NHTSA Complaint #716877 — 1996 DODGE NEON

I HAVE HEARD RECENTLY THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS VERY COMMON WITH THE DODGE NEONS AS WELL AS OTHER CHRYSLER CARS. I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING LAST WEEK SOMETIME, AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS COMING FROM TEH HEAD GASKET. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT SO MANY OF TEH DODGE NEONS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IF DODGE MADE A GOOD PRODUCT. IF THEY KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS RUMOR OF A SECRET WARRANTY OUT THERE IF YOU RAISE ENOUGH FUSS, DOESN'T IT SEEM FAIR, AND LAWFUL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE CARS AND FIX TEH HEAD GASKETS ON THEIR PRODUCTS BEFORE FURTHER TROUBLE IS CAUSED. IF I WAS OBLIVIOUS TO TEH LEAK COULDN'T I HAVE CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD CHRYSLER NOT CUT CORNERS AND MADE A CHEAP GASKET TO BEGIN WITH? IS IT MY FAULT THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT EVENTUALLY I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE CHRYSLER DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MAKING A STRONG HEAD GASKET, AND WANTED TO SAVE A LITTLE MONEY. I FEEL AS IF I AM BEING SCREWED HERE, AND I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST COMPLAIN BEFORE CHRYSLER ISSUSES A RECALL. A RECALL THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY. *AK