Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
0800600REV12/29/2000080600618049Subject regarding wire splice repairs. *sb04/03/2001
08399711/28/19976088845Vehicle may experience remote keyless entry transmitter batteries discharge prematurely. *nlm01/10/2000
97091908339709/19/199754429Subject on instrument cluster part specifications. *yc04/07/1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
08399711/28/199754162Condition with keyless entry (rke) transmitter batteries discharge prematurely. *yc03/30/1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
08060002/25/2000609995This bulletin provides a revised wire splice procedure and related parts. *tt04/12/2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
08339709/19/19976088836Information regarding instrument cluster part specification. *nlm01/10/2000

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
04/29/20051146663
 1997 dodge neon developed a problem with the fan relay.***no answer required***. *mr there was an apparent problem with the radiator fan circuit. the vehicle had displayed diagnostic code p1491. the consumer replaced the engine temperature sensor and the solid state fan relay. there was no continuity on pin 18 of the back of the power control module connector. the pcm was defective due to the output on the pin. the consumer found a break in the wire at the c160 connector. the break was caused by the wire management clip chafing against the group of wires. the pcm connector number one and it's cover are now broken at the connection points and the cover will not stay on and the wires were coming out and are exposed to the elements. *sc
06/01/20041
 Vehicle's brakes malfunctioned.*mr the vehicle had other problems such as a bad battery, alternator, three turn signal switches, a blown head gasket, sticking throttle body, an oil pan leak, all four windows had an air leak which whistle when the vehicle was driven at high speeds. *jb
05/12/2003
 Dashboard lights and gauges started to act funny and then it started to smoke. i got out of the car and it caught on fire and is a total lost. *jb
01/30/200362000
 The vehicle was towed and the mechanic stated the head gasket had blown, and the radiator fan relay switch needed replacing. please provide any further information. ph
03/21/2001108/01/1998
 I bought this neon in august of 1998, it has been nothing but problems since purchase. i have had to have the electrical system worked on twice. when you go over 60mph the steering wheel rattles. the speakers for the radio work sometimes. the overhead light comes on while driving. when it rains the front floor boards get soaked with water. last month the i needed to replace the headgasket, and after several calls the the manufacturer they paid half, but the next day the engine started to knock severly.
12/01/19971
 Consumer has been experiencing electrical problems and is worried that the vehicle will catch fire. *slc
02/19/2000
 Vehicle experienced oil leakage. vehicle taken to an independent repair shop. consumer was informed of a blown head gasket. dealer was not notified. vehcile has also had electrical problems. *ak
06/01/1998405/01/1998
 In the fist month i had the vehicle it blew 4 oxygen sensors.when you go to brake the left turn signal comes on, also the car will shock you when you get out even when it is truned off. the locks on the seat belts in the back seat has broken off for ne reason. the back se
07/15/1997403/01/1997
 Have also had transmission, electrical failure, and brake failure at low mileage, very unhappy. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
08/01/1999604/01/1999
 Alternator failed 6 miles after warr. exp. dealer refuse to help w/ any of costs. now the head gasket same from dealer. *ak
08/10/2000104/01/1999
 Six miles over my warranty my alternator went out. the dealership refused to fix it. my headgasket with less than 60,000.*ak
11/03/199911/01/1999
 My sister in tn has a neon the dealer fixed her head gasket these cars i have been told by one auto repair that he fixes these head gaskets at least one every other week dodge should have done a recall or at least fix the problem i can not get any one on the phone at chrysler and i live here. they should pay the cost they know that its a problem. the up and down stream sensors went bad it cost me $300. to fix. i know a gentleman that had the same problem his went bad twice and the car dealer paid for his. i on the other hand could get no one help with this either. chrysler needs to be accountable for the problems with there neon's and pay to correct these problems i will not buy another one. if chrysler wants me to buy there product again they need to make the first one right. thank you for your time and concern.
