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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

9 reports
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120,000 miles · Jul 10, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE NEON. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FILLER TUBE FELL TO THE GROUND AND CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FILLER TUBE HAD RUSTED OUT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE NEON. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FILLER TUBE FELL TO THE GROUND AND CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FILLER TUBE HAD RUSTED OUT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FILLER TUBE AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000. UPDATED 10/06/09 *BF UPDATED 10/08/09

NHTSA ODI #10276319

72,000 miles · Jun 8, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HEAD GASKET AND FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT VEHICLE OVER EATED. DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS, AND 2 1/2 YEARS LATER ,THE SAME PARTS FAILED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075856

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MY CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE A CIRCUT BOARD, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND NEW GASKETS AT ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND 39280 MILES. I FEEL THAT THE CIRCUT BOARD COULD CAUSE CRASH OR INJURY BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING OR IF I HAVE GAS IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A NEON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (CIRCUT BOAR…

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MY CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE A CIRCUT BOARD, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND NEW GASKETS AT ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND 39280 MILES. I FEEL THAT THE CIRCUT BOARD COULD CAUSE CRASH OR INJURY BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING OR IF I HAVE GAS IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A NEON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (CIRCUT BOARD) THAT THEY HAD FIXED JUST THE WEEK BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI #711132

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 1999
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAD TIRE BALANCE PROBLEMS, UNTIL GETTING NEW TIRES. *ET

NHTSA ODI #782847

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineCrashFireInjury

IN THE WORDS OF THE CHRYSLER FIRE INVESTIGATOR. "... FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A HARD IMPACT TO THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE..." THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN …

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IN THE WORDS OF THE CHRYSLER FIRE INVESTIGATOR. "... FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A HARD IMPACT TO THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE..." THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS AND THAT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE REASON IT CAUGHT FIRE IS A DESIGN DEFECT INVOLVING THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. I WOULD THINK THAT A PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE TO SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ON AN IMPACT WHICH BREAKS A FUEL LINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #702229

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

"O" RING IN THE FUEL RAIL CRACKED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833209

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #524110

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS TANK IS LEAKING. CONSUMER WA SINFORMED BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF GAS TANK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #522653

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineWheels

TIRE/WHEEL BALANCING PROBLEMS, CAUSING FRONT END VIBRATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #520676

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.