← New search

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

19 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2006
Exterior LightingService Brakes, HydraulicStructureFire

MY FIRST COMPLAINT WOULD BE ABOUT THE PAINT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PEELING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS NOW, IT BUBBLES THEN PEELS AND GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY. IT IS NOW PEELING IN 6 SPOTS, THE LARGEST IS THE SIZE OF A WATERMELON. VERY UNHAPPY!!!! SECOND, THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, THE SQUEALING OF METAL ON METAL HAS BEEN OCCURRING SI…

Read full complaint

MY FIRST COMPLAINT WOULD BE ABOUT THE PAINT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PEELING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS NOW, IT BUBBLES THEN PEELS AND GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY. IT IS NOW PEELING IN 6 SPOTS, THE LARGEST IS THE SIZE OF A WATERMELON. VERY UNHAPPY!!!! SECOND, THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, THE SQUEALING OF METAL ON METAL HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DAY 1 OF GETTING MY CAR. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING LIKE CRAZY. I PULLED OVER AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 60KM/HR. I TRIED DRIVING MY CAR TO THE MECHANICS BUT IN THE END DID NOT GET VERY FAR. I PULLED OVER ONCE AGAIN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL. I ALSO NOTICED THE WHEEL WELL CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE FRICTION. MY CAR WAS THEN TOWED AND MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CEASED CALIPER. BEWARE, THIS WAS SCARY. MY WHOLE FRONT END BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOO ADD, I FIND IT'S HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE HEAD LIGHTS. THEY ARE FOGGY AND DON'T GIVE OUT ENOUGH LIGHT. LASTLY, I FIND THAT THE SEALANTS ON THE WINDOWS OF MY TWO DOOR ARE HORRIBLE. I HAVE TO PUSH ON MY WINDOW WHEN CLOSING IT IN ORDER FOR THE WINDOW TO SEAL. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, MY CAR WAS STOLEN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PAINT, BREAKS AND HEADLIGHT COVERS AND WINDOWS/SEALS!!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155727

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

PROBLEM WITH 1997 DODGE NEON.*MR *NM

NHTSA ODI #10082046

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY…

Read full complaint

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY"--AT 20,871 AND 54,049 MILES. NOW SUPPOSEDLY ONLY DEFECTIVE CAMSENSORS ARE THE PROBLEM. OTHER DEFECTS BEGINNING 20,000 MILES: RADIO/TAPE PLAYER, VIBRATION, CLINKLING/CLUNKING SOUND, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE, "TOE" PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE TIRE CONSUMPTION (TIRE & WHEEL RUN OUT), ABS FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, BRAKE HOWLING, BRAKE METAL TO METAL CONTACT, NEED FOR LARGER BRAKE DRUMS, TRUNK WEATHERSTRIPPING DEFECTIVE, FAULTY DESIGN RESULTS IN LEAKS TO INTERIOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE, CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, TIRES COLLAPSE AND FLY OFF, AC FAILURE (HOSE LEAKS, COMPRESSOR REPLACED), NEW BATTERIES REPEATED REPLACED ( AAA CALLED 12 TIMES AND RECHARGER PURCHASED) NOW A TBS SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RKE TRANSMITTER, 02 SENSORS, VARIOUS SEALS LEAK, WIRING DEFECTIVE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED (NOTHING BUT SHARDS OF METAL LEFT--ON DISPLAY AT TRANSMISSION SHOP), TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED, OIL LEAKAGE, LIFETIME BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTHS, INSUFFICIENT POWER ON INCLINE, WITH PARKING BRAKE AND FOOT BRAKE ON CAR ROLLS OR LURCHES WHEN IGNITION TURNED OFF, STEERING COLUMN SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT 45 MPH, DIFFICULT TO STEER AT UNDER 45 MPH, DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, TURN SIGNAL DEFECTIVE, SEPARATION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT, WHEELCOVER LOSS DUE TO MISSING OR LOOSE BOLTS, RIM REPLACEMENTS DUE TO TIRES FLYING OFF, OIL LEAK, GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH FAILURE, POOR DESIGN WITH NO LIGHTS AROUND LIGHTER, AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS A NEGLIGENT MANUFACTURER AND ALL NEONS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759610

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. DEALER DETERMINED EGR VALVE HAD FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899942

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN ON. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887408

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

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

OIL LIGHT COMES ON ALL TIME,AND THERE WERE PUDDLES OF OIL ON GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT ENGINE GASKET HAD AN OIL LEAK.*AK ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATION DONE BY CONSUMER, THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM LIES ON DETECTIVE HEAD GASKET USED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878213

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2001
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #738662

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Unknown Or Other

THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF. THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS AND MANY OTHER NEONS INSTEAD OF MAKING ME PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF. IF ONE LOGS ONTO THE INTERNET IT BECOMES PAINFULLY APPARENT WITH A QUICK SEARCH THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS ME.

NHTSA ODI #733447

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #730954

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.