2000 Dodge Neon

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

WATER LEAKING IN BRAKE POWER BOOSTER CAUSE BRAKES TO FREEZE IN COLD; BRAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ABS SYSTEM DISCONNECT- NOT WORKING PROPERLY - CONTROLLER GIVEN OFF ERROR CODE - POSSIBLE NEED TO BE REPLACE; ALL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS ON IN CAR - NO DIAGNOSIS FOR PROBLEM; RATTLING NOISE IN DASH BOARD; HIGH HUMMING NOISE UNDER CAR WHEN DRIVE - UNABLE TO HEAR RADIO BETWEEN RATTLING & HUMMING NOISES; AC WORK BUT NO HEAT; WHEN DRIVING WHEELS SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF; RECENTLY FOUND OUT CAR FAILED NYS EMISSION TEST ON DATE OF PURCHASE; I FILED COMPLAINT WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING DEALER WHERE I BROUGHT CAR FROM - THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND. *JB

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

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR YOU CAN HEAR BANGING UNDER THE FRONT CHASIS. THE SWAY BAR LINKS HAVE BEEN BREAKING FROM THE SWAY BAR. TWICE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT MY COST. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPAIR AT NO COST. I HAVE REPLACED TWO LINKS ON THE RIGHT AND TWO ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE RIGHT. THE SECOND TIME WAS THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE THIRD TIME THE RIGHT. THE FIRST TIME WAS MAY 16, 2002. THE SECOND WAS SEPTEMBER 24, 2003. THE THIRD TIME JUNE 1, 2004. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND THE REASON TO THE FAILURE OFTHE LINKS. *AK

THE RECALL THAT NHTSA SET IN MAY OF 1999 FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS OF THE 2000 DODGE NEON WAS NOT APPLIED TO ALL 2000 DODGE NEONS. THE DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE ON MY CAR, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, NOR SENT THE RECALL NOTICE. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE PIVOT TUBE AND ARE SECURED BY ONLY A BOLT. THE BUSHINGS ARE BOTH SPLIT. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AT ALL SPEEDS, A SYMPTOM OF THIS DEFECT THAT MY CAR HAS DISPLAYED FOR 3 YEARS. BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY OR I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE, EXTEND THE RECALL NOTICE FOR 2000 DODGE NEONS TO INCLUDE THOSE BUILT IN FEBRUARY OF 1999, THE MONTH MY CAR WAS BUILT. I AM VERY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS DEFECT BEING IGNORED ON MY VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE DANGER THAT IT POSES TO ME. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE FACT I PURCHASED NEW TIRES, I MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECT IN TIME. I COULD HAVE DIED.*AK