IllustrationWE TOOK THIS VEHICLE IN TO A DEALER IN SIERRA VISTA IN 1998 AND WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURED AND NOW THE OIL LEAK IS MORE SEVERE. THE DEALER DID NOT LET US KNOW IF THE HEAD GASKET WAS ACTUALLY REPLACED OR NOT.
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
222 reportsWHILE DRIVING ENGINE VALVE COVER BEGAN TO LEAK OIL, MAKING THE CAR LOSE SPEED AND POWER . *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN TWICE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. BRAKES LET UP WHEN FLOORED AT COMPLETE STOP.
HAD RECEIVED RECALLON RADIATOR. WHILE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED AT DEALER'S, MECHANIC NOTICED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN ON ENGINE. MANUFACTURER INFORMED OWNER HEAD GASKETS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RADIATOR. *AK
EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN SIX MONTHS. RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILED AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR T.A. ON FAN RELAY I HAD TO PAY FOR PART AT 39101 MI.???
MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A COMMOM PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
AFTER DRIVING THE NEWLY PURCHASED NEON (PURCHASE USED, AS IS) WE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE CAR AFTER BEING PARKED. WE HAD THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET OF THE CAR. BEING A FAIRLY NEW MODEL, I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS COMPLAINT…
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AFTER DRIVING THE NEWLY PURCHASED NEON (PURCHASE USED, AS IS) WE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE CAR AFTER BEING PARKED. WE HAD THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET OF THE CAR. BEING A FAIRLY NEW MODEL, I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN LOGGED BEFORE FOR THIS MODEL. I AM ALREADY FURIOUS THAT A DEALERSHIP CAN GET AWAY WITH SELLING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE, IF ANY I HAVE. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN, CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. NLM
HELP ! IT WAS JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO I PURCHASE A 1997 NEON. I WAS SO HAPPY, I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A FAIRLY DECENT CAR. IT WAS 1998 AND I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A 1997. WITH A/C EVEN. HA. HA. HA. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW THREE WEEKS LATER I WOULD BE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS WAITING O…
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HELP ! IT WAS JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO I PURCHASE A 1997 NEON. I WAS SO HAPPY, I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A FAIRLY DECENT CAR. IT WAS 1998 AND I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A 1997. WITH A/C EVEN. HA. HA. HA. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW THREE WEEKS LATER I WOULD BE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS WAITING ON A PART THEY HAD TO ORDER. BOY DID THAT PUT A SOUR TASTE IN MY MOUTH. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND WANTED TO GIVE THE CAR BACK. I NO LONGER WANTED THE CAR. I KNEW THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. WELL YOU KNOW THEY SAID NO. GOOD THING I HAD THE 1595.00 EXTEDED SERV. CONTRACT I GOT THE PROBLEM FIX FREE . WELL NOT REALLY FREE IT COST ME 1595.00 FOR THE WARRANTY AND FIFTY DOLLARS EVERYTIME YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR CAR IN THE SHOP. I ONLY HAD 30.000.00 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDED IT A TRANSMISSION? HMMMM. IN DECEMBER WE HAD A RECALL ON THE CAR. IN JAN.1999 I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL FAILURE. IN FEB.1999 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. ALSO IN FEB. I TURN ON MY AIR CONDITING TO FIND OUT IT DOESN'T WORK. IT WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. I CALL CHRYSLER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. IT WAS GOING TO COST ME THE $50. WHICH I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR, BEING I JUST PURCHASE THE CAR IN NOV.1998. IN MAR. 12TH I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE INSPECTION BECUASE I WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR, THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT, WHICH THEY SAID HAD RUINED THE FRONT ROTORS. AND THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ROTORS AND D PADS. THEY SAID THE VEH. WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN CURRENT CONDITION. WELL THEY WANTED TO CHG. ME OVER $300.00 AND I JUST DIDN'T TRUST THEM ANY MORE SO MY DAD DID THE JOB FOR $100.00. M Y EXTENDED SERV. CONTRACT DID NOT COVER THE BRAKES. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LEMON FOR A CAR. I DON'T THINK THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE THERE IS ALL WAY SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. AND IT IS PUTTING A HOLE IN MY POCKET. SO MUCH FOR A NEWER CAR SO YOU CAN HAVE FEW
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.