2000 PLYMOUTH NEON Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,550.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 200 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOWERED TO THE GROUND AND BOTH FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONTACTED CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO DETERMINED THAT THE JACK WENT THROUGH THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SHIFTED TO THE LEFT AND BECAME DETACHED. THE DEALER (AUTONATION CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM MOBILE, 3118 GOVERNMENT BLVD, MOBILE, AL 36606, (251)-202-2253) WAS CONTACTED TO CONFIRM RECALL INFORMATION AND TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

I STARTED MY CAR GETTING READY TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AT NIGHT, TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AFTER STARTING. THEN I SMELLED A PLASTIC BURNING SMELL AND SHORTLY SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE AREA AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THE CAR BUT SMOKE STILL CAME OUT. I POPPED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, THEN THE SMOKE EVENTUALLY STOPPED. LATER I FOUND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR MELTED AND BURNED UP, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS FIRE IF I HAD NOT CAUGHT IT IN TIME.

Fire

FRAME OF CAR WAS SO RUSTED THAT THE ACTUAL ENGINE MOUNTING SYSTEM BROKE IN HALF., LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND MOVEMENT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING THEN IT STOPPED MOVING THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. CAR WAS MOVING ON A CITY STREET AND TURNING WAS NIL.

FILLED GAS TANK TO FULL, AS EXITING THE GAS STATION HIT SMALL BUMP CAR DEAD STOPPED. WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY BY THE GAS TANK SLAMMING TO THE GROUND LIFTING THE CAR. THE CARS ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE CAR. GAS WAS LEAKING ON GROUND (SMALL AMOUNT) FROM THE RETURN LINE. GAS TANK FILL TUBE RIPPED OUT OF CAR TANK WEDGED IN BETWEEN CAR AND GROUND STOPPING VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. HAD I BEEN GOING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE 4 CORNER STRAPS ARE NO WAY TO HOLD A GAS TANK IN PLACE. I SUBMIT THAT IMPROPER MATERIALS AND DESIGN CAUSED THE INCIDENT. YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS. MOUNTING STRAPS SHOULD BE NON CORROSIVE OR MADE OF SUPERIOR MATERIAL AND NOT THIN METAL. I ALSO SUBMIT THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS BEFORE, NOT ON A 15 YEAR OLD VEHICLE.

Crash

START TO SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING. THEN SAW SMOKE COME FROM STEERING COLUMN. STEERING COLUMN HOT TOP LEFT. REMOVED COVERS. WIRING HARNESS HOT. APPEARS TO BE THE HARNESS FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS. TURN OFF HEAD LIGHTS AND COLUMN COOLED DOWN. *TR

Fire

START TO SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING. THEN SAW SMOKE COME FROM STEERING COLUMN. STEERING COLUMN HOT TOP LEFT. REMOVED COVERS. WIRING HARNESS HOT. APPEARS TO BE THE HARNESS FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS. TURN OFF HEAD LIGHTS AND COLUMN COOLED DOWN. *TR

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDES WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A JARRING STOP AFTER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT A SMALL RECESSED GAS COMPANY ACCESS COVER, PERHAPS 2" DEEP AND 6" IN DIAMETER. THE FRAME MEMBER BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT WHEELS CRACKED RIGHT THROUGH IN A SHOWER OF RUST. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR MAJOR INJURIES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. 12 YEARS SEEMS TOO SOON FOR THIS KIND OF UNDERCARRIAGE WEAR TO HAVE OCCURRED. CAR IS SCRAP NOW BUT HAD BEEN RUNNING WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON WITH MERIT MYSTIC TOURING TR TIRES, THE SIZE WAS 195/65/R14 AND THE DOT# U9ABHU42802D13L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AFTER SLOWING DOWN, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BELT HAD SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE ANOTHER TIRE WAS SHOWING PREMATURE BELT SEPARATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED HER AN OPTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

2000 PLYMOUTH NEON VIN: [XXX], MULTI-FUNCTION PLUG, AND WIRING HARNESS UNDER STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MELTED AND CAUGHT FIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Fire

