NHTSA Complaint #10070560 — 1997 DODGE NEON

PROBLEM: WATER LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK THROUGH THE TAILLIGHT FILLED THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND SOAKED INTO THE BACK SEAT. WE NOW HAVE A MUSTY SMELL INDICATING A MOLD PROBLEM, PROBABLY FROM THE SEAT. WE HAVE USED PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SUPPLIES TO TRY ELIMINATE THE SMELL. THE CLEANING DID HELP BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. SINCE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE ASTHMA, AND ARE ALERGIC TO MOLD, I WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BACK SEAT. COST UNKNOWN. I STARTED SEARCHING THE WEB FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH NEONS LAST NIGHT AFTER A NEIGHBOR, WHO ALSO OWNS A NEON AND KNEW ABOOUT OUR PROBLEM, CAME TO TALK TO ME BECAUSE THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED TO THEIRS. PROBLEM SHOWED UP LAST SUMMER (2002)AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES.