2002 Dodge Neon: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 2, 2007 · Electrical, Transmission · 75,000 miles · OH

I have a 2002 dodge neon. In the first year I had the car I had the typical car problems but nothing too major. I have replaced the battery 6 times in the car, since purchase. In may of 2006, is when the problems began rolling in. My main computer had died in the car, a $900 repair. After contacting dodge to get a new computer to put in the car, I had to wait for 7 months for it to be shipped, due to such a large back order. And the computer was only shipped after dodge was called and I had threatened to contact the better business bureau. The day I had picked up the car from getting the computer installed, my radiator and transmission went out. So I had to repair both of them. Only a few weeks later the car was yet again in the shop for yet another transmission problem. The check engine light is now back on, upon having the computer code hooked up to the car, I have learned that there is a transaxle control system failure and an incorrect gear ratio condition in 2nd and 3rd gear. The car will not go above 45 MPH. When I start it and put it in drive it takes a few minutes for the car to recognize that its in the drive gear and when it finally does go into drive the entire car jerks. It will do that for several minutes. This will now be the 8th time from december, 07 to august, 07 that I have had to make repairs to the transmission. My car is only 5 years old, there is no reason on why I should be having so many problems. I have taken care of my car and it has received the proper maintenance. I have put more then $9000 in the car since purchase, having to go as far as to have a family member take out a second mortgage on their home to pay for the repairs. After looking up complaints online, I have found numerous complaints about transmission problems, why has this not been recalled?? Why is it that the only recall on the neon is the lighting system??

Filed Jan 17, 2007 · Transmission · 34,000 miles · CA

Vehicle had idled hard since purchase. Taken to local dealership numerous times for knocking sound on start up of vehicle every morning. Owner was told that sound could not be duplicated. On date of incident, vehicle started jerking in and out of gear on highway. Loud whine started and increased with acceleration. Owner pulled vehicle to the shoulder and got out to try to locate source of sound. When owner tried to put car back into gear, gear shift moved but did not engage. Transmission had to be replaced.

Filed Apr 14, 2004 · Electrical · 23,831 miles · CA

My car is in the shop for the 5th time since november of 2003. Sometimes when driving, the car will lurch or will die unexpectedly. When it lurches, the RPM's rev up for a few seconds and the radio crackles off. When it dies, it sometimes dies when I am at a stop or when I am driving down the road. When it does, all power is gone, I cannot even turn on the hazard lights. It sometimes regains power within a minute, once it took 16 hours. When the power returns, the radio has returned to the beginning of the dial and the clock is reset to 12:00 am. This is extremely dangerous when the power is lost...even if I'm able to coast onto the shoulder of the road I have no hazard lights to warn oncoming traffic, which is very frightening at night time. The dealer has replaced the PCM module, the ignition switch, front end wiring harness, engine harness, motor mounts and replaced the wires that connect the battery. None of the fixes have worked and they have no idea what to do to diagnose the problem, much less fix it.

Filed Feb 25, 2004 · Transmission · 46,800 miles · UT

Have taken the car to dealership three times for the same problem. When driving at high speeds would drop from fifth gear into third. As you kept driving it would get worse. And at times would not go into gear at all. This last time we went into the dealership they told us that the manufacturer had route wires to tps wrong and they were damaged. They repaired this about a week ago. The car now jerks when going into gear, runs very poorley when wet weather and shakes severley when at a stop. I do not feel confident driving on the vehicle on the freeway, we would trade in but the trade in value is at $3500, that is crap considering we bought the car for $13,000 two years ago!!

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Steering, Transmission · 9,320 miles · FL

When I come to a complete stop the car jerks. It kind of feels like its changing gears. I have brought the problem to southside dodge on south orange blossom trail in kissimmee, florida about four times. The first time they performed recall b27 and said that that wasn't the problem. So they went back and found the problem. Fixed it and noticed it on the way home but didn't think anything of it. About 9320 miles later it was as bad as the first time I brought it in. They told me they had to perform a flash to reprogram the computer. Ok took their word for it. Went home did it all the way home. Called them when I had returned home and they said it had to memorize the way I drive. Give it a couple of days. Gave it months till I could bring it in again. Third time I bring it in they had the transmission mech. Come and drive so I can point out the problem. So and so forth the problem banged when we came to a stop and came to the dealership. He went and talked with the service advisor and he came out. He told me they had to erase the memory of the car and reprogram the computer because since there is two drivers it learns the way one driver drives and when the other driver drives the car it messes up and you get this problem. So there is nothing wrong with the car. The sevice manager drove the car and never returned with an answer. The fourth time I brought the vehicle in they did the same thing to me as last. Let me remind you the last two times I had brought the vehicle in they told me they would send an invoice in the mail for my conveniance, haven't received either. I think I'm getting jeked around here and I would like to get this problem resolved. All I'm asking for is the problem fixed. Can you please help?

Filed Jan 13, 2003 · Electrical · CA

I turned the key that morning to go to work, the car was totally dead. I called chryler roadside assistance, sent a tow truck, gave me a jump, I let the car run for 45 minutes before going to work, I started driving, dashboard lights were blinking like crazy, the gas guage kept moving up & down, and the seatbelt light started blinking. Drove to carmax/los angeles and they were closed. I drove home, wouldn't restart, called the tow truck again, car towed to dodge dealer (on manchester & isis/inglewood). I was told that the battery cell had dislocated, replaced battery and I was told that everything was fine. 12/20/02: driving home on the 405 freeway, the car began to jerk and all the dashboard guages were going up and down, the radio cut off, and the gas guage was going crazy. I was at the century blvd exit, I made a sharp turn to get off on century, then the car just cut on by itself. I continued to drive abount 1 mile and the car totally went dead. There were no lights or power. I called for a tow, the car was towed to downtown la dodge, I was told that the battery cable was loose, it was tightened and they didn't see any other problems.. 12/23/02: drove around the corner from my house (1/4) mile, car cut-off in the middle of the street. My friend came, touched the battery cable, and the car started. When I drove about another 1/4 mile, the car shut-off again. I called the tow truck, the car was towed to the seller (santa monica nissan), they kept the car for a week trying to find the problem. On december 31, I rec'd a call from buerge dodge, they had to re-wire the entire car.. 01/10/03: I was driving home from work and the car accelerated before coming to a complet stop, my co-worker instructed me to open the hood, she touched the battery cable and the car started. I came home and left mssgs for the buerge dodge service person (jeremy battat) to call me back and I still have not heard from him.

Filed Nov 15, 2002 · Brakes · MS

When applying the brakes vehicle jerks and pedal almost goes to the floor. Cause is unknown. Please provide more information. Ts