1998 DODGE NEON Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I HAD AN CAR WRECK IN MY 1998 DODGE NEON (BLUE) IN NOVEMBER 24,2002 DUE TO THE BREAKS & THE TIRES & THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT WHEN I WRECK & I GOT STUCK IN MY SEAT BELT OUT THE CAR WRECK & THEN I HAD ANOTHER 1999 DODGE NEON (WHITE) & I HAD CAR PROBLEMS WITH IT TO

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I HAD AN CAR WRECK IN MY 1998 DODGE NEON (BLUE) IN NOVEMBER 24,2002 DUE TO THE BREAKS & THE TIRES & THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT WHEN I WRECK & I GOT STUCK IN MY SEAT BELT OUT THE CAR WRECK & THEN I HAD ANOTHER 1999 DODGE NEON (WHITE) & I HAD CAR PROBLEMS WITH IT TO

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I HAD AN CAR WRECK IN MY 1998 DODGE NEON (BLUE) IN NOVEMBER 24,2002 DUE TO THE BREAKS & THE TIRES & THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT WHEN I WRECK & I GOT STUCK IN MY SEAT BELT OUT THE CAR WRECK & THEN I HAD ANOTHER 1999 DODGE NEON (WHITE) & I HAD CAR PROBLEMS WITH IT TO

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MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT REPLACEMENT,4-5 TIMES,WILL NOT HOLD. EGRVALVE REPLACEMENT ,ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS SAYING IT NEED TO BE REPLACED EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND LIGHT CLEARED. 4-5 TIMES .BOTH ARE NOW ON GOING. *TR

