2003 DODGE NEON Exterior Lighting Problems

THIS MAKES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS 2003 DODGE NEON XST . I HAVE PUT $10.000.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ! THESE ARE LEMONS!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE!!

Mileage: 124,000

STARTED VEHICLE DURING RAINY, FOGGY, 40 DEGREE WEATHER. HEADLAMP INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WITHIN GAUGE CLUSTER. UPON CHECKING OUTSIDE THE CAR, ONLY PARKING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING DESPITE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BEING IN THE "ON" POSITION. BURNING SMELL OCCURRED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND MULTIFUNCTION HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 9,494,109

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

Mileage: 10,345

STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

SMELLED HOT WIRING AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, I DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT IT WAS CHARRED AND CRUMBLING TO PIECES. THIS IS NOT A MISUSE BY OPERATOR, BUT A SAFETY FAILURE UF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS THE FUSE PROTECTING THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT FAIL WHEN THE CIRCUIT OBVIOUSLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND CHARRED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

MY WIRE HARNESS/ MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MELTED CAUSING MY HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED, WHICH AFFECTED THE FOG LIGHTS. AFTER PERFORMING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DEDUCED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE HIGH LOW BEAM MECHANISM, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 100,000

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THEN WOULD ONLY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL FINALLY THEY DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. TOOK OFF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH WAS MELTED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANUFACTURERS MADE THE WIRES TOO SMALL TO CARRY THE ELECTRICAL LOAD. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

FIRST THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, I NOTICED A PORTION OF THE PLUG HAD MELTED FROM EXTREME HEAT. MOST LIKELY DUE TO A POOR DESIGN IN THE WIRING, THE CIRCUITS OR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. HAD THIS BEEN LEFT UNNOTICED IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGES, FIRE OR PERSONAL HARM.

Mileage: 122,567

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT MY LOW BEAMS WOULDN'T. NOW MY HIGH BEAMS WILL OPERATE BUT I AM UNABLE TO SWITCH TO MY LOW BEAMS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WITH MY BATTERY DYING SEVERAL TIMES WHICH RESULTED IN GETTING A JUMP FROM ANOTHER CAR. I END UP HAVING A BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ON MY CAR LAST YEAR BETWEEN NOV/DEC 2010. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN LOCATED NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THIS HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR DIDN'T START MONDAY 3-28-11 MORNING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR BUT NO READINGS REGARDING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION PERTAINS TO WHAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. *TR

JUST DRIVING ONE DAY EVENING, ABOUT 1.5 HOURS ONTO THE TRIP I START TO SMELL SOMETHING WIERD AND A FEW MINUETS LATER MY HEADLIGHTS START TO FLICKER AND THEN THEY SHUTOFF. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FUSES, THEY WERE ALL GOOD. I HAD TO STAY IN A NEARBY HOTEL THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I LOOKED AT AN ONLINE FORUM FOR A SOLUTION AND FOUND ONE THAT SUGGESTED THAT THE HARNESS MELTS. I PULLED OFF THE STERRING COLUM AND TO FIND THE CONNECTOR INTO THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS COMPLETLY MELTED. I BOUGHT A NEW HARNESS AND SWITCH AND INSTALLED MYSELF. THE FORUM SAID THAT TO KEEP THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO NOT LET THE WIRES GET TOO HOT. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND SIGNALING FOR A RIGHT TURN THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON THE ENTIRE TIME IT WAS IN THAT POSITION. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME NOW ALTHOUGH THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. WHILE TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM I NOTICED THAT MOVEMENT OF THE TURN SIGNAL STALK IN A CIRCULAR MOTION ALSO TURNED ON THE FOG LIGHTS BRIEFLY. *TR

Mileage: 50,100

MY 2003 DODGE NEON SRT4 STARTED SMOKING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND MY HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, ALSO MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AS WELL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AFTER CHECKING THEY SAW THAT THE CONNECTOR FROM THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS ALL MELTED AND HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE THANK GOD IT DIDN'T SPREAD AT THE TIME. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HARNESS AND SWITCH AND FROM FORUMS I HAVE COME TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT THIS CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO STOP IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND IS COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY, IT IS REALLY UNSAFE. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THEY WANTED TO. AFTER ABOUT A DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. IF THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

