMINAL WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, AS IT WAS MALFORMED AND BRITTLE DUE TO EXCESS HEAT. I TOOK PICTURES TO DOCUMENT WIRE POSITION; THERE IS NO PIN 15 OR 10 : ALSO NO WIRE TO TERMINAL POSITIONS 15,10, AND 12. THERE IS A PIN 12 ON THE SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678701
Incident
Jan 19, 2015
Mileage
114,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 24, 2015

SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS & STEERING COLUMN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID IT WAS SPILLED ANTI FREEZE FROM WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL. CAR WAS OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW IT'S SMOKING AGAIN THE FRONT DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK THE FOG LIGHTS ARE GONE & RECENTLY MY HIGHLIGHTS WENT TOO. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SHOWN ME THE BURNT WIRES IN STEELING COLUMN & SAID THE HEATING COIL IS DAMAGED MAKING THE SMELL & FOGS THE WINDOW FROM THE FUMES. NEXT TO GO WILL BE THE TURNING SIGNALS & WIPERS IF NOT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678686
Incident
Oct 20, 2004
Mileage
10,345 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Nov 4, 2014

STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10652405
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
200,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARMENT WHILE THE BATTERY WAS BEING CHARGED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMPERATURE, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND RPM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

NHTSA ID
10605692
Incident
Jun 21, 2014
Mileage
163,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 19, 2014

SMELLED HOT WIRING AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE UF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10573395
Incident
Nov 15, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 5, 2013

HI, I HAVE A DODGE NEON 03, AND IT CUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, EVERYTHING IN THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR COMES TO AN INSTANT STOP ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AND THEY JUST SWITCHED OUT A CAR PART, BUT THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE TWO MONTHS LATER MY CAR STOPED AGAIN ON JULY 4TH. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO DAYS TO RUN TEST AND THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK AND SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ABOUT A MONTH GOES BY AND MY CAR COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP ON A HIGHWAY THIS TIME, ON AUGUST 3RD. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AT THIS POINT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW ONE COULD EASILY OCCUR AND HOW IT COULD POSSIBLY BE FATAL FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHERS. I DID SOME REASEARCH AND DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE NEONS, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE 03'S BUT ALSO THE 96-98, AND 2000'S. I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID
10533592
Incident
Aug 3, 2013
Mileage
103,261 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 14, 2013
Fire reported

MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498101
Incident
Feb 14, 2013
Electrical
Filed Jan 7, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $130. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF UPDATED 03/11/13

NHTSA ID
10491664
Incident
Dec 28, 2012
Mileage
160,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 29, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN GROUND WIRING TO THE ENGINE WAS MELTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS ALSO MELTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10449655
Incident
Feb 12, 2012
Mileage
125,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2011

FIRST THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, I NOTICED A PORTION OF THE PLUG HAD MELTED FROM EXTREME HEAT. MOST LIKELY DUE TO A POOR DESIGN IN THE WIRING, THE CIRCUITS OR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. HAD THIS BEEN LEFT UNNOTICED IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGES, FIRE OR PERSONAL HARM.

NHTSA ID
10404761
Incident
May 27, 2011
Mileage
122,567 mi
Electrical
Filed May 9, 2011

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 DODGE NEON. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE RANGED FROM LOSING POWER COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING TO DIMMING DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO CORRODED WIRES GOING INTO THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND FUSES SHORTING OUT. THIS LATEST INCIDENT INVOLVES THE SEATBELT AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHING WHILE THE REST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT DIM. I'M TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR - BUT I CAN'T SELL IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TO SOMEONE ELSE. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR NEW ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES AND POWER CONTROL MODULES AS CORROSION OF WIRES AND SUBSEQUENT SHORTS IN WIRING APPEAR TO BE COMMON PLACE, COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CONSUMERS AND POTENTIAL FATAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10399545
Incident
May 9, 2011
Mileage
78,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 31, 2011

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT MY LOW BEAMS WOULDN'T. NOW MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT I AM UNABLE TO SWITCH TO MY LOW BEAMS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WITH MY BATTERY DYING SEVERAL TIMES WHICH RESULTED IN GETTING A JUMP FROM ANOTHER CAR. I END UP HAVING A BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ON MY CAR LAST YEAR BETWEEN NOV/DEC 2010. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN LOCATED NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THIS HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR DIDN'T START MONDAY 3-28-11 MORNING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR BUT NO READINGS REGARDING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION PERTAINS TO WHAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393824
Incident
Mar 28, 2011
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 15, 2010

THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THEY WANTED TO. AFTER ABOUT A DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. IF THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365664
Incident
Sep 14, 2009
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 15, 2010
Fire reported

2003 DODGE NEON SRT4. MFS IN STEERING COLUMN BURNT TO CRISP. NO MODIFICATIONS TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR LIGHTS ON CAR HAVE BEEN MADE. CAUSED 2000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE AND RESEARCH SHOWS SIMILAR PROBLEM ACROSS NEON MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10299895
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
96,453 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 21, 2009

THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, THEREFORE THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ALWAYS ON. AFTER STOPPING AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND THE LIGHTS WORKED FINE, THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS COULD ONLY BE TURNED ON BY PULLING AND HOLDING THE ARM BACK. THERE WAS AN ODD SMELL, BUT I THOUGHT A FUSE MUST HAVE BLOWN. CHANGING THE FUSE DID NOT ALLOW THE LIGHTS TO WORK. I DROVE THE CAR HOME BEHIND OUR OTHER VEHICLE, AND WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY GAVE ME A WARNING TO HAVE THE LIGHTS FIXED. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS CHECKED. THEY FOUND THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. NO HEADLIGHTS DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296585
Incident
Dec 16, 2009
Mileage
88,380 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 16, 2009

I WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE TO WORK. I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS TO FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. LATER I REMOVED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND LOCATED A BURNED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE CURRENT REPAIR WILL BE TO REPLACE THE MULTI-SWITCH AND BURNED CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296167
Incident
Dec 14, 2009
Mileage
93,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 2009

2003 DODGE NEON. PROBLEM, NO HEADLIGHTS. SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ONCE IT HAPPENED THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH AUTO PARTS STORES OR THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE PARTS WERE OUT OF STOCK AND COULD TAKE WEEKS TO GET IN. HE DID A SEARCH OF DEALERS AROUND THE COUNTY AND NO ONE HAD THE PART (HEADLIGHT SWITCH) HE TOLD ME THEY GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO BUY A USED ONE FROM A WRECKED CAR AT A JUNKYARD TO BE ABLE TO USE MY CAR AT NIGHT. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND TONS OF PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE CONNECTIONS ARE MELTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293604
Incident
Nov 23, 2009
Mileage
82,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 28, 2009
Fire reported

I OWN A 2003 DODGE NEON SRT4 THERE WAS A FIRE/SMOKING COMING FROM MY DASH/STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE PROBLEM IS FROM A BAD MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE 2ND GENERATION DODGE NEONS. THIS SWITCH IS RELATED TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SO POTENTIALLY THIS CAN BE DEADLY. FOR EXAMPLE YOU HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR SHUTTING DOWN, FIRE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I STILL NEED THIS FIX, I WORK NEARLY 9 HOUR DAYS WITH LITTLE MONEY TO FIX THESE MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PLEASE TELL DODGE TO CALL A RECALL THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290161
Incident
Oct 27, 2009
Mileage
48,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2009

