2002 DODGE NEON Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO A COMPLETE STOP AND NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH COULD NOT STEER CAR, PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, COULDN'T CONTROL WENT OFF ROAD, HITTING TWO TREES AND THEN CAR FLIPPED, ENDING UP ON ROOF. RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES, DRIVER AND PASSENGER GOING TO HOSPITAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CRACKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,600. UPDATED 05/02/11 *CN UPDATED 05/11/11

THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED SINCE THE CAR HAD A COUPLE OF THOUSAND MILES. STARTED OFF WITH A TICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, TO A POPPING NOISE AND THEN TO CLUNKING. THE CAR ITSELF HAD A LOT OF THE SUSPENSION REVIEWED OVER 20 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP WITH "NO PROBLEM FOUND" THEY DID REPLACE STEERING COUPLERS BASED ON TSB'S BUT THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE IT. THE CAR STILL HAS A CLICK/POP IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN ON TAKE OFF THE STEERING WHEEL STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL CLUNK. THE MAJOR CONCERNED IS THE STEERING!! AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 50 MPH THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE, IT SWAYS, SWERVES LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN TRYING TO HOLD THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE FEELS AS IF ITS TURNING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING, IT REQUIRES A LOT MORE EFFORT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THEN A RIGHT...

WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR JERKS. IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE ITS CHANGING GEARS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO SOUTHSIDE DODGE ON SOUTH ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA ABOUT FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY PERFORMED RECALL B27 AND SAID THAT THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. SO THEY WENT BACK AND FOUND THE PROBLEM. FIXED IT AND NOTICED IT ON THE WAY HOME BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. ABOUT 9320 MILES LATER IT WAS AS BAD AS THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO PERFORM A FLASH TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. OK TOOK THEIR WORD FOR IT. WENT HOME DID IT ALL THE WAY HOME. CALLED THEM WHEN I HAD RETURNED HOME AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO MEMORIZE THE WAY I DRIVE. GIVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS. GAVE IT MONTHS TILL I COULD BRING IT IN...