MULTIFUNCTION HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE, SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, PULLED ON HIGH BEAMS AND EXITED INTERSTATE. FOUND PIN PLUG AND SWITCH WERE MELTED. REPLACE SWITCH AND WIRING PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, THEREFORE THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ALWAYS ON. AFTER STOPPING AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND THE LIGHTS WORKED FINE, THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS COULD ONLY BE TURNED ON BY PULLING AND HOLDING THE ARM BACK. THERE WAS AN ODD SMELL, BUT I THOUGHT A FUSE MUST HAVE BLOWN. CHANGING THE FUSE DID NOT ALLOW THE LIGHTS TO WORK. I DROVE THE CAR HOME BEHIND OUR OTHER VEHICLE, AND WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY GAVE ME A WARNING TO HAVE THE LIGHTS FIXED. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS CHECKED. THEY FOUND THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. NO HEADLIGHTS DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 88,380

I WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE TO WORK. I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS TO FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. LATER I REMOVED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND LOCATED A BURNED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE CURRENT REPAIR WILL BE TO REPLACE THE MULTI-SWITCH AND BURNED CONNECTOR. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T SWITCH TO LOW, THEN HEADLIGHTS CEASED WORKING AT ALL, EXTREMELY HOT, ELECTRICAL SMELL, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MELTED, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, IT STARTED RAINING AND I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON BUT THE DRIVING LIGHTS DID, I FLIP THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UP TO HIGH BEAMS AND THE BRIGHTS WORKED. I NOTICED IN THE PROCESS THAT SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AND IT SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AFTER IT HAD RAINED. I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL, THE FIRST TIME, USED IT SINCE THE SMOKE. I SET THE CRUISE AT 75 MPH. THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING TO 80 THE COMPUTER CAUGHT THE INCREASE AND DOWNSHIFTED ON IT'S OWN. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AGAIN, THIS TIME IT WAS UP TO 90 MPH, AND CONTINUING TO GAIN SPEED. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TO RELEASE THE CRUISE AND NEITHER WORKED. I WAS COMING UP ON THE EXIT THAT I WAS NEEDING TO TAKE. I DOWN SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TO 2ND AND 1ST THE CAR SLOWED, BUT NOT ENOUGH. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND STILL THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT RAMP THERE WAS A WIDE SPOT THAT I KNEW THAT I COULD USE IF A CAR WAS COMING. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT RAMP I WAS FINALLY DOWN TO 30 MPH BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO STOP. I FINALLY PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, STILL THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. FINALLY WHEN THE CAR WAS HEADED UP A HILL THE CAR SLOWED TO 10 MPH AND I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. FINALLY, I STOPPED WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AND WITH OUT LEAVING THE ROAD. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SINCE THE SMOKE AND HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED ON DIM. THE DODGE PLACE, DALTON, GA IS SAYS THAT THE MULTI FUNCTIONAL SWITCH THAT CONTROL THE HEADLIGHT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO LOCKUP THAT IS ON A DIFFERENT CONTROL. HOW MANY LIVES HAVE TO BE INJURED OR LOST BEFORE CHRYSLER ISSUES A RECALL FOR THEIR CARS. I HAD MY 8 & 10 YR OLDS WITH ME EARLIER, AND HAD JUST DROPPED THEM OFF. IS FIXING YOUR PARTS THAT ARE INSTALLED ON CARS BY MANUFACTURERS WORTH MORE THAN 3+ LIVES. *TR

