NHTSA Complaint #730854 — 1998 DODGE NEON

NOTICED SMALL OIL LEAK WHILE CHANGING OIL, LOOKED OVER ENGINE BUT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY COULD NOT LOCATE LEAK.A MONTH OR SO LATER NOTICED OIL PUDDLE UNDER WHERE CAR WAS PARKED.MADE A FEW CALLS AROUND ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT FOUND OUT NOTHING.KEPT REGULAR CHECKS ON OIL LEVEL AND AT FIRST CAR USED ABOUT 1 QT OF OIL EVERY 2 OR 3 THOUSAND MILES.BUT IT STEADILY GOT WORSE SO I GOT A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A MECHANIC TO COME BY AND CHECK IT FOR ME.HE CAME BY AND GAVE IT A GOOD LOOKING OVER.ACCORDING TO HIM THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE THE HEAD GASKET.SUGGESTED I CONTACT A DEALER TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM OR NOT.WELL I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM.FRANKLY I WAS ASTONISHED AT THE # OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.(A BAD HEAD GASKET WAS USED)THERE IS A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS POSTED BUT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED.EVEN THOUGH DAIMLER/ CHRYSLER ORDERED A NEW HEAD GASKET SET MADE FOR THIS CAR THE CONSUMER HAS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE LABOR ON THE REPAIR.OF COURSE I REALIZE THAT UNLESS FORCED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, DAIMLER / CHRYSLER IS GOING TO STICK THE CONSUMER WITH AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.FINE,BUT I WILL NO LONGER EVEN CONSIDER THEM WHEN I PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE.THEY ARE NOW ON MY S_ _ T LIST.I WILL TRUTHFULLY TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS AND THAT THEY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER CUSTOMER SERVICE WHEN BUYING A NEW VEHICLE.THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THE COMPANY.I AM NOT AT ALL HAPPY ABOUT THIS AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME. IN MY OPINION, DAIMLER/ CHRYSLER HURT THEMSELVES MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF FUTURE SALES THAN THEY WOULD HAVE LOST BY DOING THE RIGHT THING. BUT WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE COME TO EXPECT THIS FROM LARGE COMPANIES.PROFIT MARGIN AT ANY GIVEN TIME IS THE BOTTOM LINE.SHAME , SHAME N