2003 DODGE NEON Electrical System Problems

THIS MAKES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS 2003 DODGE NEON XST . I HAVE PUT $10.000.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ! THESE ARE LEMONS!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE!!

WELL I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD MY KID IN CAR 10-16-15 THANK GOD I A HAD ARRIVED HOME ON TIME WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I KEPT DRIVING I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE COMING OF DASH I WAS ON STREET COMING FROM JANESVILLE WI IT'S LIKE 35 MIN AWAY I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH WAY BUT LIKE I SAID IT STARTED HAPPENING WHILE APPROACHING HOUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEE INSIDE BUT THIS HAS ME SHOCKED DUE TO VIDEO I HAVE SEEN CATCHING ON FIRE WHY ISN'T NOTHING BEING DONE NO RECALL NOTHING SOMEONE CAN DIE FROM THIS I LOOKED UP PROBLEM AND IT'S A COMMON THING THATS HAPPENING THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DISAPPOINTED WITH DODGE I NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE HELP I TOOK A PICTURE OF WHEN I PARKED IT.

STARTED VEHICLE DURING RAINY, FOGGY, 40 DEGREE WEATHER. HEADLAMP INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WITHIN GAUGE CLUSTER. UPON CHECKING OUTSIDE THE CAR, ONLY PARKING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING DESPITE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BEING IN THE "ON" POSITION. BURNING SMELL OCCURRED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND MULTIFUNCTION HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED. *TR

SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS & STEERING COLUMN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID IT WAS SPILLED ANTI FREEZE FROM WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL. CAR WAS OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW IT'S SMOKING AGAIN THE FRONT DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK THE FOG LIGHTS ARE GONE & RECENTLY MY HIGHLIGHTS WENT TOO. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SHOWN ME THE BURNT WIRES IN STEELING COLUMN & SAID THE HEATING COIL IS DAMAGED MAKING THE SMELL & FOGS THE WINDOW FROM THE FUMES. NEXT TO GO WILL BE THE TURNING SIGNALS & WIPERS IF NOT FIXED. *TR

ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC, CAUSED BY OVERHEATED WIRING (PIN 16) ON TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHT CONTROL. LIGHT WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON LOW BEAM ; WHILE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS LIT . FOG LAMPS HAVE BEEN LIT ,WHEN SWITCH IS HEADLAMP ON POSITION, FOR THREE YEARS. THEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF UNLESS YOU USED LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN HEADLAMP MALFUNCTIONED I BOUGHT REPLACEMENT SWITCH. DURING INSTALLATION, FOUND WIRING HARNESS TERMINAL WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, AS IT WAS MALFORMED AND BRITTLE DUE TO EXCESS HEAT. I TOOK PICTURES TO DOCUMENT WIRE POSITION; THERE IS NO PIN 15 OR 10 : ALSO NO WIRE TO TERMINAL POSITIONS 15,10, AND 12. THERE IS A PIN 12 ON THE SWITCH. *TR

STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARMENT WHILE THE BATTERY WAS BEING CHARGED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMPERATURE, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND RPM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

SMELLED HOT WIRING AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE UF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. *TR

HI, I HAVE A DODGE NEON 03, AND IT CUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, EVERYTHING IN THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR COMES TO AN INSTANT STOP ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AND THEY JUST SWITCHED OUT A CAR PART, BUT THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE TWO MONTHS LATER MY CAR STOPED AGAIN ON JULY 4TH. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO DAYS TO RUN TEST AND THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK AND SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ABOUT A MONTH GOES BY AND MY CAR COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP ON A HIGHWAY THIS TIME, ON AUGUST 3RD. THERE...

MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $130. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF UPDATED 03/11/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN GROUND WIRING TO THE ENGINE WAS MELTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS ALSO MELTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

FIRST THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, I NOTICED A PORTION OF THE PLUG HAD MELTED FROM EXTREME HEAT. MOST LIKELY DUE TO A POOR DESIGN IN THE WIRING, THE CIRCUITS OR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. HAD THIS BEEN LEFT UNNOTICED IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGES, FIRE OR PERSONAL HARM.

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 DODGE NEON. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE RANGED FROM LOSING POWER COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING TO DIMMING DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO CORRODED WIRES GOING INTO THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND FUSES SHORTING OUT. THIS LATEST INCIDENT INVOLVES THE SEATBELT AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHING WHILE THE REST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT DIM. I'M TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR - BUT I CAN'T SELL IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TO SOMEONE ELSE. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR NEW ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES AND POWER CONTROL MODULES AS CORROSION OF WIRES AND SUBSEQUENT SHORTS IN WIRING APPEAR TO BE COMMON PLACE, COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CONSUMERS AND POTENTIAL FATAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT MY LOW BEAMS WOULDN'T. NOW MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT I AM UNABLE TO SWITCH TO MY LOW BEAMS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WITH MY BATTERY DYING SEVERAL TIMES WHICH RESULTED IN GETTING A JUMP FROM ANOTHER CAR. I END UP HAVING A BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ON MY CAR LAST YEAR BETWEEN NOV/DEC 2010. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN LOCATED NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THIS HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR DIDN'T START MONDAY 3-28-11 MORNING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR BUT NO READINGS REGARDING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION...

THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THEY WANTED TO. AFTER ABOUT A DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. IF THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR

2003 DODGE NEON SRT4. MFS IN STEERING COLUMN BURNT TO CRISP. NO MODIFICATIONS TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR LIGHTS ON CAR HAVE BEEN MADE. CAUSED 2000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE AND RESEARCH SHOWS SIMILAR PROBLEM ACROSS NEON MODELS. *TR

THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, THEREFORE THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ALWAYS ON. AFTER STOPPING AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND THE LIGHTS WORKED FINE, THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS COULD ONLY BE TURNED ON BY PULLING AND HOLDING THE ARM BACK. THERE WAS AN ODD SMELL, BUT I THOUGHT A FUSE MUST HAVE BLOWN. CHANGING THE FUSE DID NOT ALLOW THE LIGHTS TO WORK. I DROVE THE CAR HOME BEHIND OUR OTHER VEHICLE, AND WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY GAVE ME A WARNING TO HAVE THE LIGHTS FIXED. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS CHECKED. THEY FOUND THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR....

I WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE TO WORK. I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS TO FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. LATER I REMOVED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND LOCATED A BURNED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE CURRENT REPAIR WILL BE TO REPLACE THE MULTI-SWITCH AND BURNED CONNECTOR. *TR

2003 DODGE NEON. PROBLEM, NO HEADLIGHTS. SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ONCE IT HAPPENED THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH AUTO PARTS STORES OR THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE PARTS WERE OUT OF STOCK AND COULD TAKE WEEKS TO GET IN. HE DID A SEARCH OF DEALERS AROUND THE COUNTY AND NO ONE HAD THE PART (HEADLIGHT SWITCH) HE TOLD ME THEY GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO BUY A USED ONE FROM A WRECKED CAR AT A JUNKYARD TO BE ABLE TO USE MY CAR AT NIGHT. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND TONS OF PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE CONNECTIONS ARE MELTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

I OWN A 2003 DODGE NEON SRT4 THERE WAS A FIRE/SMOKING COMING FROM MY DASH/STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE PROBLEM IS FROM A BAD MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE 2ND GENERATION DODGE NEONS. THIS SWITCH IS RELATED TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SO POTENTIALLY THIS CAN BE DEADLY. FOR EXAMPLE YOU HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR SHUTTING DOWN, FIRE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I STILL NEED THIS FIX, I WORK NEARLY 9 HOUR DAYS WITH LITTLE MONEY TO FIX THESE MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PLEASE TELL DODGE TO CALL A RECALL THIS. *TR

I OWN A 2003 DODGE NEON THAT JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A FEW OCCASIONS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS BLOGS AND SUCH OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WILL WORK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND NO PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND, NO CODES ON THE COMPUTER. WHEN IT DOES SHUT DOWN IT WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL I MOVE THE WIRES AT THE BATTERY. UPON INSPECTING THE BATTERY WIRES THEY SHOW NO SIGNS OF WEAR, CORROSION, BEING LOOSE OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT. UPON TESTING THE WIRES FOR A SHORT FOUND NONE TO EXIST. THE MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIPS CLAIM THERE IS NO PROBLEM. DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTERS FIND NO PROBLEMS. ON THREE OCCASION THUS FAR WE HAVE BEEN IN NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS, DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN, AND COMES TO AN UNEXPECTED QUICK STOP...

ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE CAR WAS IN OPERATION + PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF AIRBAG. DRIVER WAS FORCED TO CLAW THE AIRBAG OUT OF HIS WAY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND STEER IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO KNOWN TAMPERING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PRIOR TO THIS; CAR WAS USED, BUT HAD ONLY BODY WORK DONE TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. HEAT DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME FACIAL AND NECK INJURY--POSSIBLY OTHERS. *TR

DECEMBER 2008, HEADLIGHTS WORKING FINE DURING TRIP, STOPPED FOR GAS, AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. USED HIGH BEAMS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THEN SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS WERE THEN WORKING. HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR. EARLY MARCH, NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE, LIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. WHILE DRIVING ALONE AT NIGHT APRIL 2009, TRIED TO USE HIGH BEAMS, BUT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE, HAD TO HOLD THE SWITCH BACK FOR HIGH BEAMS TO WORK. MY HANDS BECAME VERY WARM SITTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL, FELT CLOSER TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND WAS INCREDIBLY HOT. THERE WAS NOWHERE TO STOP, HAD TO KEEP DRIVING ANOTHER HOUR OR SO. STOPPED FOR 5 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF VEHICLE, WHEN VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK. HAD TO DRIVE WITH ONLY PARKING LIGHTS AT 2AM, VERY UNSAFE! EVER SINCE,...

MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY SHUT OFF OR NOT COME ON. THEN ONLY THE BRIGHTS WOULD WORK AND WHILE DRIVING WOULD SHUT OFF ALTOGETHER. FINALLY THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE MARKER LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS STILL WORK, BUT I HAVE NO ILLUMINATION AHEAD OF ME. IT REQUIRED A SWITCH AND CONNECTOR CHANGE. SO FAR THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO HELP US IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. THE OLD PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION AND THE OEM BULBS ARE STILL AROUND AS WELL. *TR

AT 60,000 MILES MY 2003 DODGE NEON R/T STARTED SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS DUST CAUGHT BY THE SUNLIGHT AND SINCE NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG WITH MY CAR, I FORGOT ABOUT IT - ONE WEEK LATER- I STARTED BY CAR AND MY HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK, CONCERNED AND REMEMBERING THE "DUST IN THE SUNLIGHT THE WEEK BEFORE, I CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA AND DROPPED OFF MY CAR A LITTLE WHILE LATER. TURNS OUT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE STEERING COLUMN HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED TOGETHER ( THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK PRESSURE BUT I COULD NEVER GET THEM TO TELL EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS) LUCKILY THE HARNESS WAS NOT COMPLETELY DESTROYED SO THE WIRES COULD JUST BE REPLACED. I ASKED THEM WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND IF THEY WERE JUST REPLACING WIRES, WELL, WOULDN'T IT...

MY 2003 DODGE NEON SRT-4 WAS MAKING A FUNNY SMELL AT NIGHT THEN MY LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THEY WOULD ONLY WORK WITH MY BRIGHT SWITCH PULLED BACK. I PULLED APART AND SAW THAT MY SWITCH TO MY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS BURNT. I WENT TO DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SO I BOUGHT A NEW MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND PLUG. I DO HAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS. *TR

WHEN I USE MY HEADLIGHTS FOR 15-20 MINUTES, I BEGIN TO SMELL A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL AND NOTICE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY WARM. AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF HEADLIGHT USE THE LOW BEAMS JUST GO DEAD, IT "AUTOMATICALLY" SWITCHES TO HIGH BEAMS IMMEDIATELY. IF I TRY TO TURN IT BACK DOWN TO LOW BEAMS, EVERYTHING GOES DARK (*VERY* DANGEROUS AT NIGHT!). THEN I AM FORCED TO USE HIGH BEAMS AND BLIND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP, OR I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET THE APPARENT CAUSE (THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH) COOL OFF FOR AN ETERNITY BEFORE RESUMING MY TRIP. I'M HIGHLY UNCOMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT MY CAR HAS PLASTIC BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VERGE OF ERUPTING INTO FLAMES WHEN I USE MY HEADLIGHTS. I ALSO CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS, NOT ONLY FOR THE FIRE RISK, BUT ALSO THE LOW BEAMS DYING SUDDENLY....

WIRING MELTED IN STEERING COLUMN AND HEAD LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE DEALER REPAIR WIRING, REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR

SUDDENLY HAD NO LIGHTS ON VEHICLE EXTERIOR, HEADLIGHTS MOST NOTABLY. MECHANIC REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN BUT SHOWED ME THE PLUG FOR THIS MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN HEATING UP BECAUSE IT HAS MELTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. BY THE WAY I CANT FIND A REPLACEMENT PLUG YET. *TR

I BOUGHT MYSELF A 2003 DODGE NEON SRT-4 LAST YEAR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO SMOKE AND MELTING PLASTIC SMELL STARTED COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS SHUT OFF ON ME ONE NIGHT COMING HOME FROM STORE. (NOT GOOD) THE NEXT DAY FOUND THAT HARNESS WAS MELTED AT CONNECTOR TO THE MFS TO THE HEADLIGHTS. I REPLACED THE SWITCH BUT FUSES BLOW IF FOG LIGHTS COME ON OR HIGH BEAMS. PLUS IT JUST STARTED SMOKING AGAIN! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S SON INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE MEDIA SWITCH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,153.

WHILE DRIVING CROSS COUNTRY HOME FROM VISITING FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS, HEADLIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS ALL QUIT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY THE MOON WAS OUT FULL AND A BIG TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME WITH BRIGHT ENOUGH LIGHTS. I FIGURED OUT I COULD HAVE LIGHTS BY HOLDING THE "FLASH" OF THE BRIGHTS. I ENDED UP JUMPING THE FUSE PANEL TO GET POWER TO THE HEADLIGHTS. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, TOLD ME PROBLEM HAPPENS A LOT. BUT NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. HAD TO BUY A NEW MULTI SWITCH FOR $95. J*JB

SOMETIME LAST YEAR I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY FOG LIGHTS. I WOULD TURN THE SWITCH TO TURN THEM ON, BUT THEY WOULD NOT TURN ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM FIXED. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BUT THEY TEMPORARILY FIXED THEM EACH TIME. THEN ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL AND WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN. SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. EVERY TIME YOU TURNED IT BACK ON, THE STEERING COLUMN GOT VERY HOT AND WHITE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF IT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER. THERE WAS SOME MELT DOWN INSIDE OF MY STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAME FROM THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. MY CAR INSURANCE AND MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE, WHICH TOTALED $630. *JB

HEADLIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS STOPPED OPERATING, HIGH BEAMS WILL NOT STAY ON, MUST HOLD DOWN THE LEVER, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR MELTED. CAR IS INOPERATIVE UNTIL A FIX IS MADE. I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON SXT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT WITH MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL OF CAR. PLEASE INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART RUNS APPROXIMATELY $1,000 - $3,000 TO FIX BY DEALER. PLEASE ISSUE RECALL. *JB

THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THEY WANTED TO. AFTER ABOUT A DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. IF THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *JB

HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH SHORTING OUT, THE 20 PLUG WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE LIGHTS PORTION OF THE SWITCH GETS LITERALLY BURNT AND MELTS. *NM

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING HARNESS SHORTED AND MELTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING. *NM

