Headlight Switch Problems of Dodge Neon

Dodge Neon owners have reported 18 problems related to headlight switch (under the exterior lighting category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Dodge Neon based on all problems reported for the Neon.

1 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 04/08/2015

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.

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2 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 10/01/2014

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.

3 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 11/15/2013

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.

4 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 08/15/2012

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.

5 Headlight Switch problem of the 2000 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 01/13/2011

There has been smoke coming from behind the multiswitch on the steering column. The smell of burnt electrical components is noticed when the headlights are on. The low beam lights eventually quit and then the high beams went out while driving. The electrical wires were jiggled now giving me low beams, and no high beams. The electrical wires connecting to the multiswitch was replaced four years before because it had burned the connection in half. Now the multiswitch has been replaced and upon replacement the connection was examined, noticing that it was melted.

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6 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 11/20/2010

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.

7 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 08/20/2010

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.

8 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 04/19/2009

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.

9 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 02/19/2009

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.

10 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 04/14/2008

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.

11 Headlight Switch problem of the 2002 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 01/22/2008

Ea06-019 headlights & foglights do not work, tried replacing bulbs, this did not work. Believe the switch is bad. Very unsafe when driving at night, this is when the occurance happened.

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12 Headlight Switch problem of the 2001 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 10/22/2007

Safety issue. Multi function switch for the light system is melting to the wiring harness and causing the lights to fail. Periodically the headlights would stop working and then start again. As the problem progresses smoke releases from the steering column and the headlights fail. This problem was repaired about 18 months ago by a licensed mechanic, with Dodge replacement parts, and is occurring again. Probable fire problem. Contacted Dodge and they are not concerned since both times the car was out of warranty. I need to have this repaired soon and will keep the parts.

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13 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 11/03/2006

: 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.

14 Headlight Switch problem of the 2004 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 07/11/2006

When turning on my headlights I will see a small amount of smoke coming out the of the dash in the location of the multifunction switch. This will also occur when switching on my highbeams and the fog lights go out.

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15 Headlight Switch problem of the 2003 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 06/11/2006

: the contact stated the vehicle's headlight multi function switch did not function. The vehicle was not taken to a service dealer.

16 Headlight Switch problem of the 2000 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 11/21/2004

The consumer stated the headlight switch failed. The consumer looked under the steering column and noticed that the switch wire had burned.

17 Headlight Switch problem of the 2002 Dodge Neon

Failure Date: 03/17/2004

While turning on lights the headlights would not come on. Driver was able to place his hand on the lever and hold it in upward position to keep the headlights on while driving. Then, drove the vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic replaced the wire harness.

18 Headlight Switch problem of the 1997 Dodge Neon

Went to turn on headlights and switch broke off in consumer's hand. Was not able to have headlights on.

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Other Common Exterior Lighting related problems of Dodge Neon


Fuel Economy of Neon Vehicles
Neon Service Bulletins
Neon Safety Recalls
Neon Defect Investigations