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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.

About this comparison →

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

Power Train complaints

26 reports
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44,438 miles · Jun 4, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE CONSUMER SAW OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON JUNE 3RD 2002, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT. THE MAIN GEAR HAD A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOOSE TEETH. …

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THE CONSUMER SAW OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON JUNE 3RD 2002, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT. THE MAIN GEAR HAD A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOOSE TEETH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE HEADS OF THE ENGINE WERE WARPED. THE DEALERS IN BOTH CASE ONLY CHANGED THE GASKET AND NOT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE HEAD WAS WARPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD IN THE MORNING, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS, THEN CLUNKS IN HARD AND IF DRIVING WHEN STILL COLD, IT SEEMED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. (AND SHIFTS HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND OVER REVS IN 2ND PRIOR TO SHIFTING) *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10065182

23,000 miles · Oct 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I JUST BOUGHT THIS 97 DODGE NEON WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THE A/C HAS A LEAK IN THE COIL , THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING . THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT THOSE FEW THINGS SO FAR . THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE CAR BEFORE ME WAS AN OLDER GENTLEMAN WHO DOES NOT WRECK HIS THINGS. I WAS WONDERING ARE THESE PROBLEMS, FACTORY PROBLEMS …

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I JUST BOUGHT THIS 97 DODGE NEON WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THE A/C HAS A LEAK IN THE COIL , THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING . THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT THOSE FEW THINGS SO FAR . THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE CAR BEFORE ME WAS AN OLDER GENTLEMAN WHO DOES NOT WRECK HIS THINGS. I WAS WONDERING ARE THESE PROBLEMS, FACTORY PROBLEMS AND/OR RECALLS? *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043303

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF SHAKING,/VIBRATING, AND PERFORMING ERRATICALLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 74,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO INTERACTION FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8014585

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES LOOSE. VEHICLE SHIFTING BY ITSELF DUE TO A STICKY CABLE. OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. DEALER FOUND HEADGASKET FAILURE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. CAMSHAFT REPLACED. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHILE BRAKING. WEATHERSTRIPPING FELL OFF O…

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WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES LOOSE. VEHICLE SHIFTING BY ITSELF DUE TO A STICKY CABLE. OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. DEALER FOUND HEADGASKET FAILURE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. CAMSHAFT REPLACED. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHILE BRAKING. WEATHERSTRIPPING FELL OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP. BATTERY CLAMP LOOSE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO STAY ON. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #8005218

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 · 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 · Aug 26, 2001
Power Train

AUTO TRANSMISSION 3 SPEED I HAVING A PROBLEM THEY IS ALWAYS A BIG GERK WHEN TAKING THE CAR O UT OF GEAR OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THEY STS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT I HAVE HAD IT THERE 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751142

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION MOUNT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887407

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingInterior LightingPower Train

ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL/DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT AND COME BACK ON AT RANDOM INTERVALS/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON/ DOOR AJAR ALARM WILL COME WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION, AND TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN GEARS AND ENGAGE FORCEFULLY. . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885526

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.