11 problems related to headlight switch have been reported for the 2003 Dodge Neon. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Dodge Neon based on all problems reported for the 2003 Neon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
: 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.
: the contact stated the vehicle's headlight multi function switch did not function. The vehicle was not taken to a service dealer.