2004 Dodge Neon: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Feb 8, 2007 · Brakes, Electrical · 35,000 miles · NE

Upon purchasing my car, brand new in 2004, I have had several problems with it. After a short year of having my car my power windows went out, shortly after my front door speakers stopped working and my radio/cd player often doesn't work correctly...cd discs will get stuck in player and continually play until car is shut off and sometimes that doesn't even resolve problem. Front brakes started to squeak and groan constantly, I took the vehicle to the dealership 4 times to have them try to fix brakes. While having brake problems, check engine light came on and car started to chug and jerk frequently. Took back to dealership, diagnostic showed #4 cylinder misfire, had plugs and wires replaced, however check engine light came back on after driving car <10 miles. Took car back to dealership 4 times to fix, on the fourth occasion they finally found a broken ring leading to the motor, problem is still unresolved. I then called warranty people to discover that my ring is covered under my power-train warranty after having been told by the dealership the ring couldn't be fixed. Was also told by the dealership that the wiring was faulty in the radio player and not the speakers.

Filed Sep 8, 2005 · Brakes · 31,000 miles · WY

I bought my 2004 dodge neon around march of 2005. A couple of months later, the brakes would squeak while driving down the road. At first it was not too bothersome, but I took it to the chrysler dealership and they told me the brakes were just dirty, and that nothing else was wrong. Now, the problem has continued to progress, and the brake squeaking is really loud and irritating. I have yet to take it back to the dealer, as it is no longer under warranty. Previously, I owned a 2000 dodge neon, and I went through the same problem with it. I noticed while searching through previous recalls, that my older neon did have a recall on the "brake booster vacuum hose". When I had my older neon fixed of this problem, I took it to midas, and they did not inform me of any recall regarding this problem; however, they may not have know. I don't know if the manufacturer's defect had anything to do with my squeaking brakes of the 2000 neon, as I can't remember what midas did to fix the problem. However, if this is related to the recall in the 2000 model, it is a problem again with the 2004 models. The brake squeaking, although really annoying, I don't know if there's a safety problem associated with it (as I'm not mechanically inclined). I'm sure it can't be safe though, having brakes that squeak all the time, regardless of whether you're slowing down or not.

Filed Jun 29, 2005 · Engine · 1,000 miles · MD

When the automatic transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, it causes the exhaust system to make a rattle and grinding noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on four occasions for repair with no resolution to the problem.

Filed Jun 13, 2005 · Brakes · FL

I purchased my neon in feb of 2004 shortly after my purchase my brakes began to squeak after going in reverse, I have taken the veh to the dealer numerous times and all they keep telling me is that the brakes need to be cleaned, they clean the brakes they stop squeaking for a bout a day and then they begin squeaking again.

Filed Nov 15, 2004 · Steering, Suspension · 1,916 miles · AL

There has been a popping sound coming from the right side of the car since april of 2004. Vehicle has been to the dealership a total of 14 times since purchased in january of 2004. The rack and pinion has been replaced once. Starting somewhere around august it started squeaking. After speaking to a family member that used to work at the dealership where car was purchased I was told that the right strut insulator was bad. Took car to dealership where they are replacing the ball baring in the right side of the car.