1998 DODGE NEON WAS FORCED OFF THE ROADWAY BY A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE THAT TURNED ACROSS 19 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVERS LANE OF TRAVEL. SIDESWIPE CAUSED LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE, VEHICLE BRIEFLY BOTTOMED ONTO PAVEMENT, LEAVING A SHORT DISTANCE GOUGE MARK. THE NEON THEN JUMPED ONTO A CURB AND IMPACTED A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON AT AN ESTIMATED 27-35MPH IMPACT SPEED. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON NELLIS BOULEVARD IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE FRONTAL IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, FEMALE DRIVER HAD SEVERE NECK INJURIES THAT RESULTED IN A STROKE AND PERMANENT DISABILITY. TRW CLAIMS THE SYSTEM PERFORMED EXACTLY AS DESIGNED. THEY CLAIM THEIR 1998 VEAM CRASH SENSING ALGORITHM ASCERTAINED THAT THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE UTILITY POLE IMPACT AND THE DEPOWERED AIRBAG WOULD HAVE CAUSED MORE HARM THAN GOOD. I AM THE EXPERT WITNESS ON THIS CASE FOR THE PLAINTIFF AGAINST TRW. THIS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE SENSING SYSTEM IS AN INDICATION OF WHY THIS SUBJECT VEHICLE AND ITS SIMILAR MODEL YEARS HAS AN EXORBITANTLY HIGH NUMBER OF NON DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AIRBAGS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS DATABASE COMPARED TO ITS PEERS. I AM REPORTING THIS AT THE BEHEST OF DEFENSE COUNSEL, WHO CLAIMS THAT MY FAILURE TO REPORT THIS DEFECT IS ACTUALLY A FAILURE OF ME TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO CONSUMERS. I WOULD BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THIS AND MANY OTHER CASES WITH NHTSA PERSONNEL, AS I BELIEVE THIS DEFENSE COUNSEL CRITIQUE ACTUALLY OPENS UP A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH NHTSA TO PROVIDE MORE IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK ON SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING IN THE FIELD ON SOME SYSTEMS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS MY PROPOSAL WITH NHTSA ON HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COOPERATE ON NARROWING DOWN FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS, BUT SETTING A HIGH PRIORITY ON REAL ISSUES THAT TYPICALLY RESULT IN LAWSUITS BUT ARE NOT NECESSARILY BROUGHT TO NHTSA'S ATTENTION. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE ONLY FUNCTIONED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,397. ..UPDATED 05/15/12 * BF UPDATED 05/21/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 1998 NEON AND WATER IS COMING THOU THE LIGHTS INTO CAR ON FLOOR I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME DEFECT ON NOT JUST MY YEAR BUT NEWER MODULES THIS IS A MOLD ISSUE AND I LIKE MANY HAVE ALLEGE TO MOLD AND CAN TRIGGER A ASTHMA ATTACK THAT CAN KILL USE I ASKED THE DEALERS TO FIX BUT THEY SAY ITS NOT A RECALL I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR IN ORDER TO STOP THE LEAK SO WHOSE PAYING MY HOSPITAL VISIT WHEN I HAVE MY ASTHMA ATTACK AND I HAVE TO GO ON A VENTILATOR DEATH IS NOT A OPTION WHY CANT THEY FIX IT FOR FREE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND A RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH SQUIRTED BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. THE SPEEDOMETER ISNT OPERATING NORMALLY AND DOESN'T DISPLAY THE SPEED; HOWEVER, IF YOU TAP ON THE DASHBOARD IT BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE INOPERABLE SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT DOESN'T DISPLAY THE CORRECT SPEED. THE HEAT GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO SHOW THE PROPER TEMPERATURE, DISPLAYED OVER HEATING AND FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE NOISE FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM IS ALSO A DISTRACTION AND A SAFETY RISK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE 1998 DODGE NEON IS NOTORIOUS FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THE PROBLEM IS FIRST NOTICED BY AN OIL LEAK AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THE HEAD GASKETS ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. AFTER THE CAR GETS HOT, IT STALLS AT EVERY INTERSECTION AND EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN OR IS PLACED IN NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHERE TRAFFIC WAS GETTING ON AND OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY AVAILABLE PLACE TO MOVE MY CAR TO. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR RESULT IN ME GETTING INJURED. CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED AN IMPROVED GASKET REPLACEMENT KIT, (WHICH IS COSTLY) BUT REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING A RECALL. MY CAR NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKETS AND I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $900 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY, SO NOW MY CAR SITS PARKED IN THE STREET AND I NOW HAVE TO TAKE THE CITY BUS, WHICH CLOSEST STOP TO MY HOUSE IS 1.5 MILES, OR WALK PLACES WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO WHEN WINTER COMES. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON WEBSITE SUCH AS MYCARSTATS.COM AND MANY FORUMS. MOST OF THE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS HAPPENED ON LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR 1998 DODGE NEON BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, YOU WILL GET OVER 80,000 LISTING OF FORUMS, DISCUSSIONS AND ARTICLES RELATING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TRUNK FULL OF WATER - TRUNK & LIGHT SEALS ARE BAD - WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY FEATURE? LIGHTS HAVE TO WORK AND MOLD IS DEADLY! *TR

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TRUNK FULL OF WATER - TRUNK & LIGHT SEALS ARE BAD - WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY FEATURE? LIGHTS HAVE TO WORK AND MOLD IS DEADLY! *TR

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TRUNK FULL OF WATER - TRUNK & LIGHT SEALS ARE BAD - WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY FEATURE? LIGHTS HAVE TO WORK AND MOLD IS DEADLY! *TR

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COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. LOSS OF ALL DATA REGARDING SPEED VEHICLE IS TRAVELING, AND AT TIMES, ALL INFORMATION FROM THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND FUEL GAUGE. ISSUES WITH NEON SPEEDOMETERS ARE WIDELY PUBLISHED ON THE INTERNET. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR SUCH A WELL DOCUMENTED VEHICLE FAILURE. *JB

