IllustrationCONSUMER NOTICED A SEVERE OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE REAR OR THE HEAD GASKET, THE OIL IS RUNNING DOWN ONTO THE AXLES AND EXHAUST PIPE RESULTING IN A STRONG SMELL OD BURNING OIL. NLM
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 reportsDASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN CAR OVERHEATED, CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK
TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALARM WENT OFF, WARNING CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN . *AK
SIMILAR COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED WIT REGARDS TO OIL LEAKS AT THE HEAD GASKET. ATTEMPTED REPAIR WERE MADE APPROX. 1 1/2 MONTHS AFTER LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. TWO ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE THE LEAKING GASKET WERE MADE BY A LISENCED MECHANIC. AFTER THESE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REP…
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SIMILAR COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED WIT REGARDS TO OIL LEAKS AT THE HEAD GASKET. ATTEMPTED REPAIR WERE MADE APPROX. 1 1/2 MONTHS AFTER LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. TWO ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE THE LEAKING GASKET WERE MADE BY A LISENCED MECHANIC. AFTER THESE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. *AK
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
WHILE DRIVING IN CITY VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. STOPPED FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO LET THE VEHICLE COOLDOWN. STARTED UP AGAIN AND IT WORKED FINE. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. CONTACTED DEALER , VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE LOOKED AT IT, AND SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GAS…
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WHILE DRIVING IN CITY VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. STOPPED FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO LET THE VEHICLE COOLDOWN. STARTED UP AGAIN AND IT WORKED FINE. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. CONTACTED DEALER , VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE LOOKED AT IT, AND SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. *AK
POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. NEON WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO SUSPENSION AND ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK
HEAD GASKET AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED RESULTED IN OIL LEAKAGE. *MJS
PAINT 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.
SEVERAL MACHANICS HAVE MENTIONED SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN/ON DODGE NEONS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *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.