NHTSA Complaint #721887 — 1999 DODGE NEON

WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN WET WEATHER, THE EXHAUST WILL GET EXTREMELY LOUD. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT WATER IS GETTING UP INTO THE CAR SOMEWHERE. THE NOISE IS LOUD ENOUGH THAT IT SEEMS THE MUFFLER HAS FALLEN OFF. ONCE YOU SLOW DOWN IN THE CAR OR STOP THE NOISE WILL CEASE AS WELL. WHILE THE CAR IS ACTING UP IT WILL ALSO BACKGFIRE AND SPUTTER MAKING A NOISE THAT IS SIMILAR TO SUCKING LIQUID THROUGH A STRAW. THE CAR RUNS FINE IN DRY WEATHER. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS ALSO BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE FACTORY REP. BOTH THE SERVICE PERSONEL AND THE FACTORY REP HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE. THEY HAVE ALREADY ATTEMPTED SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING ALIGNING THE INTERMEDIATE PIPE. AT THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT THEY PLACED A SHIELD OVER THE EXHASUT SYSTEM. THE ONLY THING THIS ACCOMPLISHED WAS MUFFLING THE SOUND THE CAR MAKES WHEN IT GETS WET. AS OF NOW THE CAR STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK