NHTSA Complaint #717869 — 1995 DODGE NEON

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 1995 NEON HOME FROM WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I BECAME CONCERNED AND PULLED INTO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION WHICH WAS LESS THAT 1/2 MILE AWAY. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. HE SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY LOOSE FITTINGS FROM MY PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE A FEW WEEKS EARLIER. THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND THE CAR STARTED ONLY TO CONTINUE TO LEAK OIL AGAIN. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SEAL/PLUG HAD CRACKED OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, I WOULD NEED A NEW SHORT BLOCK INSTALLED IN MY 5YR OLD CAR AT A PRICE OF $3500.00. I FEEL THAT THE CAM SEAL/PLUG IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IS WHY IT CRACKED OFF. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY/REPAIR INDUSTRY AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE NEON CAR. I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT I SHOULD BE HELD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE WHEN I DID EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO BY STOPPING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. I SPOKE TO CHRYSLER DIRECTLY AND WITHIN MINUTES OF CONTACTING THE DEALER, THEY (CHRYSLER) AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR ONLY IF I HAD THE SERVICE DONE AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I APPRECIATED THIS GESTURE BUT I AM STILL LOOKING AT PAYING $1700.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR THE DAMAGE. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE A PHONE CALL TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANY HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I AM EXTREMELY UPSET AT THIS POINT. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WROTE A LETTER TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. I DID RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE SVC MGR, WHO WILL ADMIT NO FAULT. AT THIS POINT I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE SVC MGR WITH A FIRM REPAIR PRICE BUT AS OF YET, HE HAS NOT RETURNED BY CALL. I FEEL THAT I AM BEING UNFAIRLY TREATED AND BEING PENALIZED BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.