2003 Dodge Neon: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 17, 2015 · Electrical · 30 miles · WI

Well I was driving and I had my kid in car 10-16-15 thank god I a had arrived home on time who knows what would happen if I kept driving I started to see smoke coming of dash I was on street coming from janesville wi it's like 35 min away I was driving on high way but like I said it started happening while approaching house I really don't know how to see inside but this has me shocked due to video I have seen catching on fire why isn't nothing being done no recall nothing someone can die from this I looked up problem and it's a common thing thats happening this is a serious problem and disappointed with dodge I need something done about this please help I took a picture of when I parked it.

Filed Apr 8, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · IN · fire

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.

Filed Jan 18, 2015 · Steering · 244,517 miles · AL

As I was driving down the road with my lights on, I began to see and smell smoke coming from steering column. I turn the lights off and the smoke cleared up and went away. After some time, I turned the lights back on with no problem to be found at this time. A week or so later the headlight switch would not work unless you pulled the high beam switch, then and only as you held the switch the lights would work. ( if you have never sit and held the switch while driving at night ( of course ) to get home it is no fun. ) that week end I pulled the covers off the column and pulled the harness out of switch to find it was melted. Needless to say I am down a vehicle until this is fixed. Luckily there was no fire.

Filed Mar 31, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · NC

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.

Filed Nov 22, 2010 · Lights · 35,000 miles · FL · fire

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.

Filed Sep 3, 2010 · Lights · 112,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Nov 25, 2009 · Electrical · 82,000 miles · PA

2003 dodge neon. Problem, no headlights. Smoke and a burning smell from the steering column. Once it happened the headlights went out and will not come back on. The part is not available through auto parts stores or the dealer. The dealer told me the parts were out of stock and could take weeks to get in. He did a search of dealers around the county and no one had the part (headlight switch) he told me they get a lot of complaints about this issue. I had to buy a used one from a wrecked car at a junkyard to be able to use my car at night. I researched on the internet and tons of people seem to have the same complaint. The connections are melted in the steering column.

Filed Apr 19, 2009 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Oct 17, 2008 · Electrical, Lights · 75,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Jan 29, 2008 · Lights · 80,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Nov 12, 2007 · Electrical · 95,666 miles · TX · fire

I turned on my headlights and after about thirty seconds, I noticed a smell that smelled like something was burning. Maybe another 15 seconds or so after that, I saw smoke pouring out of the steering column. Pulling off the road now, I rolled down the windows and shut off the lights remembering that other owners have had problems with their wiring harnesses melting. The smoke dispersed and the car seemed fine. I have not used my headlights since.

Filed Sep 27, 2007 · Electrical · 91,153 miles · WA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge neon. The contact noticed smoke coming from the steering column after the vehicle was turned off. As of september 27, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The contact's son inspected the vehicle and stated that the media switch caused the failure. The current and failure mileages were 91,153.