2000 Dodge Neon

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME BECAME RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME AND EACH WHEEL WHERE THE CONTROL ARM WAS LOCATED WAS ALSO RUSTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 10 YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. KMJ *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2000 DODGE NEON AND THE SUB FRAME BROKE AND I LOOK UNDER THE CAR THE HOLE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT HE CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR WHERE GLAD THAT HE WAS NOT ON THE FREE WAY WHEN IT HAPPEN IS THERE A RECALL WHERE HE CAN GET THIS FIX I BEEN LOOKING AT NEONS AND THEY ALL SEE TO BE RUSTED OUT BY LOOKING AT THE BODY YOU WOULD THINK THE SUB FRAME WOULD NOT BE LIKE THAT. *TR

AS WITH A MULTITUDE OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, WHENEVER THERE IS A RAIN (HEAVY OR LIGHT), WATER LEAKS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR (MOST LIKELY THROUGH THE TRUNK, POSSIBLY AROUND THE TAILLIGHT OR ANOTHER HARD TO DIAGNOSE AREA). THE WATER WILL FILL UP THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND POOL THERE, THEN MOVE UNDER THE BACK SEATS AND THE BACK SEAT FLOORS WHERE AGAIN THE WATER POOLS AND SOAKS INTO THE LINING/CUSHIONS/INTERIOR. ALL OF THIS WATER CAUSES BOTH STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE CAR (RUST AND OTHER ISSUES), PRODUCES MILDEW AND MOLD IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE (A POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD), AND CREATES HIGHLY HUMID AND MOIST ENVIRONMENT INSIDE THE CAR. THE LEAK AND WATER HAVE ALSO AFFECTED THE REVERSE/BACKUP LIGHTING (ANOTHER HAZARD) AND RUSTED PARTS OF THE SPARE TIRE WELL. IN ADDITION THE HIGH HUMIDITY RESULTS IN INTERIOR WINDOWS BEING NOT JUST FOGGED BUT HAVING A WORRISOME AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION THAT MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE DRIVING SAFELY. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO "SEAL" THE LEAK IN THE TRUNK TO NO AVAIL. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEMS REVEALS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OF THE LEAK. DODGE HAS NEVER ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH CONSUMERS. *TR

SEVERE CORROSION CAUSED A WEAKNESS IN THE SUSPENSION CRADLE/ ENGINE CRADLE THAT RESULTED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY FROM ITS MOUNTING TO THE SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER/ CRADLE. THE CONTROL ARM AND ALL ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS SEEMED TO BE IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION AND DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE DRIVE AXLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNDRIVEABLE. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE FAILURE AT A VERY LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE SAME FAILURE AT POSTED SPEED (45MPH AT THE TIME) WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIKELY SEVERE CRASH. *TR

TURNED INTO PARKING LOT WHEN CAR SUDDENLY MADE HORRIBLE BANGING-TYPE NOISE AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT OF FRONT OF CAR AND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. WHEN MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. THE AXLE BROKE, CONTROL ARM DROPPED AND EVERYTHING INSIDE THE FRONT OF THE CAR (I.E. ENGINE, ETC.) CRASHED TO THE GROUND! MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2000 NEON. IT WAS ADVISED, DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR, THAT IT WAS NOT WORTH FIXING. *TR