IllustrationI HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH NEONS MADE IN 97 AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. ALSO THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. I HAVE SEEN MANY NEON'S SINCE I BOUGHT MINE, WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. . NO SAFETYD EFEC TMENTIONED. *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.
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
Structure complaints
24 reportsA SPLIT ON LEFT SIDE OF ALL 1997, DODGE, NEON BUMPERS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
TRUNK LEAKS, CAUSING BACK SEAT FLOOR TO FLOOD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
TRUNK IS SOAKED WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS, CAUSING ALL CARPETING TO BE MILDEWED AND MOLDY, JACK AND SPARE TIRE RIM TO RUST.*AK
I BOUGHT THIS NEON IN AUGUST OF 1998, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED ON TWICE. WHEN YOU GO OVER 60MPH THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES. THE SPEAKERS FOR THE RADIO WORK SOMETIMES. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT RAINS THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS GET …
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT THIS NEON IN AUGUST OF 1998, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED ON TWICE. WHEN YOU GO OVER 60MPH THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES. THE SPEAKERS FOR THE RADIO WORK SOMETIMES. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT RAINS THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS GET SOAKED WITH WATER. LAST MONTH THE I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKET, AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS THE THE MANUFACTURER THEY PAID HALF, BUT THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK SEVERLY.
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
I BOUGHT MY NEON USED (BUT ONLY A YEAR OLD) I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MY BLINKERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, MY TRUNK AND BACK FLOORS ARE GETTING DRENCHED (PUDDLES OF WATER 3 INCHES) MY BRAKES ARE SQUALING, MY DOOR LIGHT IS SHORTING MY REVERSE LIGHTS ARE BLOWN MY HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN TWICE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEM WITH…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY NEON USED (BUT ONLY A YEAR OLD) I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MY BLINKERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, MY TRUNK AND BACK FLOORS ARE GETTING DRENCHED (PUDDLES OF WATER 3 INCHES) MY BRAKES ARE SQUALING, MY DOOR LIGHT IS SHORTING MY REVERSE LIGHTS ARE BLOWN MY HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN TWICE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEM WITH MY FIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THIS CAR IS MADE POORLY. I AM TRYING TO TRADE IT AND IT NOT AS MUCH AS I OWE. TALK TO DEALER BUT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THEY WANT TO HELP.
EVERY TIME IT RAINS OUR TRUNK GETS SOAKED AND THE WATER MOVES THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARD CARPET AND SOAKES THE FLOOR FROM FRONT TO BACK. *AK
TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS MATS AND PANEL SMELL . IT SEEMS TO BE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE TRUNK . DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO COAPERATION. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT CAN'T GET THROUGH TO THEM. *AK
THERE IS A LEAK IN THE TRUNK AREA, FLOODING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WITH THREE INCHES OF WATER . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE THE NON SEALING OF THE TRUNK AND TAIL LIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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.