LAST WEEK THE CAR STARED BLOWING THE DASHBOARD LIGHT FUSE. I'VE REPLACED IT 4 TIMES, AND THEY ALL BLEW WITH IN A FEW MINUTES. THE DEALER SAID THEY SPENT 2 HOURS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I PAID THE $100.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND THREE BLOCKS FROM THE DEALER, THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. I TOOK BACK TO THEM AND WILL PAY ANOTHER $100.00 FEE TOMORROW. THE FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT 2600 MILES AGO, AND I PURCHASED CHRYSLER'S BEST MAXIMUM CAR UPGRADE SERVICE CONTRACT SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF STUFF, BUT IT IS NOT COVERED. NOW I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE THE DASHBOARD. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR SHORTED AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHORT OUT. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WERE REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE SENSOR. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH ONE MILE ON IT WHEN I TOOK IT OFF THE LOT. SINCE THAT DREADFULL DAY I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STARTING AROUND 10K MILES. FIRST SOME ELECTRICAL COMPONETS IN THE SOUND SYSTEM WENT OUT. FROM THERE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACEDBECAUSE NEARLY EVERY 5K MILES STARTING AROUND 10,500 MILES. THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME STARTING WHEN THE TEMPERATURES GET TOO CLOSE TO 20 DEGREES F, WHEN YOU GET TO ZERO FORGET IT. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED MY DEALER CHARGED ME $30.00 SOME ODD DOLLARS TO DO THAT AND SAID IT IS JUST ME. WHEN IT GETS TOO HOT LIKE AROUND 85 DEGREES OR SO IT RUNS LIKE IT IS BOGING DOWN. THE FULE INJECTION SENSORS HAVE GONE OUT TWICE 200 MILES APPART AND AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS NEARLY...

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON I-35 IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IN JANUARY, 2004, MY 2003 NEON R/T (WITH APPROXIMATELY 10,865 MILES) EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY THE MOMENTUM WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I CHECKED THE VEHICLE (CABLE CONNECTIONS AND FUSES) AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FINE. I TOOK IT TO GUNN DODGE IN SAN ANTONIO IN FEBRUARY, AND THEY SAID A CELL IN THE BATTERY CHECKED BAD AND THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. WHILE DRIVING FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TO KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE ON APRIL 18, 2005, THE CAR AGAIN EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, OUTSIDE OF DALLAS, TEXAS. I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND...

I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2003. JANUARY 2004 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE (OIL CHANGE/PLUGS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER A SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF CYLINDER ONE. I CALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOOK IT BY THE DEALSHIP (DARCARS) THEY PUT THE SPARK PLUG BACK IN BUT MY CAR HASN'T RUN PROPERLY YET.THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S TAKES A THOUSAND DOLLAR OR MORE TO FIX. I'VE HAD DIANOGSTICS DONE AND NOW THE CAR IS BE REPAIRED AT LEE'S AUTO SHOP WITH PROBLEMS HARD FOR MR. LEE TO FIX (ELECTRONIC PROBLEM IN THE NO. 4 CYLINDER; IT WON'T OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. LEE'S DONE ALL HE COULD DO SO FAR (THE CAR NOW IS STILL IN HIS SHOP. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK). FURTHERMORE I WAS TOLD AFTERWARD THAT A NEW CAR DOSN'T NEED A TUNE UP FOR TWO YEARS. I THINK THE...

CAR WAS 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN IT STARTED TO JERK & BASICALLY TURN OFF INTERMITTANTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF COMPLETELY & THE SEATBELT LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP, THE CAR WOULD TURN BACK ON AND THEN REVV AS THOUGH BEING DOWN-SHIFTED AND THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL. THE PROBLEM PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC & I WAS BROKE DOWN IN THE CENTER DIVIDER. DODGE DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TO FIND A SOLUTION AFTER THREE VISITS & NOW MY CAR IS HOOKED UP TO A CO-PILOT. THIS PROBLEM REMAINS UNFIXED & EVEN MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HAS STALLED THREE TIMES ON THE FREEWAY!*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE SHE EXPERIENCED SOME FUNNY THINGS WITH VEHICLE. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH ONE OF THE WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. ALSO, IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER. CONSUMER STATED THAT LATER IT UNLOCKED BY ITSELF AND POWERED ITSELF UP, AND THEN TOOK OFF. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED AGAIN. SHE WAS AT DOCTOR'S OFFICE WHERE SHE PARKED FOR 2 HOURS. AFTERWARD SHE GOT BACK INTO VEHICLE TO RETURN HOME, AND THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME IDENTICAL THING AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AFTER PUTTING COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT SHE NEEDED HELP BECAUSE SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *TS

MY NEON WILL SPORATICALLY LOSE ALL POWER THEN REGAINS POWER WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM THE MOTHER OF 5 YR OLD TWINS AND THEIR SAFETY SHOULD BE OF THE UTMOST CONCERN TO THE DADGE COMPANY.*AK