2000 PLYMOUTH NEON, THIS VEHICLE WAS TRAVEL AT 65 MPH ON I-78 IN PA. THE GAS/ FUEL THAT IS ATTACH THIS VEHICLE BY TWO BOLTS SNAP OFF CAUSE THE GAS/FUEL GET STUCK UNDER THE DASH. THIS CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RACE TO A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER HAVE TO MOVE SAFELY THIS CAR SHOULDER PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. AND HEAVY APPLY THE BRAKE. THE CAR HAVE TO BE TOW. *TR

I PURCHASED A SET OF BRIDESTONE TURANZA EL400T BL 195/60R15 87T DOT# HYKUEADR2106. THEY WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THE DEALER REPLACED THEM WITH SAME TIRES. LAST NIGHT AUGUST 5, 2010 WHILE DRIVING ON I95 SOUTHBOUND JUST NORTH OF GLADES ROAD AT 65MPH MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE MADE A THUMP SOUND WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND SECONDS LATER THE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER, FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, AND ALUMINUM WHEEL, LUCKLY THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT FATAL.THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND HOT, I DID NOT HIT ANY ROAD DEBRIS AND DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR SUCH. THE TIRES HAVE AN 80,000 MILE WARRANTY AND I'VE DRIVEN LESS THEN HALF. AGAIN I BELIEVE THESE TIRES TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR THE TREAD TO SEPARATE LIKE IT DID. IN ADDITION I HAVE LIFETIME TIRE ROTATIONS, BALANCING, AND ALIGNMENTS AT TIRES PLUS AND HAVE PROPERLY ROTATED THE TIRES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND KEPT A PROPER BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND TIRES. THEIR IS PLENTY OF TREAD DEPTH ON THE TIRES WELL ABOVE THE REPLACEMENT INDICATOR AND THE TIRES WERE AT PROPER INFLATION. PLEASE ADVISE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE A CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL A RESTRAINT SYSTEM THE REAR DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FRACTURED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 111,111. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STALLS AND WAS LEAKING WATER FROM THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR I GET OUT TO CHECK IT CAR WAS IN PARK BUT THE CAR STARTED ROLLING AND RAN OVER MY FOOT. *TR

1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE CONTACT CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF A FEW MINUTES LATER. SHE WAITED A WHILE BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

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

Crash 1 injured

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

Crash 1 injured

2000 NEON MY AIR BAGS AND CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN ARE NOT WORKING. I NEED A CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY AND THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER CAR SAME YR AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANY THING ABOUT IT CAN YOU HELP ME. *TR

STRANGE SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TODAY WITH WHITE SMOKE. STEERING COLUMN WAS VERY HOT. HAD TO TURN OFF LIGHTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE. BOTH OF THE FRONT TIRES SPREAD APART AS IF THEY WERE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT BOTH BALL JOINTS AND THE CABLE FAILED. THE CRADLE, LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DRIVETRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V114000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.

STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING. HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DIDN'T WORK. DEALER STATES HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNED OUT AND WIRING MELTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *NM

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT OF CAR. HAD IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIE ROD AND THE CONTROL ARM. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO DAYS PRIOR TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER TAKING HER DRIVER'S THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. *NM

THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS IN MY VEHICLE HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT. I DID REPLACE THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT BURNED OUT AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. LATER ON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ALSO BURNED OUT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER WINDOWS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FOR THREE TO FOUR YEARS NOW.

MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON LX LOST POWER AT AN INTERSECTION, I HAD IT TOWED, FOUND OUT THAT A HOSE (THAT I BELIEVE EITHER CONNECTED THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION OR WAS FOR THE RADIATOR ONLY, NOT SURE, WASN'T EXPLAINED VERY WELL TO ME) HAD FALLEN OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING ALL OF THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. WHEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, I HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED, LUCKILY MY TRANSMISSION WAS OK. ABOUT ONE MINUTE BEFORE IT HAPPENED, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD, AND SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO SHIFT WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION. BY THE TIME THE LIGHT TURNED, MOST OF WHATEVER FLUID WAS ALREADY GONE.

