IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING HARD LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO TURN, AND BUMPING NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →390Owner complaints
Model-year median: 173
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1997 Dodge Neon
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 390 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 222 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 44 reports
- Air Bags: 41 reports
- Electrical System: 33 reports
- Power Train: 26 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Steering complaints
15 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE MAP SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ON 10/27/97. ON 10/28/97 WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. DEALER ALS…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE MAP SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ON 10/27/97. ON 10/28/97 WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. DEALER ALSO REPLACED CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 08-NOV-97, CALLED ON THE TENTH OF NOV, DEALER SAID IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN TEN DAYS FOR PARTS. CUNSUMER CLAIMS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *AK
STEERING: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH AND WENT OVER SPEED BUMP, STEERING LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT STEER CAR LEFT OR RIGHT, STRUGGLED TO TURN LEFT TO GET BACK ON HIGHWAY, HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HIT 3 TON BOULDER , AND CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK
WINDOW SEALS FAILED DUE TO AIR LEAK.
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.