IllustrationTHIS 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!!
2003 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
370–25K
2925–50K
3750–75K
3075–100K
18100–150K
8150K+
159 reports with mileage · 43 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports20 fire reports17 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
72 reportsWELL 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 …
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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.
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 MEL…
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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
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 MA…
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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
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 M…
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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
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…
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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
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…
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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.
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 RESULTE…
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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
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 TH…
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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
MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA06019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Nov 22, 2006 · Closed Nov 7, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
PE06028 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 28, 2006 · Closed Nov 22, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.