NHTSA Complaint #10072996 — 2002 DODGE NEON

THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ON THE 2002 DODGE NEON SEEM TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THE FRONT BRAKES (PADS AND ROTORS) HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AROUND 7000 MILES DUE TO WARPED ROTORS CAUSING SEVERE SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE DURING BRAKING. NOW AGAIN AT 17000 MILES THE VEHICLE EXIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE HAD A SEVERE SQUEAL SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED - IT WAS IN THREE SEPERATE TIMES FOR THIS. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM THAT ALL NEONS HAVE. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CLEANED THE BREAKS AND SAID THEY WERE FINE. THE THIRD TIME WE WERE TOLD THE REAR SHOES WERE NO GOOD AND THE REAR DRUMS WERE RUINED AND NEEDED REPLACED. (AT 16500 OR SO MILES) I CALLED THE DODGE CORPORATION AND AFTER MANY CALLS THEY OFFERED THE PARTS ON THE REAR FREE BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND I FEEL THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS IMPROVED TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPINING. THE VHEICLE IS A 2002 DODGE NEON SXT DRIVEN VERY LITTLE BY MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, A VERY EASY PERSON ON THE CAR SO THERE IS NO EXCESSIVE DRIVING BY ANY MEANS THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROBLEM. REAR DRUMS SHOULD ALMOST NEVER NEED REPLACED, THEY SEEM TO LAST FOREVER ON MOST VEHICLES AND ROTORS DO WARP SOMETIMES BUT NOT TWO SETS IN 17000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN MANY NEONS EXIBIT THE REAR SQUEALING PROBLEM ON THE ROADS SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST THIS CAR AND I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BEN HODGES. *AK