Let me preface this with a brief history: My wife's '95 LeBaron GTC convertible had suddenly developed a myriad of problems in 11/03, including it's leaking rain water on the passenger's floor and seat. We replaced it in 12/03 with her first new car - a lemon-yellow '03 Neon SXT. Within two weeks, it had rain water pooling in the passenger's floor. An unbelieveable scenario followed, with the otherwise very dependable Neon making fourteen trips to the dealer - including twelve rentals - some for days - on their dime. Additionally, they paid a payment and gave her a b-b extended warranty, as well as some free oil changes - appeasement offers for her good faith. D-C contacted my wife last spring re them buying back her car, insisting that the problematic Neon's air intake under the windshield wipers was the source. Redesigned, the air intake was supposed to be fixed by late '04, so she elected to get another SXT... then, having problems finding a yellow one, an SRT-4.

Aug 21 found us at a dealer's wondering why she did not have the car they supposedly ordered. A more aggressive salesman took her order - and sold me my first new car in 14.5yr - an '05 Jeep Liberty.Her SRT-4 was finally delivered by 12/04 - she loved it... until this AM. We have had gully-washers with no problems with my Liberty - even hurricane Ivan's remnants. Last night was horrendous - my gutters over ran. The '05 SRT-4 had water standing in the passenger floor - wicked down to the rear seat. My driveway is 10.8 degrees up slope, so the water, in a heavy flow, would back up very little in that scupper before it would flow into the fresh air vent, passing through the heater fan and heater & evaporator cores before exiting on the passenger side floor - as it did again last night. In the past, I have parked Alfa Romeo's, a Fiat, and MOPAR goodies exclusively since '84 in that spot with no leaks. Even my new Liberty (Thankfully dry as a bone inside!) sits there - none, save the two mentioned Neon's, and yes, an SRT-4 is a Neon, has leaked. Very sad. My wife was crying all the way to work this AM. She loves that orange SRT-4...

So, check your Neon's passenger floor after a flood of a rain - especially if you park it pointed uphill. Check the bottom of the lower vents for telltale moisture, too. Anyone else have this problem?

Stainz05

 

last night was the first time i parked that wy, damn i hope it's not full of water. i've it happen to another car

hey it's all good, no water in mine, it did rain last night too. would a half foot of snow on the car the samething? mine has been buried in snow before, no water leak. i do notice some moisture on the inside of the windows everyonce in a while, but no actual water.

 

I have never heard of that in a new car. I think it might have something to do with your area, driveway, or somethin. As stupid as this is gonna sound, back it in?????????????????????????????

 

Just make sure those windows are up all the way next time it rains

 

the other car it i had fill with water was becuase i drove into a flodded parking lot late at night. 4ft of water will stop a car pretty quick.
i drilled holes in the floor the next day to help drain it and vacumed out about 15gallons with a shop vac. the drive to work with all the water in the car was interesting. just shareing a little story of stupidity, thanks, i'll go away now.

 

My wife's '05 SRT-4 is home. The dealer's service manager called the Chrysler plant folks about our water leak, after verifying that it was the same fault as she had with the previous Neon. They did this by removing the valence panel under the ww's, jacking the front of the car up to mimic my driveway's slope, and supplying water via a hose. The water backed up in the gulley as I had predicted, entered the fresh air plenum, and exited the passenger side air vent. The 'cure', or 'patch', according to Chrysler, was a couple of additional holes, which the dealer made. This was one of many steps taken in the fourteen trips the previous '03 Neon had to a different dealer. I have no intention of going through this again. Love the car, hate the leak. They ordered new carpets.

We tried to insure this wouldn't happen again. We were told that they had a field change in the late '04's. The part number of the fresh air intake plenum was changed - probably not a part design change, rather more likely just another supplier. It's shallow construction, and bottom of the gulley position, is the problem. I have never had a car leak from just rainfall. I won't go through this again - no matter how much she loves her SRT-4 - D-C can buy this one back, too.

Of course, backing it up the driveway, a sure way to scrub the front air dam entering and exiting, is a possible cure. One shouldn't have to be that careful/particular when they get home... I never did with all of the previous new cars I've had - even my old Alfa Romeo's, a car whose clearance was so low, they had to have a warning for use on NYC streets. Your designers were lacking here, D-C - I have grown to expect far better from you!

Stainz05