Problems with 2003 Dodge Neon ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

(1)headlights and driving lights ( that was put on by dodge) went out. (2) wire harness and turn signal/ headlight switch at steering wheel melted together.!!!!! never blowing a fuse !!!!! found out the driving lights were staying on at highbeam. when they were supposed to go out. (3) replacing the switch and had the end of the wire harness replaced. old part is not available (forgot to get from mechanic). *nm

Dt: the vehicle caught on fire from the wiring under the dashboard. this happened on september 6, 2005, contacted the dealer, and they were going to investigate it, but have not done so. the vehicle cut off, and smoke came out from under the dash. then , the vehicle turned on four times by itself while consumer holding the key in hand. the horn started blowing and windshield wipers came on. *ak

Dt: the contact stated the engine stalled and died at highway speeds. when this occurred there was total loss of power. the vehicle would not restart. the vehicle had to be towed to a dealer. the dealer replaced the battery, alternator, and the power train control module. the dealer has been unable to accurately diagnose the problem. no further repairs have been made at this time. *ak

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 detected a slight scent of electrical components overheating.. again all cables and fuses appeared to be ok, but car would not start. as i was talking with chrysler roadside assistance on my cell phone, my wife checked the positive battery cable connection, i attempted to start the car, and it started (approximately 20 minutes after the total loss of power). i was able to complete the trip to knoxville, tennessee without incident. i took my car to rice chrysler-dodge in knoxville on april 19, 2005 (car had 24001 miles). after several hours, the service advisor informed me all cables, wires and fuses checked out fine, as did all ground connections. he also told me they had called chrysler to speak with an engineer about the problem, and the engineer could think of no reason why my car had experienced a total loss of power while driving at highway speeds, nor had he any knowledge of this happening to anyone else.

My 2003 dodge neon, purchased from carmax near lax in inglewood, ca. it now has under 24000 miles, and has stalled in traffic 7 times in the past 1500 miles, twice failing to re-start in traffic, and once again in a parking garage. the 1st time was about 5 months ago in west los angeles. the vehicle re-started only after a jump from aaa, and stalled 2 more times as i drove to the carmax location for service. carmax failed to find anything wrong to explain the stall, & found only a loose battery terminal bolt, which they said caused the stalling. they tightened the bolt and returned the car to me. less than 5 weeks later, the car stalled 3 times again around town, restarted after 20 minutes, and finally stalled in santa monica, when the entire electrical system died, no brake lights or safety hazard lights at all, and the car would not restart. i had chrysler towing take the car to buerge chrysler in west la, and they could not duplicate the problem, & declared that the battery was fine. they said a service bulletin suggested "flashing the power control module", which they did. the car was returned to service. less than 6 weeks later, the car stalled on the road twice again, and once more in an underground parking garage, where it would not restart: again, no power at all, no brake lights or hazard lights. the car was again towed to buerge, and 2 days later they claimed to have found a defective connector on the battery grounding cable, which was replaced. the car was returned to service. when a car is barely 2 years old with less than 24000 miles on it, and stalls 7 times, 3 times stranding the driver, in the midst of traffic, this must be considered a significant safety hazard. i still owe the bank $$ for this lemon, and am afraid to venture too far for fear that the alleged fixes of tighteedg bolts, flashed pcms, and replaced connectors may not be certain fixes. chrysler needs to get to the bottom of this inexcusable problem.

Feb 18,2005 while driving my car all of a sudden the headlights failed the car was taken to my mechanic and it was determined that the headlight switch was faulty and the wiring harness and connector had melted. *ak

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

Dt: the vehicle would shut down completely while in motion and the steering would lock. also, the hazard lights would not come on. this was the third time this problem occurred in a ten month span. the first time this happened was on november 15, 2004, the second was march 23, 2005, and september 25, 2005. the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer twice, and they replaced the battery twice. there was no forewarning, noise and or warning lights. *ak (11/21/05) *sc

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

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

Dt: the contact stated the horn was not working. the horn was replaced on august 3, 2004 and the problem recurred. on september 10, 2004 . she started having problems with the vehicle not starting when cranked. she stated after several attempts it would start. the vehicle was again taken to the dealership , and they replaced the fuel pump, the fuel pressure regulator, and the flashed pcm. the vehicle was not starting again; this began on october 19, 2005. the vehicle will have to be towed this time. *ak

Problems with starting up vehicle.*mr the vehicle was taken tot he dealer on several occasions about the starting problem. the vehicle also experienced erratic idling. the dealer found a large vacuum leak which caused the high idle. *nm

Headlight switch and associated wiring harness shorted and melted resulting in loss of all interior and exterior lighting. *nm

While driving 35 mph steering column caught on fire. consumer extinguished the fire by turning off the turn signals. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the turn signal switch and wiring harness needed to be replaced. *ak

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

While driving the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a side rail. neither frontal air bag deployed. the vehicle was towed to a auto body shop for inspection. the cause has not been determined. *nm also, 2 months after the consumer purhcased the vehicle, the fuel pump was replaced. there is also an incident that the vehicle doesn't start. *la

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 service guy should have informed me of that instead he took my money with no refund. the exact day i don't have right now but i could get it i have all my problem paper work. *ak

Spark plug wires on a new dodge neon 2.4 become burnt (cracked, brittle and ashy white) from its turbo heat of this over time. a better heat range wires/redesign would correct this problem. many consumers have had problems with this defect and could cause a fire in the engine compartment. *la

I drive a dodge neon srt-4. the number 4 spark plug wire is turning snow white, it look s like if i keep it on, it will eventually fail and burn up. i have heard about someone else's wires burning u, and also have seen pictures. i do not want the same thing to happen to me. *jb

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 33k miles on it. i have it serviced every 3k miles and have changed the air filter and spark plugs as directed. i also have all of my service receipts from the trips to the dealr i reguards to the electrical, break and injection work i have had done. the vehicle has also been taken to three diferent dodge dealers hoping one would find something the others keept overlooking. more info can and will be provided if requested.