IllustrationHEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS
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 reportsTHERE IS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH IS CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOWARD THE FIRE WALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACE IT TOOK TWO WEEKS TO GET THE PART BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT MOST OF THE 97 NEONS HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN 3 TIMES AND REPLACED, DEFECT STILL OCCURS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK
THERE IS A BUSTED HEAD GASKET THAT IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CAR TO SMOKE. DEALER HAS SEEN. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH HEAD GASKETS LEAKING OIL, OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, MANUFACTURER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DEALER CONTACTED AND NO WARRANTY, CONSUMER'S EXPENSE FOR REPAIRS. *AK
ENGINE GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACE THREE TIMES IN TOWN YEARS. THE BRAKES MAKE A SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE.
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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.