NHTSA Complaint #753780 — 1995 DODGE NEON

THERE HAVE BEEN TRACES OF AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL COMPONENT BURNING/OVERHEATING SMELL IN THE CAR FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. NO OTHER SYMPTOMS WERE EVIDENT. ON 10/25/01, AFTER TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE EVENING BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED ODOR OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT BURNING OR OVERHEATING, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VISUAL INSPECTION REVEALED OVERHEATING/BURNING/MELTING OF THESE COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE INSULATION AROUND SEVERAL WIRES. I HAVE RETAINED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR FUTURE INSPECTION BY ANY INTERESTED PARTIES. THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE DEALER DUE TO A CORE CHARGE. THE TOTAL COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO EFFECT NTHE REPAIRS WAS $363.15. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE NO COMPONENT SHOULD FAIL IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE THE OVERHEATING/BURNING OF OTHER COMPONENTS, CONNECTORS OR WIRING.*AK