IllustrationBRAKES VIBRATE BADLY CAUSING ROTORS TO WEAR OUT AND BREAK. YH
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
44 reportsWHEN APPYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, BRAKES WILL NOT STOP INTO A FEW FEETS AWAY, AND THE PEDAL FEELS HARD AND HIGH. *AK
WHILE BRAKING IN LINE OF TRAFFIC BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ENGAGE,CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT, THAT CAR HIT NEXT IN LINE. RECEIVED SUMMONS BUT AT LATER DATE FOUND NOT GUILTY AND FINE RETURNED. INSPECTION SAID CRUISE WAS OK. ON 23/25/99 BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TIL CRUISE CONTROL WAS HIT AT OFF BUTTON. CR…
Read full complaint
WHILE BRAKING IN LINE OF TRAFFIC BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ENGAGE,CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT, THAT CAR HIT NEXT IN LINE. RECEIVED SUMMONS BUT AT LATER DATE FOUND NOT GUILTY AND FINE RETURNED. INSPECTION SAID CRUISE WAS OK. ON 23/25/99 BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TIL CRUISE CONTROL WAS HIT AT OFF BUTTON. CRUISE WAS NOT IN USE - HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE 1996 ACCIDENT. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT CONNECTED AT TIME OF PURCHASE - NORTHTOWN DODGE CONNECTED 10/4/96 WHEN FOUND CRUISE DID NOT WORK. *AK
THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAK. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS.
CONSUMER HAD TIRE BALANCE PROBLEMS, UNTIL GETTING NEW TIRES. *ET
HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE, VERY UNHAPPY. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL FEELS LIKE IT BOTTEMS OUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN FIRST DRIVEN.MOVING UNDER 10MPH,CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE AND BRAKES ARE APPIED FULLY,PEDAL HAS NO MORE TRAVEL,IF BRAKE IS PUMPED, IT'S OK. ,AS IF AIR IN LINES,OR BAD BRAKE BOOSTER. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. ALSO, REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS-DOES NOT HAPPEN 100% OF THE TIME.
BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN ITS BACKING UP. YH
VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER LETTING OFF GAS; DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES LEFT FRONT SIDE LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN OVER.
ENGINE GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACE THREE TIMES IN TOWN YEARS. THE BRAKES MAKE A SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE.
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.