Mileage: 109,800

DECEMBER 2008, HEADLIGHTS WORKING FINE DURING TRIP, STOPPED FOR GAS, AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. USED HIGH BEAMS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THEN SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS WERE THEN WORKING. HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR. EARLY MARCH, NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE, LIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. WHILE DRIVING ALONE AT NIGHT APRIL 2009, TRIED TO USE HIGH BEAMS, BUT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE, HAD TO HOLD THE SWITCH BACK FOR HIGH BEAMS TO WORK. MY HANDS BECAME VERY WARM SITTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL, FELT CLOSER TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND WAS INCREDIBLY HOT. THERE WAS NOWHERE TO STOP, HAD TO KEEP DRIVING ANOTHER HOUR OR SO. STOPPED FOR 5 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF VEHICLE, WHEN VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK. HAD TO DRIVE WITH ONLY PARKING LIGHTS AT 2AM, VERY UNSAFE! EVER SINCE, HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. THIS HAS CLEARLY BEEN AN ISSUE, AND IT VERY EASY TO FIND INFORMATION AND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAVE CLEARLY BECOME AN EVEN WORSE PROBLEM. TRIED TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, BUT THE PLUG WAS MELTED IN PLACE. PARTS WERE BURNED BLACK AND BROWN AND INCREDIBLY BRITTLE FROM THE INTENSE HEAT THAT EMANATED FROM THE WIRING. THIS FINAL PROBLEM HAPPENED AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES. I AM STILL CURRENTLY WAITING TO FIND THE LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT , SINCE I DO NOT HAVE PROPER LIGHTING. AFRAID TO EVEN USE PARKING LIGHTS, AS THIS SUPPLIES ELECTRICAL JUICE TO THE SWITCH AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE, AS I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER OWNER'S PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY SHUT OFF OR NOT COME ON. THEN ONLY THE BRIGHTS WOULD WORK AND WHILE DRIVING WOULD SHUT OFF ALTOGETHER. FINALLY THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE MARKER LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS STILL WORK, BUT I HAVE NO ILLUMINATION AHEAD OF ME. IT REQUIRED A SWITCH AND CONNECTOR CHANGE. SO FAR THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER NEONS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO HELP US IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. THE OLD PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION AND THE OEM BULBS ARE STILL AROUND AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 79,002

MY 2003 DODGE NEON SRT-4 WAS MAKING A FUNNY SMELL AT NIGHT THEN MY LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THEY WOULD ONLY WORK WITH MY BRIGHT SWITCH PULLED BACK. I PULLED APART AND SAW THAT MY SWITCH TO MY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS BURNT. I WENT TO DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SO I BOUGHT A NEW MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND PLUG. I DO HAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 67,500

2003 DODGE NEON, LOW BEAMS QUIT WORKING A FEW WEEKS LATER THE FOG LIGHTS BECAME INTERMITTENT, THEN EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING TOO. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CONNECTOR THAT ATTACHES TO THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS MELTING FROM BEING OVERHEATED DURING HEADLAMP/FOGLAMP USE. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT. A REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE, THE DESCRIPTION FOR WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. RESEARCH ALSO REVEALS THAT THE SAME REPAIR KIT IS INDICATED FOR SEVERAL OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS EXHIBITING SIMILAR DESIGN DEFICIENCIES. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

WHEN I USE MY HEADLIGHTS FOR 15-20 MINUTES, I BEGIN TO SMELL A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL AND NOTICE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY WARM. AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF HEADLIGHT USE THE LOW BEAMS JUST GO DEAD, IT "AUTOMATICALLY" SWITCHES TO HIGH BEAMS IMMEDIATELY. IF I TRY TO TURN IT BACK DOWN TO LOW BEAMS, EVERYTHING GOES DARK (*VERY* DANGEROUS AT NIGHT!). THEN I AM FORCED TO USE HIGH BEAMS AND BLIND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP, OR I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET THE APPARENT CAUSE (THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH) COOL OFF FOR AN ETERNITY BEFORE RESUMING MY TRIP. I'M HIGHLY UNCOMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT MY CAR HAS PLASTIC BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VERGE OF ERUPTING INTO FLAMES WHEN I USE MY HEADLIGHTS. I ALSO CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS, NOT ONLY FOR THE FIRE RISK, BUT ALSO THE LOW BEAMS DYING SUDDENLY. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

WIRING MELTED IN STEERING COLUMN AND HEAD LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE DEALER REPAIR WIRING, REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS, HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT FAILED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER. THERE WAS AN OPENED AND CLOSED INVESTIGATION (EA06019) FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON ONE MORNING. I TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING PLUG WAS MELTED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEONS AND THE WIRING AS WELL AS THE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

I WAS USING MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. I SHUT OFF MY LIGHTS AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED. THAT EVENING MY HEADLIGHTS LOST FUNCTION AND ONLY MY HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK. MY HIGH BEAMS NOW FLICKER AND I'M FEARING THOSE WILL LOSE FUNCTION AS WELL. WHEN REMOVING THE PANEL BENEATH MY STEERING COLUMN I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND ALL I COULD SEE IS THAT ONE OF WIRING HARNESSES IS MELTED. I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT RELATE INCLUDING EA06019 AND PE06028. *CN

