IllustrationCYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LEAKING OIL. REPLACEMENT PART WAS TWICE AS THICK AS ORIGINAL PART. *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
What owners actually said
390 reportsDRIVER'S SIDE HEAD GASKET BROKE. IT WAS LEAKING OIL ALL OVER. DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST IN HELPING WITH PAYMENT BECAUSE CHRSYLER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THEM. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY DESIGN OF HEAD GASKET. *AK HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *YH
HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL FROM RIGHT HAND REAR CORNER OF CYLINDER HEAD. VIEWING ENGINE FROM FLYWHEEL END. *AK
FIRST- THE CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT LESS THAN 24000 MILE. NOW WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BLOW. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT IS NOW IN THE GARAGE FOR THE EIGHTH TIME. DODGE WILL NOT BACK THEIR…
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FIRST- THE CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT LESS THAN 24000 MILE. NOW WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BLOW. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT IS NOW IN THE GARAGE FOR THE EIGHTH TIME. DODGE WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT AND THE DEALER JUST SENDS THE CAR OUT TO BE REPAIRED, SINCE "THEY CAN NOT FIX IT". THE VIN NUMBER THAT WAS SUBMITTED IS THE NUMBER FROM THE CAR. IT IS COMING UP THE WRONG NUMBER, THIS IS THE ONLY NUMBER I HAVE. *AK
AFTER ONLY 32,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 97 DODGE NEON. IT MUST BE RECALLED.*AK
OIL LEAKGES AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR LEAKAGES, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH AND HEADGASKET LEAKING, TOOK TO DEALER. *AK TRANSMISSION IS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. *YH
NOTICED OIL LEAK, TOOK TO MECHANIC, WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS GONE. I HAVE ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHEN THEY WILL PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THESE CASES ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS, WHICH SHOULD SHOW THAT THESE CARS …
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NOTICED OIL LEAK, TOOK TO MECHANIC, WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS GONE. I HAVE ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHEN THEY WILL PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THESE CASES ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS, WHICH SHOULD SHOW THAT THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED OR PAID TO BE FIXED BY THE DEALER OR CHRSYLER. *AK
WELL LETS SEE THE FIRST DEFECT WAS A FAN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES BEFORE A WIRING DEFECT WAS FOUND NEXT WE HAVE "HARD BRAKES" WHICH CONTRIBUITED TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED 7000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 1 MINOR INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WE FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WHICH CHRYSLER…
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WELL LETS SEE THE FIRST DEFECT WAS A FAN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES BEFORE A WIRING DEFECT WAS FOUND NEXT WE HAVE "HARD BRAKES" WHICH CONTRIBUITED TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED 7000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 1 MINOR INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WE FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WHICH CHRYSLER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO RETURN 1/2 OF MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ALONG WITH WIRING DEFECTS AND AIR BAGS THAT DON'T COME OUT OTHER THAN THE FACT I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN EVERY OTHER CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED THEY MADE UP FOR THIS LEMON BY HAVING A BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOO.
NO SUMMARY
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.