IllustrationPASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RANDOMLY DEPLOYED, WHILE GOING 4 MILES PER HOUR, THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO INITIATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG. THE DEPLOYMENT BUSTED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BLEW GLASS TO THE COMPLETE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
1997 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Neon years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge Neon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 173.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 35 of 390 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
44 crash reports12 fire reports24 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
41 reportsTL*- THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE PARKING COMPLEX WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 DODGE NEON AT 5 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOWS ON BOTH DOORS TO SHATTER, AND THE DASHBOARD AND AIR CONDITIONER VENTS TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE OR HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. …
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TL*- THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE PARKING COMPLEX WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 DODGE NEON AT 5 MPH, WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOWS ON BOTH DOORS TO SHATTER, AND THE DASHBOARD AND AIR CONDITIONER VENTS TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE OR HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 108000 MILES. *AK
CONTACT STATES: WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR, HOWEVER HIS DOOR WAS SCRATCHED, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY TO HIS WRIST DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 23-25 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB
CONSUMER STATED HER BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ON THE BELTWAY. AS SHE APPROACHED SHE SAW THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER APPLY HIS BRAKES, SHE THEN APPLIED HER BRAKES. HER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SHE RECEIVED SOME MUSCULOSKELETAL IN…
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CONSUMER STATED HER BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ON THE BELTWAY. AS SHE APPROACHED SHE SAW THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER APPLY HIS BRAKES, SHE THEN APPLIED HER BRAKES. HER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SHE RECEIVED SOME MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AND WAS VERY SORE. HER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WON'T CLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE. *PH *SCC *JB
AFTER FRONTAL IMPACT, AIR BAG TOOK 2 MINUTES AFTER THE IMPACT TO DEPLOY. LIQUID IN AIR BAG CAUSED DRIVERS SHIRT TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BURNED HER ARMS.*AK. CONSUMER STATED HE HIT A UTILITY POLE.*JB
RECALL 97V080000/AIR BAG: WHILE DRIVING, THE BELL ALARM WENT OFF AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENOR CAME ON AND WENT OFF, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE.*JB
DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION AT RATE OF SPEED OF 45 MP. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DRIVING AT 35 MPH, A PICKUP TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF AND I CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME FROM SLAMMING FORWARD, AND THE SEAT LOCK DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR CLAIMS THAT ALL THREE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WORKED PROPERLY YET THE DEALER RE…
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DRIVING AT 35 MPH, A PICKUP TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF AND I CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME FROM SLAMMING FORWARD, AND THE SEAT LOCK DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR CLAIMS THAT ALL THREE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WORKED PROPERLY YET THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH THE SEAT BELTS AND THE SEAT LOCKS.*AK
WHILE IN REVERSE, BARELY COASTING WITH NO BUMP IN ROAD, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES.*AK
Official recalls
197V080000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
May 16, 1997
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.