03/30/1999
 Had received recallon radiator. while it was being repaired at dealer's, mechanic noticed head gaskets had blown on engine. manufacturer informed owner head gaskets had nothing to do with radiator. *ak
03/25/1999110/01/1998
 Help ! it was just seven months ago i purchase a 1997 neon. i was so happy, i was going to be driving a fairly decent car. it was 1998 and i was going to be driving a 1997. with a/c even. ha. ha. ha. needless to say i didn't know three weeks later i would be putting in a new transmission. car in the shop for two weeks waiting on a part they had to order. boy did that put a sour taste in my mouth. i called chrysler and wanted to give the car back. i no longer wanted the car. i knew then i would not have nothing but problems after that. well you know they said no. good thing i had the 1595.00 exteded serv. contract i got the problem fix free . well not really free it cost me 1595.00 for the warranty and fifty dollars everytime you have to put your car in the shop. i only had 30.000.00 miles and already needed it a transmission? hmmmm. in december we had a recall on the car. in jan.1999 i started having electrical failure. in feb.1999 my check engine light started coming on. also in feb. i turn on my air conditing to find out it doesn't work. it was blowing out hot air. i call chrysler and they told me to bring it in. it was going to cost me the $50. which i didn't think that was fair, being i just purchase the car in nov.1998. in mar. 12th i took my car in for brake inspection becuase i was having some problems when i would step on the brake pedal to stop the car, the brakes make noise like grinding metal to metal. my front brake pads were worn out, which they said had ruined the front rotors. and they recommend replacing rotors and d pads. they said the veh. was not safe to drive in current condition. well they wanted to chg. me over $300.00 and i just didn't trust them any more so my dad did the job for $100.00. m y extended serv. contract did not cover the brakes. i feel like i have a lemon for a car. i don't think this car is safe to drive there is all way something wrong with it. and it is putting a hole in my pocket. so much for a newer car so you can have few
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
04/20/2000204/28/1997
 While parked, transmission fluid leaked out of vehicle. dealer found transmission lines loose. vehicle shifting by itself due to a sticky cable. oil leak in engine. dealer found headgasket failure. on several occasions engine runs rough. camshaft replaced. vehicle shakes and trembles while braking. weatherstripping fell off on drivers side door. antifreeze leaking. dealer replaced water pump. battery clamp loose causing battery light to stay on. *ak *tt
09/04/2001
 Vehicle just shut off while stopping at a stop sign, and would not restart. also, battery light and seat belt light came on.consumer had vehicle towed to dealer.*ak
1007/01/1999
 My car had exactly 12000 miles on it when purchased. at around mile 43000, the car began to leak oil. i then took it to a mechanic who told me that it was the valve cover gasket. the repair was to cost me $800 until he also informed me that the problem was reoccuring in dodge neons and should have been recalled. the dodge dealership took care of it. then, around mile 70000, the car began to overheat tremendously, going dead every time the gas pedal was released, the electrical system began to go haywire, the battery had to be replaced, and as well as the thermostat. i am a college student and for this to be my dependable mode of transportation, it is truly a joke. the dodge corporation should do something about this. thank you!*ak
03/12/1999
 Battery light came on and won't go off. vehicle is hard to start due to a short within ignition switch. consumer has to wait until vehicle will start up. dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
05/02/200548000107/11/2002
 Head gasket needed to be replace after 45,000 miles.. bought the car in 2002.. bbrakes are horrible.. brakes make noise, system operating normal fan relay switch .. needed to be replaced.. and was also recalled.. in about 3 years ago.. and never notified.. front end always clanking.. when u turn..
02/01/2000111/01/1996
 That is only some of the problems i have had with my neon, the speedometer sensor went out at 14,000 miles, the paint has been peeling even after car completely repainted at my cost paint peeled again va beach dodge told me it is a defect in the metal and paint that the car would have to be treated with a chemical and repainted again for the third time, head gasket blew and head severly pitted my mechanic saw 5 in the week mine went out all leaking from the same area, engine looses power constantly, transmission slams into gears and sometimes does not want to change gears causing engine to race, car overheats periodicly since head gasket and head shaved, interior sensors for doors work randomly but mostly do not work, back up lights blow out every 2 months, cam sensor backs out of engine periodicly, front end makes clunking noise during turns was told strut bearings were bad and causing noise although after replacement noise continues, brakes always noisy cleaning and replacement does clear noise up, airleaks in windows of the car causing noisy ride, car does not like to start in cold weather, power loss was not able to be corrected even after mechanic had the car for 3 months and could find nothing causing it but could recreate the problem, and an o-ring on the fuel line connectors to the fuel accumilator blow out (happened 6 times so far) causeing gas to poor out on to road while vehicle is moving and engine to cut out.. neons in general are lemons, chrysler even after contacting over several problems with the car refuse to help any with cost of repairs due to warranty expired. would love to get rid of this car but can not due to only transportation and putting all money into it to fix it and repair chrysler's defects in design.*ak
07/01/2000
 First- the car blew a head gasket at less than 24000 mile. now we continue to have problem with the car stalling. the fuse under the hood for the fuel system continues to blow. no one can seem to find the problem, i have completely replaced the fuel system. it is now in the garage for the eighth time. dodge will not back their product and the dealer just sends the car out to be repaired, since they can not fix it. the vin number that was submitted is the number from the car. it is coming up the wrong number, this is the only number i have. *ak
03/01/1998
 I bought my neon used (but only a year old) i have had many problems with this car my blinkers come on by themselves, my trunk and back floors are getting drenched (puddles of water 3 inches) my brakes are squaling, my door light is shorting my reverse lights are blown my head gasket has blown twice. i have also had problem with my fires under the hood. this car is made poorly. i am trying to trade it and it not as much as i owe. talk to dealer but does not seem like they want to help.