I OWN A 2003 DODGE NEON THAT JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A FEW OCCASIONS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS BLOGS AND SUCH OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WILL WORK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND NO PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND, NO CODES ON THE COMPUTER. WHEN IT DOES SHUT DOWN IT WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL I MOVE THE WIRES AT THE BATTERY. UPON INSPECTING THE BATTERY WIRES THEY SHOW NO SIGNS OF WEAR, CORROSION, BEING LOOSE OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT. UPON TESTING THE WIRES FOR A SHORT FOUND NONE TO EXIST. THE MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIPS CLAIM THERE IS NO PROBLEM. DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTERS FIND NO PROBLEMS. ON THREE OCCASION THUS FAR WE HAVE BEEN IN NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS, DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN, AND COMES TO AN UNEXPECTED QUICK STOP AND WITH A LOSS OF ALL POWER THAT MAY RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. CARS DRIVING BEHIND ME HAVE NO WARNING THAT I'M COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SOMETIMES UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE AREA TO COME TO A STOP. AS MENTIONED IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR NOT ONLY OF THIS YEAR BUT OTHERS AS WELL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF SOME SORT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IF THAT ALREADY HAS NOT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285454
Incident
Sep 20, 2009
Mileage
63,342 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed May 14, 2009
Fire reported1 injury reported

ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE CAR WAS IN OPERATION + PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF AIRBAG. DRIVER WAS FORCED TO CLAW THE AIRBAG OUT OF HIS WAY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND STEER IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO KNOWN TAMPERING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PRIOR TO THIS; CAR WAS USED, BUT HAD ONLY BODY WORK DONE TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. HEAT DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME FACIAL AND NECK INJURY--POSSIBLY OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268763
Incident
May 4, 2009
Mileage
83,936 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 19, 2009

DECEMBER 2008, HEADLIGHTS WORKING FINE DURING TRIP, STOPPED FOR GAS, AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. USED HIGH BEAMS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THEN SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS WERE THEN WORKING. HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR. EARLY MARCH, NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE, LIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. WHILE DRIVING ALONE AT NIGHT APRIL 2009, TRIED TO USE HIGH BEAMS, BUT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE, HAD TO HOLD THE SWITCH BACK FOR HIGH BEAMS TO WORK. MY HANDS BECAME VERY WARM SITTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL, FELT CLOSER TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND WAS INCREDIBLY HOT. THERE WAS NOWHERE TO STOP, HAD TO KEEP DRIVING ANOTHER HOUR OR SO. STOPPED FOR 5 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF VEHICLE, WHEN VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK. HAD TO DRIVE WITH ONLY PARKING LIGHTS AT 2AM, VERY UNSAFE! EVER SINCE, HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. THIS HAS CLEARLY BEEN AN ISSUE, AND IT VERY EASY TO FIND INFORMATION AND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAVE CLEARLY BECOME AN EVEN WORSE PROBLEM. TRIED TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, BUT THE PLUG WAS MELTED IN PLACE. PARTS WERE BURNED BLACK AND BROWN AND INCREDIBLY BRITTLE FROM THE INTENSE HEAT THAT EMANATED FROM THE WIRING. THIS FINAL PROBLEM HAPPENED AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES. I AM STILL CURRENTLY WAITING TO FIND THE LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT , SINCE I DO NOT HAVE PROPER LIGHTING. AFRAID TO EVEN USE PARKING LIGHTS, AS THIS SUPPLIES ELECTRICAL JUICE TO THE SWITCH AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE, AS I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER OWNER'S PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266032
Incident
Apr 10, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 16, 2009

MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY SHUT OFF OR NOT COME ON. THEN ONLY THE BRIGHTS WOULD WORK AND WHILE DRIVING WOULD SHUT OFF ALTOGETHER. FINALLY THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE MARKER LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS STILL WORK, BUT I HAVE NO ILLUMINATION AHEAD OF ME. IT REQUIRED A SWITCH AND CONNECTOR CHANGE. SO FAR THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO HELP US IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. THE OLD PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION AND THE OEM BULBS ARE STILL AROUND AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10265681
Incident
Sep 8, 2008
Mileage
79,002 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

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Data on this page last refreshed .