WHEN CALLING PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988,ABOUT CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS, FOR MY 1998 DODGE NEON I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR A LENGTHY AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE BEING ANSWERED TO A HORRIBLE PERSONAL. IN ATTEMPTS TO SEE IF IT WAS THE ACTUAL LAMP OR THE OUTSIDE REFLECTOR THAT WAS DAMAGED I WAS GIVEN ABOUT 5 SECONDS INTO MY DESCRIPTION BEFORE BEING TOLD THAT NO IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM THAT I DID NOT HAVE THEIR LAMP IN MY CAR. AMAZING HOW THERE IS SUCH A QUICK ANSWER TO MY DESCRIPTION OF 5 SECONDS. MAYBE THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS FROM THEIR COMPANY BUT I WAS NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO SEE IF MY PART WAS PART OF THAT RECALL BEFORE BEING HUNG UP ON. *NM

I HAVE A 98 DODGE NEON. THE CAR GRINDS IN THE FRONT END EVEN WITH NEW BRAKES. I CANT NOT DRIVE THROW WATER OR THE CAR WILL DIE. GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED THE FRONT END WILL BOTTOM OUT. I HAD A FRIEND LOOK AT THE CAR. AND HE SAID IT LOOKED FINE. THE BRAKE SPEC. DIDN'T SEE ANY THING AND I NOTICED I HAD TWO DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE FRONT THEN THE BACK BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END. PLEASE IF YOU FIND OUT ANY THING ON THIS CAR IT WOULD BE MUCH OBLIGED. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 7, 2005. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS FRONT END COLLISION. HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS POINT. *AK

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DT: 1998 DODGE NEON, WHEN CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSANGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

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THE PIPE THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE FILLER INTO THE TANK RUSTED. THIS CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK VERY HEAVILY AT TIMES. FUEL PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. *AK THE LOCAL JUNKYARD IMFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FILLER PIPE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THEY SELL THEM AS FAST AS THEY GET THEM. *BF *NM

I PURCHASED A 1998 NEON ESPRESSO IN JUNE OF 2004. ON ABOUT JULY 2004 MY CAR DIED. I HAD IT TOWED AND HAD OVER $1,800 OF ENGINE WORK DONE. AFTER WORK WAS DONE THEY STATED MY REAR SEAL WAS LEAKING AND WANTED OVER $600 TO REPAIR THIS.

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT DOOR SPEAKER STARTED TO BURN. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *NM

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THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON THE NEON ARE MADE OF PLASTIC THAT HAS DEGRADED TO A POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE INEFFECTIVE. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT LENS AVAILABLE. YOU HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE $110.00 ASSEMBLY. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OIL WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE DOES NOT CONNECT AT FIRST, HAS TO TRY AT LEAST TWO TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START. DEALER STATED IT COULD BE EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ENGINE.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE. CONSUMER INDICATED THREE YEARS AGO THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $3,000. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM RECURRED, AND WILL COST CONSUMER ABOUT $5,000. *AK

CONSUMER HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRED FOR BLOWING HOT AIR SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HALF PRICE TO THE OWNER. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY THE CONSUMER.*AK

WE HAVE PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE NEON FOR OUR SON WHO IS IN COLLEGE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. THE HEAD GASKET IS GONE AND OIL IS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THE REPAIR FOR THIS WILL BE BETWEEN $700 AND $800. I HAVE MADE CONTACT TO CHRYSLER WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE 36,000/3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I ASKED THEM IF THAT WAS THE BEST THAT THEIR ENGINES COULD DO (HEAD GASKET GOING AT 24,000 MILES). FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND BEEN TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP, CHRYLSER KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM IN 1998 WITH HEAD GASKETS AND RECTIFIED IT DURING THE SAME YEAR BUT NEVER RECALLED THE CARS THERE WERE MANUFACTURED EARLY IN THE PRODUCTION. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE HEAD GASKET ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A RECALL ON THIS PART.*AK

REAR SEAT AREA AND INSIDE OF TRUNK GETTING SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER DURING RAINSTORM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. CAN'T FIND LEAK.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE, THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WITHIN 15-30 SECONDS, BUT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING OFF. THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, BUT DEALERSHIP NOR MANUFACTURER WERE VERY HELPFUL.*AK

