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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.

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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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. HERE IS JUST A BRIEF LIST: INCORRECT GAS MILEAGE BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BRAKES SQUEAKING, AIR COMING THROUGH BAD WINDOW SEALS, DEFROST NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, 3 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED, 2 HEAD GASKETS RE…

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EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. HERE IS JUST A BRIEF LIST: INCORRECT GAS MILEAGE BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BRAKES SQUEAKING, AIR COMING THROUGH BAD WINDOW SEALS, DEFROST NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, 3 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED, 2 HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, AND WATER COMING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH HAS CAUSED THE JACK AND TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT TO RUST. ALSO THE WATER THEN LEAKS INTO THE BACK FLOOR WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SMELL. THE CS FOR DODGE WILL NOT AGREE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL ROOF DESIGN WHICH WOULD CORRECT THE WATER FROM COMING INTO THE TRUNK. FOR THE PAST YEAR, ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE CAR WHICH HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 62,000 MILES AND PROPER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #754459

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I BOUGHT THIS PILE OF C... 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH 38000 MILES ON IT . NOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE THE DEALER $800 TO REPAIR IT WHEN THE TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAS A CRACK IN IT. NOW IT WILL BE $3500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT ONLY HAS 71000 MILES ON IT . AND CHRYSLER DOESNT CARE THA…

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I BOUGHT THIS PILE OF C... 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH 38000 MILES ON IT . NOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE THE DEALER $800 TO REPAIR IT WHEN THE TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAS A CRACK IN IT. NOW IT WILL BE $3500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT ONLY HAS 71000 MILES ON IT . AND CHRYSLER DOESNT CARE THAT THIS IS QUITE POSSILY THE WORST CAR EVER MADE. IT RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH A YUGO AND A PINTO

NHTSA ODI #754438

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754228

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL INTO VEHICLE.*AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE.*SLC

NHTSA ODI #897523

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DAIMLER 800-992-1997, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR ASSISTANCE OR RECALL. ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE BULLETIN SHOWS AN UPGRADE AND A CHANGE IN THE HEAD GASKET AND ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS TO BE MADE. THIS BECAME KNOWN IN 1998, 1 YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THIS SEEMS LIKELY TO BE A DEFECT AN…

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I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DAIMLER 800-992-1997, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR ASSISTANCE OR RECALL. ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE BULLETIN SHOWS AN UPGRADE AND A CHANGE IN THE HEAD GASKET AND ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS TO BE MADE. THIS BECAME KNOWN IN 1998, 1 YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THIS SEEMS LIKELY TO BE A DEFECT AND QUALITY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752430

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CONSUMER TOOK VHEICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A BAD OIL LEAK. MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER 36 DIFFERENT CRACKS IN HEAD OF MOTOR.ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SHATTERED, VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS FULL OF PIECES OF METAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER REPLACED HEAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER I…

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CONSUMER TOOK VHEICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A BAD OIL LEAK. MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER 36 DIFFERENT CRACKS IN HEAD OF MOTOR.ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SHATTERED, VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS FULL OF PIECES OF METAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER REPLACED HEAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895996

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE 1995-1998 NEONS AND THE HEADGASKET FAILING ANY WHERE FROM 40000 MILES TO OVER 50000;IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE LEAK NEONHEADGASKETS.COM OR NEON HEADGASKETS YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE HAD. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. THEY OFFER A VARIETY OF "GOOD WILL" ASSIS…

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THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE 1995-1998 NEONS AND THE HEADGASKET FAILING ANY WHERE FROM 40000 MILES TO OVER 50000;IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE LEAK NEONHEADGASKETS.COM OR NEON HEADGASKETS YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE HAD. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. THEY OFFER A VARIETY OF "GOOD WILL" ASSISTANCE BUT I FEEL WITH THE NUMBER OF CARS AND PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE HEADGASKETS FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO FIX OTHER THINGS THAT WERE RELATED TO THE HEADGASKET LEAK AND ALL THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE WAS $300 ASSISTANCE WHILE I HAVE TO PAY OVER $550. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LET ME SPEAK TO THE OWNER OR DISTRICT MANAGER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751757

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON.CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895675

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO PAY DAMAGES FOR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751391

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE GOTTEN THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE IN A SPAN OF A YEAR AND A HALF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #750009

Official recalls

1

97V080000 · 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

1

PE02082 · 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.