Mileage: 80,000

I WAS USING MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. I SHUT OFF MY LIGHTS AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED. THAT EVENING MY HEADLIGHTS LOST FUNCTION AND ONLY MY HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK. MY HIGH BEAMS NOW FLICKER AND I'M FEARING THOSE WILL LOSE FUNCTION AS WELL. WHEN REMOVING THE PANEL BENEATH MY STEERING COLUMN I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND ALL I COULD SEE IS THAT ONE OF WIRING HARNESSES IS MELTED. I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT RELATE INCLUDING EA06019 AND PE06028. *CN

Mileage: 80,000

I WAS USING MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. I SHUT OFF MY LIGHTS AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED. THAT EVENING MY HEADLIGHTS LOST FUNCTION AND ONLY MY HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK. MY HIGH BEAMS NOW FLICKER AND I'M FEARING THOSE WILL LOSE FUNCTION AS WELL. WHEN REMOVING THE PANEL BENEATH MY STEERING COLUMN I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND ALL I COULD SEE IS THAT ONE OF WIRING HARNESSES IS MELTED. I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT RELATE INCLUDING EA06019 AND PE06028. *CN

Mileage: 80,000

I WAS USING MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. I SHUT OFF MY LIGHTS AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED. THAT EVENING MY HEADLIGHTS LOST FUNCTION AND ONLY MY HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK. MY HIGH BEAMS NOW FLICKER AND I'M FEARING THOSE WILL LOSE FUNCTION AS WELL. WHEN REMOVING THE PANEL BENEATH MY STEERING COLUMN I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND ALL I COULD SEE IS THAT ONE OF WIRING HARNESSES IS MELTED. I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT RELATE INCLUDING EA06019 AND PE06028. *CN

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER SPORADICALLY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT FAILED. SHE HAD THE FOG LIGHT REPAIRED, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

Mileage: 70,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER SPORADICALLY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT FAILED. SHE HAD THE FOG LIGHT REPAIRED, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

Mileage: 70,000

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06019. I HAVE A 2003 DODGE NEON AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR MY HEAD LIGHTS HAS FAILED TWICE. IN BOTH CASES I NOTICED A PLUME OF SMOKE COME OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN AND WITH IN TWO WEEKS I LOST MY LOW BEAMS AND THEN MY HIGH BEAMS FAILED A WEEK OR SO LATER. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME THAT IT FAILED. THE SECOND TIME (WHICH HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK) MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I MUST NOW PAY TO HAVE THE MULTIFUNCTIONS SWITCH REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 77,500

SOMETIME LAST YEAR I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY FOG LIGHTS. I WOULD TURN THE SWITCH TO TURN THEM ON, BUT THEY WOULD NOT TURN ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM FIXED. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BUT THEY TEMPORARILY FIXED THEM EACH TIME. THEN ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL AND WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN. SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. EVERY TIME YOU TURNED IT BACK ON, THE STEERING COLUMN GOT VERY HOT AND WHITE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF IT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER. THERE WAS SOME MELT DOWN INSIDE OF MY STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAME FROM THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. MY CAR INSURANCE AND MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE, WHICH TOTALED $630. *JB

Mileage: 61,000

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE 2003 DODGE NEON WITH 52500 FAILURE MILEAGE THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WAS A FAILURE IN THE WIRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53000 MILES.*AK

Mileage: 52,500

RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE NEON SXT GOING TO DROP MY KIDS OFF AT MY PARENTS HOUSE. WHEN I DROPPED THEM OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. AFTER DROPPING THEM OFF I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND STARTED IT AND WENT TO TURN MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS BACK ON ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY DIDN'T WORK! MY PARKING LIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WORKED BUT THE LOW BEAMS AND FOG LIGHTS DIDN'T AND STILL DON'T. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES, THE LIGHT BULBS AND I EVEN CHECKED THE SWITCH AND THEY ALL LOOKED GREAT AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THE WIRING LOOKS GOOD. I BELONG TO A NEON CLUB ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET FOR A RECALL ON THE 03' NEON AND I FOUND ONE FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WASN'T AFFECTED BY THE RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE CAR FIXED. A CAR THIS NEW SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS I CAN UNDERSTAND SOME GENERAL MAINTENANCE SURE BUT NOT BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. MY HIGH BEAMS WORK IF I HOLD THEM ON BUT IF I LET GO OF THE SWITCH THEY TURN OFF. *JB