I AM IN THE PROCESS OF COMPILING ALL INFORMATION ON THE REPAIRS WE HAVE DONE ON THE NEON. I HAVE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE ALL THE FACTS, FROM THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRED TO THE RECENT $900+ REPAIR OF THE COMPUTER AND THE TWO-WEEK-OLD PROBLEM WITH THE SHEETS OF PEELING PAINT. THE UNBELIEVABLE PAINT PEELING IS INEXCUSABLE AND WAS ALSO THE LAST STRAW. I WILL BE FILING A LENGTHY COMPLAINT SHORTLY

I OWN A 1998 DODGE NEON WITH 89,700 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO VALLEY SMOG AND REPAIR IN VAN NUYS, CA. I TOOK IT THERE TO GET MY 90,000 MILE WORK DONE ON IT. AS THEY WERE PULLING IT INTO THE GARAGE THEY NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL OIL LEAK. WHEN THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE RACK, THEY SAW OIL ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS DRIVING ON IT ANY MORE WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO EXPIRE. I TOLD THEM TO PROCEED WITH THE WORK, WHICH ENDED UP COSTING ME JUST OVER $1100. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WITH FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT CHRYSLER HAD SECRETLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES AND WOULD REIMBURSE THE OWNER OF THE CAR IF ANY WORK WAS DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF MY CAR AND THE FACT THAT THE WORK WAS DONE AT A NON DODGE GARAGE, I WOULD NOT BE REIMBURED MY $1100. AS I ALREADY EXPLAINED, MY CAR WAS NOT 5 YEARS OLD YET AND HAD NOT REACHED 100,000 MILES. THE MAN THAT I SPOKE WITH, A GUY NAMED MIKE, MADE IT SEEM LIKE I SHOULD HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR, LEAKING OIL, TO DODGE TO PAY DOUBLE THE MONEY AND STILL NOT HAVE ANY RECOURSE FOR THE SITUATION. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME IN FINDING OUT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SECRET WARRANTY AND ALSO I'D LIKE SOME HELP IN GETTING MY MONEY BACK. THANK YOU.

WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, MECHANIC NOTICED AN OIL LEAK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE OIL GASKET. *LA THE SERVICE TECH SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. A WEEK LATER THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED AND THE SERVICE TECH FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS NO GOOD. *SC

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT VALVE SEALS WERE LEAKING. CONSUMER FELT ENGINE COULD OVERHEAT AND CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

SUN ROOF GLASS CAME OF THE TRACK AND WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE TRACK WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK THE SUNROOF WOULD DRAG AND MAKE KNOCKING NOISES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A BATTERY PROBLEM AND OIL LEAKS WHICH HAD COME FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *SC *JB

BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REPAIR OF SEVERE OIL LEAK AT ENGINE REAR. DODGE DEALER ADVISES THAT IT WAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) ON 1998 NEON WITH APPROXIMATELY 46,463 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. COULD NOT REACH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-922-1997 (STAYS BUSY); DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK EVEN THOUGH CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS APPARENTLY A DESIGN/LATENT DEFECT IN THE ALUMINUM HEAD. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW 5/21/98. INTERNET REVEALS NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR DIDN'T BREAK DOWN AND CAUSE INJURIES, FATALIITES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. A MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS. IT COST ME $636.94 TO "REPAIR" SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANT BECAUSE OF APPARENT DESIGN/LATENT DEFECT (DAMAGE ALLEGEDLY REQUIRED PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF NEW CYLINDER HEAD TO PROPERLY REPAIR (AT MY EXPENSE) AND I TOLD THEM "NO WAY"; ITS THEIR PROBLEM, NOT MINE).*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND THE HEAD BOLTS. *AK

CAR OVERHEATED EVENTHOUGH THERE WERE PLENTY OF COOLANT. THICK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CRUISED TO A STOP. I DID NOT WANT THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED BEFORE THERE IS ONE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY NICELY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IF THIS WAS DEFECTIVE TO START WITH, THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. BC

THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND 1998 NEON I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. *LA

HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN ON CAR THAT HAS ONLY 38000 MILES. *LA