INVOICE FOR 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON REGARDING BRAKE WORK COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER ALSO MAILED IN A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 40,000 MILES. VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 6000 MILES BY FIRST OWNER (MY GRANDFATHER) AND IS NOW AT 40,000 WITH MY MOTHER AS CURRENT OWNER, WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALL MAINTENENCE PERFORMED AS MANDATED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER BY BOTH OWNERS. VEHICLES NOW HAS OIL LEAK, RESULTING FROM THIS DEFECT. REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $1000 BY ASE-CERTIFIED KUMLER AUTOMOTIVE IN LANCASTER, OH. MECHANIC STATED THAT ORIGINAL DODGE/PLYMOUTH NEON HEAD GASKETS (GENUINE DAIMLERCHRYSLER PARTS) ARE MADE POORLY AND OFTEN FAIL ON 1995-2000 NEONS. AS THE FIRST GENERATION OF NEON VEHICLES USED THE SAME PART, THIS DEFECT HAS EXISTED SINCE 1995. AS A RESULT OF SUCH, DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS WORDED THE WARRANTY STATEMENT IN SUCH A MANNER TO AVOID CORRECTING BEING REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. NOT ONLY HAVE I HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW. FROM ENGINE LIGHTS GOING OFF TO PCV PROBLEMS TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY NEWEST PROBLEM IS THE CAR STALLING RANDOMLY. I WILL JUST BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN IT WILL BEGIN TO ACT UP. I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SLOWS DOWN. I LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SPEEDS UP. SOON AFTER THAT IT STALLS, OR DIES. I WOULD THEN PUT SOME FUEL CLEANER IN THE GAS TANK AND IT SEEMS TO HELP FOR A FEW MILES. THEN IT STARTS TO ACT UP ALL OVER AGAIN. USUALLY I CAN GET IT RESTARTED BY SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. SOME DAYS IT WILL BE JUST FINE AND OTHER DAYS I CAN'T GET IT TO START. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO FIND OUT WHEN IT GETS TO MY HOUSE IT STARTS AGAIN. ONE DAY IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES. RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

WATER IS COMING IN THE TRUNK SOMEHOW SEEPING INSIDE THE SPARE TIRE AREA AND LEAKING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR SOAKING THE BACK FLOOR BOARDS. / STRONG GAS SMELL IN MY CAR WHEN OPERATING - SO BAD THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE TO CRACKED FOR FRESH AIR - CANNOT FIND ANY LEAKS- MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE BEING TRANSPORTED IN MY CAR DAILY- WAS TOLD THAT THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A DEFECT AND I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COST - PROBLEM SINCE AROUND NOVEMBER 2004 / BRAKES SQUEAL EVERYTIME I BRAKE -HAD NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS INSTALLED DECEMBER 2003 - NOISE IS SO LOUD SOMETIMES IT IS EMBARRASSING. *NM

PUDDLES OF WATER IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER A RAINFALL. I HAVE PUT NOVEMBER 5, 2004 BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WIRING HARNESS. PROBLEM. HARNESS OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ELECTRICAL OUTPUT/LIGHTS, AND DASHBOARD RESOLUTION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS WAITING FOR FINAL REPAIRS.*AK *TC