Mileage: 49,500

2003 DODGE NEON SRT-4 MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE. THE WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH IS MELTED. LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON. CAN PROVIDE PICTURES. *NM

Mileage: 50,500

HEADLIGHT FAILURE DUE TO MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH , AND IT'S COSTING $456 TO REPAIR AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB

Mileage: 52,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO CHANGE THE MODULE SWITCH AND HARNESS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 78,000

2003 DODGE NEON LIGHTS WENT OUT AND STARTED SEEING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WHERE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS. *NM

Mileage: 62,000

2003 DODGE NEON LIGHTS WENT OUT AND STARTED SEEING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WHERE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS. *NM

Mileage: 62,000

MULTI-FUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH ON THE COLUMN CAUSING WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO MELT AND CATCH FIRE. BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR NO REASON AND NOT GO OFF. BACK OF SWITCH ITSELF GETTING VERY HOT. REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, CANNOT TURN HEADLIGHTS ON FOR EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME OR CONNECTOR MELTS AND CATCHES FIRE AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 54,000

MULTI-FUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH ON THE COLUMN CAUSING WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO MELT AND CATCH FIRE. BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR NO REASON AND NOT GO OFF. BACK OF SWITCH ITSELF GETTING VERY HOT. REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, CANNOT TURN HEADLIGHTS ON FOR EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME OR CONNECTOR MELTS AND CATCHES FIRE AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 54,000

MY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON SHORT CIRCUITED AND MELTED THE PLUG THAT IT CONNECTS TO I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND SEARCHED MULTIPLE JUNK YARDS FOR THE PLUG AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ONE DODGE CHARGES $1100 FOR THE WIRING HARNESS I HAVE NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OR FOG LIGHTS AND CANNOT AFFORD THE PLUG FROM THE DEALERSHIP NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX MY PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 63,800

MY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON SHORT CIRCUITED AND MELTED THE PLUG THAT IT CONNECTS TO I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND SEARCHED MULTIPLE JUNK YARDS FOR THE PLUG AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ONE DODGE CHARGES $1100 FOR THE WIRING HARNESS I HAVE NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OR FOG LIGHTS AND CANNOT AFFORD THE PLUG FROM THE DEALERSHIP NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX MY PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 63,800

I NOTICED ONE DAY THAT A WHITE PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN SHROUD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN SO I CONTINUED TO USE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, THE BRIGHTS HOWEVER WORKED FINE. I COULD WIGGLE THE WIRING IN THE DASH THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THEY WORKED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND BEFORE I COULD GET IN THE HEADLIGHTS DIED COMPLETELY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION STALK UNDER WARRANTY AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE UNTIL I SOLD THE CAR. *NM

THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2003 DODGE NEON HAD STARTED TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF. THEY WOULD DO THIS ANY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL, OR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE LEVER WOULDN'T CLICK WHEN I HIT IT TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THEY WANTED TO. AFTER ABOUT A DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. IF THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *JB

THE MULTI-SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL MELTED RENDERING MY HEADLIGHTS (LOW-BEAM) AND FOG LIGHTS INOPERABLE. *JB

Mileage: 44,410

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH MELTING/BURNING, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS, BLINKERS AND DASH LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION. PROBLEM NOT PRESENTLY FIXED. *JB

Mileage: 46,500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. *AK

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING HARNESS SHORTED AND MELTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING. *NM

Mileage: 30,000

THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE CAR. AFTER STARTING THE CAR, I REALIZED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I PULLED ON THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TWICE AND REGAINED THE USE OF MY HEADLIGHTS. I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP (BIG VALLEY DODGE/SUBARU) ON 5/24/06. ON 5/26/06, AT ABOUT 4:20 PM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MARVIN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE ADVISED THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS. HE ALSO ADVISED I WAS BEING CHARGED $386.00 + TAX AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT SEEMS AS THERE IS NO TSB ON THIS PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY NEON OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE SEE LINKS BELOW. HTTP://WWW.SRTFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=3461887#POST3461887 HTTP://WWW.SRTFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=255414&HIGHLIGHT=MULTIFUNCTION+SWITCH HTTP://WWW.SRTFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=251467&HIGHLIGHT=MULTIFUNCTION+SWITCH HTTP://WWW.SRTFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=191421&HIGHLIGHT=MULTIFUNCTION+SWITCH. *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

Mileage: 23,237

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

Mileage: 42,000