NHTSA Complaint #742527 — 1995 DODGE NEON

2 WEEKS PRIOR TO REPORTED INCIDENT VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK. GARAGE FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESEVOIR HAD SPLIT AND REPLACED IT. ON THE 9TH MARCH MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR AND DROPPED A COLLEGE OF TO PICK UP HIS CAR AT A GARAGE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IT SHE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE STARTED TO CLIMB HIGHER. SHE ARRIVED HOME, I RANG THE GARAGE, TOLD THEM OF THE SYMPTOMS AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN. ON STARTING IT UP I NOTICED A LOT OF BLUE GREY SMOKE COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE DROVE WITH NO PROBLEMS TO THE GARAGE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED A COOLANT LEAK, WHEN THE HEAD GASKET WAS TAKEN OFF THERE WERE 2 CRACKS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE ESTIMATED COST OF A TEMPORARY REPAIR IS $1000, BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG THE REPAIR WOULD LAST. THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WAS A NEW ENGINE WHICH IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR WITH ONLY 76K ON THE CLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 45K ON THE CLOCK IN SEPTEMBER 1997. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTION, WITH AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE EVERY 3 MONTHS.*AK