IllustrationPAINT HAS BUBBLED, CRACKED AND PEELED OFF LEAVING THE METAL BARE. RUSTING HAS ALREADY STARTED IN SEVERAL SPOTS AND IT GETTING WORSE. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT PAINT PEELING IS A FACTORY DEFECT BUT CHRYSLER IS DENYING FAULT.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
19 reportsSEVERAL MACHANICS HAVE MENTIONED SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN/ON DODGE NEONS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I REALIZE THIS ISN'T A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT I HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN. MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD, WITH NO HISTORY OF DAMAGE, NO RUST, NO REASON FOR THE PAINT TO SUDDENLY START COMING OF IN HUGE FLAPS, THAT I PICK UP OFF THE DRIVEWAY ON WINDY DAYS AND PUT IN MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID, "WE'VE N…
Read full complaint
I REALIZE THIS ISN'T A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT I HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN. MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD, WITH NO HISTORY OF DAMAGE, NO RUST, NO REASON FOR THE PAINT TO SUDDENLY START COMING OF IN HUGE FLAPS, THAT I PICK UP OFF THE DRIVEWAY ON WINDY DAYS AND PUT IN MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID, "WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT." AND THAT WAS THE HELP I GOT. I HAVE SEEN NEONS (AT LEAST SIX TO DATE) RANDOMLY AROUND MY AREA, IN MY COLOR (LAPIS BLUE) ALL WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT CHRYLSER DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS!!!! THE CHRYSLER WEBSITE PROVIDES NOWHERE TO TURN FOR COMPLAINTS, NOT EVEN A PHONE #. IS THERE ANYTHING AT ALL THAT CAN BE DONE? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW VEHICLE AT ONLY 24,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENES TO A LOT OF NEONS. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY
THE EXTERIOR PAINT OF THE 1997 DODGE NEON COUPE IN LAPUIS BLUE IS PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND TOP OF VEHICLE. VERY POOR PAINT JOB AS CAR IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
ROAD NOISE INSIDE VEHICLE IS UNBEARABLE.
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.