CD PLAYER ON THE 2000 NEON IS MOUNTED ON THE FLOOR. ...AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STACK OF CENTER DASHBOARD EQUIPMENT. BEYOND A WORKING REACH OF MOST DRIVERS. *JB I FEEL MY DAUGHTER'S LINE OF SIGHT WAS OBSCURED AS SHE REACHED DOWN TO PUT IN A CD. SHE HAD JUST STARTED DRIVING THIS CAR 2 WEEKS PRIOR. SHE DROVE IT 30 MILES TO WORK IN THE NEXT TOWN. THIS CD ALIGNMENT IS SUCH THAT EVEN I (WHO IS 4" TALLER THAN MY DAUGHTER) WOULD NOT REACH THE CD PLAYER WITHOUT COMPROMISING MY ABILITY TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MY CONCERN WOULD BE JOINED WITH OTHERS: WHERE THIS ISSUE WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF AUTOS THAT ARE BUILT IN A RISKY WAY. ... WHERE AUTO MAKERS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONSTRUCT ACCESSORIES AT THE EXTREME LIMITS OF THE REACH OF THE DRIVER. I WOULD BE WILLING TO BE A PART OF A WATCHDOG GROUP THAT WOULD TAKE THIS ISSUE FORWARD. ILLUSTRATING THE ISSUE, ASKING FOR CHANGE. 8 WEEKS AGO MY DAUGHTER DIED IN THAT HEAD ON COLLISION. YESTERDAY, AFTER THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT WAS COMPLETED, I WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE CD PLAYER OUT TO SEE IF SHE WAS USING IT. AND YES, THERE WAS A KIDS CD IN THE MACHINE THAT MY WIFE AND I HAD NOT PLAYED. (I HAD NEVER USED THE CD PLAYER. MY WIFE ONLY MINIMALLY. I THINK OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER WAS ATTRACTED TO TRY TO USE IT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS BEYOND REASONABLE REACH.) MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MY DAUGHTER REACHED DOWN TO MANIPULATE THIS FACTORY INSTALLED CD PLAYER AND VEERED FROM THE DRIVING LANE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF BRAKING. JUST THAT QUICK, SECONDS, SHE WAS HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2 MONTHS AGO ON A CLEAR DAY MY DAUGHTER DROVE HER PLYMOUTH NEON ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND INTO AN ON COMING CAR. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION I WAS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE OTHER PARTY THAT THEY COULD NOT SEE HER FACE AS SHE CAME FORWARD INTO THEM. *JB

Crash 3 injured 1 deaths

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MIDAS FOR BRAKE WORK AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. THEY ADVISED ME TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED, AND THEY FIT ME IN RIGHT AWAY. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM TODAY STATING THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISED ME IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CANOT FIND ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT I PURCHASED THE 7 YEAR, 70,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE PRICE TO REPLACE THIS IS $820.00. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIND MY PAPERWORK, I CAME ACROSS A WORK ORDER FROM 11/15/00. I COMPLAINED THEN OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A POWER STEERING CAP. THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY WAS $6.00. HOW CONVENIENT FOR THEM. WELL, HERE IT IS 2004 AND THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN. ONLY, IT IS $820.00 THAT I HAVE TO PAY VS. THEIR $6.00 THAT THEY PAID. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL PROBLEM. BUT THEN AGAIN, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ANYTHING. I LEARNED OF THE SEATBELT RECALL FROM THE NEWSPAPER.*AK

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR BRAKE WORK AND WAS TOLD THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STERRING AND SHOULD CONTACT MY DEALER. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SQUEEZED ME RIGHT IN. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999, IT IS A 2000 PLYMOUTH NEON. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE GOTTEN NO RECALL NOTICES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SEATBELT RECALL THROUGH THE NEWSPAPER. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TODAY STATING THAT THE POWER STERRING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $820.00. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDERWARRANTY AND WAS TOLD NO. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF POWER STEERING NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AFTER 5 YEARS. MY 1995 NEON'S NEVER NEEDED REPLACING. I HAVE TRIED TO RESEARCH IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE AND CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED T HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERED ABOUT THE RECALL FOR CHRYSLER MINI VANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS HE IS HAVING SINCE BOTH VEHICLES USE THE SAME PARTS. *TC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY JASON MOTHER JOYCE BETRIAL.*AK

Crash 1 injured

PROBLEMS WTIH VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND GAS TANK. *MR THERE WERE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THE GAS TANK HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE ENGINE TO RACE. THE FUEL PUMP SEAL WAS FOUND LEAKING. *SC