06/27/199907/01/1997
 My car has had to have a circut board, fuel pump, fuel filter, and new gaskets at only two years old and 39280 miles. i feel that the circut board could cause crash or injury because i cannot tell how fast i am driving or if i have gas in my car. i was told at the dealer that there was a neon with the same problem (circut board) that they had fixed just the week before.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
 While driving vehicle engine head gaskets blewout. had happened twice, and each time was replaced along with spark plugs.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
08/15/1998
 While driving vehicle would stall out due to engine failure caused by spark plugs burned out for unknown reason. vehicle have been in/out of dealer shop on several occasions, and problem cannot be resolved. dealer notified. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
03/12/1999
 Battery light came on and won't go off. vehicle is hard to start due to a short within ignition switch. consumer has to wait until vehicle will start up. dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
05/02/200548000107/11/2002
 Head gasket needed to be replace after 45,000 miles.. bought the car in 2002.. bbrakes are horrible.. brakes make noise, system operating normal fan relay switch .. needed to be replaced.. and was also recalled.. in about 3 years ago.. and never notified.. front end always clanking.. when u turn..
04/27/2001
 Vehicle would overheat if it was sitting at stop light. dealer replaced jumper wiring and radiator fan relay.also, manufacturer had a technical service bulletin. consumer will add additional information relating to tsb. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
05/15/19981009/01/1997
 Well lets see the first defect was a fan relay which was replaced 5 times before a wiring defect was found next we have hard brakes which contribuited to an accident which caused 7000 dollars in damage and 1 minor injury due to the fact that the air bags did not deploy, we follow that up with a leaky head gasket which chrysler was kind enough to return 1/2 of my out of pocket expenses along with wiring defects and air bags that don't come out other than the fact i have had more problems with this car than every other cars i have ever owned they made up for this lemon by having a bad customer service department too.
06/13/1999
 Driving 55mph & noticed smoke coming from under hood. pulled to side of road. smoke noticeable heavier inside vehicle. lifted hood & flames were around engine area. fire dept called & put flames out. was hard to determine origin of fire, but indicated it was electrical wiring. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1007/01/1999
 My car had exactly 12000 miles on it when purchased. at around mile 43000, the car began to leak oil. i then took it to a mechanic who told me that it was the valve cover gasket. the repair was to cost me $800 until he also informed me that the problem was reoccuring in dodge neons and should have been recalled. the dodge dealership took care of it. then, around mile 70000, the car began to overheat tremendously, going dead every time the gas pedal was released, the electrical system began to go haywire, the battery had to be replaced, and as well as the thermostat. i am a college student and for this to be my dependable mode of transportation, it is truly a joke. the dodge corporation should do something about this. thank you!*ak
07/06/1999
 Under the dash electrical wiring short out, causing a fire, resulting in total loss of vehicle. *ak
08/15/1999
 Instrument panel has a short, causing malfuncation of gauges/indicators. please provide further information. *ak
11/18/1998109/01/1996
 Circuit board behind instrument panel caught fire as i drove,sending smoke through dash both to left and right of speedometer-gauge area. no flame ever visible. smoke stopped of its own accord. gas gauge dropped to indicate empty - then returned to proper indication. i continued to drive home, then to garage, no apparent effect on any operating systems. circuit board and gauge kit were replaced at no charge to me. (car still in warranty) service manager reported hole burned in circuit board 2 or 3 inches in diameter.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
09/01/2000
 I have talked to other people with neons made in 97 and they seem to have the same problems. also the paint is coming off. i have seen many neon's since i bought mine, with this same problem. . no safetyd efec tmentioned. *ak