2000 Dodge Neon steering problems

“I WAS HEARING A CLUNK UNDER MY CAR. TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUSTED SUBFRAME. NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED TO THE TUNE OF 1000 DOLLARS. THEY SAID NOTHING ELSE LOOKED RUSTED. HMMMM ODD. *TR”

“SEVERE CORROSION CAUSED A WEAKNESS IN THE SUSPENSION CRADLE/ ENGINE CRADLE THAT RESULTED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY FROM ITS MOUNTING TO THE SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER/ CRADLE. THE CONTROL ARM AND ALL ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS SEEMED TO BE IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION AND DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE DRIVE AXLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNDRIVEABLE. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE FAILURE AT A VERY LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE SAME FAILURE AT POSTED SPEED (45MPH AT THE TIME) WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIKELY SEVERE CRASH. *TR”

“WE HEARD A POP IN OUR ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, UNCERTAIN THAT IT WAS OUR VEHICLE WE CONTINUED, AS WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY WE HAD LOST POWER STEERING IT SEEMED. CONTINUE HOME ABOUT 20 MILES AND ONCE WE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WE OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND OUR POWER STEERING BELT HAD COME OFF. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE BELT, NOTICED OUR DRIVEBELT IDLER PULLEY HAD DISINTEGRATED. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ORDER THIS PART FROM SEVERAL AUTO PART STORES AND THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. IT IS ON FACTORY BACK ORDER FOR OVER THE PAST MONTH, WHICH HAS LEFT US WITH ONLY ONE VEHICLE FOR OUR HOUSEHOLD. *TR”

“I OWNED 2000 DODGE INTREPID 3.2L VEHICLE(MILEAGE-106000). STEERING WHEEL LOF MY VEHICLE LOST ITS CONTROL ON WHEELS,WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON I75(TRYING TO CHANGE LANE).I HEARD CRUNKING SOUND AND SOMEHOW MANGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER.I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAINENCE SHOP AND CAME TO KNOW THAT RACK AND PINION SYSTEM GOT BROKE DOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.I WAS REALLY LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SAVED. HOW CAN I TRUST THIS VEHICLE LATER ON,EVEN THOUGH I REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM.I FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE IN THIS WEBSITE.MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DEFECTS? IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TAKE NECESSARY ACTION IT WOULD LEADS TO FATAL ACCIDENTS IN FUTURE.”

“TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE NEON. WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING THAT TIRE TO LEAN. THE TRAVEL SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE ROD ENDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 90,898. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. *AK”

“RACK & PINION WAS REPLACED 4/4/03...NORMAL NOISE SIGNALING A PROBLEM. ON 4/22/05, WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE RACK & PINION FAILED AGAIN AND THIS TIME BOTH TIRES WENT DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED...I HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. IT WAS EVEN HARD TO GET IT MOVED THE REST OF THE WAY OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GET IT TOWED, SINCE BOTH TIRES WERE FREE SPINNING. THE REPAIRMAN AT HOOVER CHRYSLER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A FAILURE. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO LET THEM KNOW OF OUR SECOND RACK AND PINION FAILURE AND THE POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT PROBLEMS WHEN A CAR IS OLDER. WE DO NOT EXPECT LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS! *JB”