NHTSA Complaint #10001001 — 2002 DODGE NEON

I TURNED THE KEY THAT MORNING TO GO TO WORK, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD. I CALLED CHRYLER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, SENT A TOW TRUCK, GAVE ME A JUMP, I LET THE CAR RUN FOR 45 MINUTES BEFORE GOING TO WORK, I STARTED DRIVING, DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE BLINKING LIKE CRAZY, THE GAS GUAGE KEPT MOVING UP & DOWN, AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DROVE TO CARMAX/LOS ANGELES AND THEY WERE CLOSED. I DROVE HOME, WOULDN'T RESTART, CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AGAIN, CAR TOWED TO DODGE DEALER (ON MANCHESTER & ISIS/INGLEWOOD). I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY CELL HAD DISLOCATED, REPLACED BATTERY AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 12/20/02: DRIVING HOME ON THE 405 FREEWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND ALL THE DASHBOARD GUAGES WERE GOING UP AND DOWN, THE RADIO CUT OFF, AND THE GAS GUAGE WAS GOING CRAZY. I WAS AT THE CENTURY BLVD EXIT, I MADE A SHARP TURN TO GET OFF ON CENTURY, THEN THE CAR JUST CUT ON BY ITSELF. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUNT 1 MILE AND THE CAR TOTALLY WENT DEAD. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS OR POWER. I CALLED FOR A TOW, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DOWNTOWN LA DODGE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS LOOSE, IT WAS TIGHTENED AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS.. 12/23/02: DROVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE (1/4) MILE, CAR CUT-OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MY FRIEND CAME, TOUCHED THE BATTERY CABLE, AND THE CAR STARTED. WHEN I DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER 1/4 MILE, THE CAR SHUT-OFF AGAIN. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SELLER (SANTA MONICA NISSAN), THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 31, I REC'D A CALL FROM BUERGE DODGE, THEY HAD TO RE-WIRE THE ENTIRE CAR.. 01/10/03: I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR ACCELERATED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLET STOP, MY CO-WORKER INSTRUCTED ME TO OPEN THE HOOD, SHE TOUCHED THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE CAR STARTED. I CAME HOME AND LEFT MSSGS FOR THE BUERGE DODGE SERVICE PERSON (JEREMY BATTAT) TO CALL ME BACK AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM.