2000 Plymouth Neon Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THIS CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I PUSHED THE BRAKES AND I SLID INTO THE CAR CAUSING ME TO SPIN AROUND AND END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES EVERY YEAR AND THEY STILL SQUEAK REALLY BAD. THE TRANSMISSION HAS LEAKED FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES EVERY 3 MONTHS AND A/C WENT OUT 3 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVEN'T FIXED THE A./C COMPRESSOR THE CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT'S STILL BROKE. THE BULBS IN THE LENS OF THE LIGHT ARE VERY DIM CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO REPLACE TO ROTORS THIS YEAR I STILL HAVE THEM. *TR

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 60 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHE NOTICED THAT CAR WAS SHAKING, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE STARTED STALLING. CONSUMER VEERED OVER INTO THE SHOULDERS, AND THEN SHE GOT THE VEHICLE TO START BACKING UP. *ML

WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET, TRAVELING 25MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND COLLIDED WITH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HASN'T CONTACTED DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER YET. *AK

WHEN LOCKING DOOR WITH ALARM OR MANUALLY, DOORS WILL UNLOCK RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT A REASON. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 30-35 MPH IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAIED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW WHICH WOULD NOT START FOR TEST DRIVE WAS TOLD SOMEONE LEFT DOME LIGHT ON. AFTER JUMP, IT WORKED FINE FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THEN WENT TO CAR AND WOULD NOT START ONE DAY. THERE WAS NO BATTERY LIGHT ON OR ANY WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS FROM REPLACEMENT. DEALER FIXED ONCE AND I HAVE INCURED THE EXPENSE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. I CAN NOT EVEN AFFORD TO DO IT ANYMORE LEAVING ME TO TAKE A RISK OF DRIVING WITH BAD REAR BRAKES. THE MOST RECENT OF EVENTS TO OCCUR THIS MORNING MY DRIVE BELTS BROKE. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPLACE THEM I WAS TOLD THE BELTS BROKE BECAUSE THE TENSIONER PULLEY HAD TILTED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED FROM SERVICE TECH THAT THEY SEE LOTS OF THEM COME IN LIKE THAT AND THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL OR AT LEAST A TSB. THE CAR IS PAID FOR AND WAS BOUGHT BECAUSE I NEEDED MORE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION THAN MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE. SAD PART IS MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING WITH MINIMAL REPAIRS MADE TO IT SINCE I HAD IT. ALSO I HAVE CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSTLER AND EMAILED THEM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.

BRAKE FLUID IS CONTAMINATED. COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONTAL BRAKE ROTORS, ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK ROTORS ARE WARPING CAUSING PEDAL PULSATION AND VIOLENT FRONT END VIBRATION. *YH

HORN IS LOCATED ABOVE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WELL. THE HORN FAILS WHEN IT GETS WET. LIVING AND WORKING IN THE LOW COUNTRY, IT IS HARD NOT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS SINCE IT FLOODS EVERYTIME IT RAINS. WHEN I GO THROUGH A FLOODED AREA (FLOODED BEING NOT MORE THAN 1 FOOT) WATER GETS INTO THE HORN AND IT STOPS WORKING. I CANNOT ALWAYS AVOID THESE AREAS, ESPECIALLY IF THE ENTIRE ROAD IS UNDER WATER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE HORN AFTER EVERY STORM WE GET. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO I HAVENT HAD TO PAY ANYTHING YET. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD MOVE THE HORN TO A SAFER, DRYER AREA IN THE CAR. *AK

STATIC ELECTRICITY VERY SHARP WHEN LEAVING VEHICLE. SO, HAVE LEARNED TO NOT TOUCH METAL WHEN EXITING VEHICLE, BUT THIS BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN I THEN GO TO OPEN GAS TANK, ESP WHEN HOT AND UNDER PRESSURE. I HAVE ATTACHED A GROUND STRAP WHICH HAS NOT SOLVED PROBLEM. ONLY THING THAT WORKS IS TO SPRAY SEATS WITH ANTI STATIC, BUT THAT WEARS OFF. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM, DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND THERE IS NO TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FROM CHRYSLER. I AM AFRAID OF SPARKING THE GAS FUMES ONE DAY, BUT ALSO AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING AFRAID OF TOUCHING THE DOOR AS THE SPARK IS SIGNIFICANT AND FEELS LIKE A [XXX] NEEDLE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. MY FATHER ALSO BOUGHT AN IDENTICAL CAR AND HAS SAME PROBLEM. HE WEARS GLOVES ALL THE TIME FOR A HEALTH PROBLEM BUT WHEN HE DOES NOT HAVE THEM ON HE GETS THE SAME SHOCK AND IT JOLTS. I HAVEN'T TRIED TO MEASURE IT, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE TAKING OFF YOUR T SHIRT AT NIGHT AND WATCHING THE SPARKS, THIS ONE HURTS. [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE OIL LEAKS THREE SET OF HEAD GASKETS/ TRANSMISSION SLIPPING REBUILT THREE TIMES/ POWERSTEERING PUMP REPLACED 2 TIMES / SPEED CONTOL DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE CLOCKING SPRING DEFECTIVE IN AIR BAG CONTROL/ DEALER STATED THA MANUFACTURE WOULD ON PAY FOR PARTS ONLY AND THE COUSTOMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE LABOR OUT OF THE TWO PLUS YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS

I PURCHASED A NEW PLYMOUTH NEON 2000 ON 12/11/99. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT WAS DISCOVERED AT MY FIRST GAS-UP THAT I WAS A QUART LOW ON OIL. I HAD ALSO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER WHILE I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (WINDWARD DODGE-HAWAII)RIGHT AWAY. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKAGE. I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. LOSS OF OIL, LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE CALLING THE CORPORATION TO MAKE A CASE. I CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER CALLING THE CORP AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP A 4TH TIME, THEY TOLD ME THAT MY NAME HAD BEEN RAISED IN A MEETING AND THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME. WHEN I GOT THERE, I SURPRISED TO BE ASKED TO PURCHASE THIS NEW CAR AT AN ADDITIONAL $4000. I WAS TOLD THAT MY MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED AND THE ONLY CAR THEY HAD WAS AN UPGRADED MODEL WHICH COST MORE. I RAISED HOLY HELL IN THE PLACE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS ORDERED TO FULLY INSPECT MY CAR AND PAY FOR A RENTAL FOR ME. STILL THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. NOW, MY CAR BEGAN TO LEAK OIL IN FEB 2002. THIS TIME, THE LEAK WAS VISABLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT REPAIRSHOPS, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CAM SHAFT GASKET. THEN WE TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE ON A MILITARY BASE. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND GAVE US A MUCH BETTER RATE SO WE SCHEDULED THE REPAIR. BUT, ON THE DAY THAT WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THEM, WE GOT A CALL BACK STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WHAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET WHICH REQUIRES EXTENSIVE ENGINE WORK. THEY TOLD US THAT 15 CARS HAD COME IN TO THEM IN 1 WEEK WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THEY WERE ALL PLYMOUTH NEONS. (DUE TO THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS FIELD, I AM UNABLE TO FILL IN THE DETAILS. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING WHAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE). *AK

FRONT AND BACK BRAKES, ROTORS REPLACED AT 3000 MILES, BACK BRAKES UNDECTED UNTIL AFTER FAILURE PARTS WERE GRINDED AND FELL OFF REPLACED BY DEALER. *JB

CONSUMERS ARE WRITING ON THE BEHALF OF THEIR SON AARON LEE MAYANRD, CONSUMER STATES WHILE THEIR SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, HIT A DIRT BANK AND FLIPPED OVER, THE DRIVER WAS KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NEVER A CAUSE FOR THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED RECALL 01V154 AND QUESTIONS THAT MAYBE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

FRONT WINDSHIELD WARPED AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WAITING ON REPLACEMENT OF GLASS. *AK

WHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT A CRUB AND THEN A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER'S BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 65 MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES BACK AND FORTH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED ONCE, AND THE 2 FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT SEPARATE TIMES. ALL WHEELS HAVE BEEN BALANCED 3 TIMES, AND WHEELS ALIGNED, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH KEEPS ON BREAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLIP ON THE LATCH THAT BROKE. CONSUMER HAD IT REPAIRED 4 TIMES. CONSUMER FEARS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. *AK

WHEN TURNING THE SPRING IT FEELS HEAVY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHETHER GOING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING PULLEY AND STEERING PUMP. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HAVE CAUSED NEAR ACCIDENTS, CONSUMER HAS TRIED TO HAVE VEHICLE BOUGHT BACK DUE TO LEMON LAW UNSUCCESSFULLY. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) *MJS

WE HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS MORE NOTICABLE AFTER IT RAINS. WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEY SQUEAL LOUDLY. WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE NEWS AND READ IT IN THE PAPER LAST MONTH, WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD NOTHING ABOUT SUCH A RECALL AND IT WAS PROBABLY A RUMOUR. WE FINALLY RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER LAST THURSDAY ABOUT THE RECALL. WE AGAIN CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE STLIL HEARD NOTHING ABOUT IT AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED A LONG TIME AGO. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN VIEWED FROM THE SIDE YOU CANNOT SEE WHETHER THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED OR NOT. ON THE 1999 NEON THE SIDE MARKER LIGHTS FLASHED IN SEQUENCE WITH THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS. I ASKED THE QUESTION AT THE DEALER ON WHETHER THAT WAS HOW THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO WORK AND THE ANSWER WAS YES. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THAT'S A SAFETY DEFECT OR JUST POOR ATTENTION TO DETAIL BUT I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARK IGNITION BLOCK LOCKS UP, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER REARENDED A VEHICLE AT 30-40 MPH AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING DRIVER TO GO INTO STEERING WHEEL. FRAME WAS BENT ON FRONT END. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ANTIFREEZE IS POOLING IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR, NOT COMING FROM THE TRUNK OR FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. BUT FLOORBOARD RUGS ARE SOAKED WITH ANTIFREEZE.*AK

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 01V154000. WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE BRAKES LOCKED UP DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

7 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES, MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE SHATTERED AND THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM, ALSO BROKEN WAS A CALIPER, WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, THEY STATED THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *SLC

WHILE WIPING THE REAR WINDOW NOTICED WATER ON BACK SEAT AND ON FLOOR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED SPAR TIRE OUT, AND NOTICED MOLD AND WATER UNDER TIRE IN TRUNK. *AK

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY DONT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 01V-154 FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED BUT WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER. NLM

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE AND BACKING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPACES A VERY LOUD CRACKING NOISE OCCURS IN FRONT SUSPENSION AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS.*JB

POWER STEERING FAILURE, OIL LEAK, AIR BAG DEFECT. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MR

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 42,000 MILES. *NLM

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2000 DODGE NEON.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES SQUEAKED WHEN THEY WERE WET. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. *JB

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, DROVE OVER SOME GRAVEL IN THE ROAD, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL.UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING AND RATTLING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR HUB ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT STOP SIGNS. *PH THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB