IllustrationENGINE LEAKED OIL FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE THERE ALWAYS WAS SMELL AS IF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*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 reportsCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 20-25 MPH AND COMING DOWN HILL ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY & DIDN'T STOP, CONSUMER REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NO INJURIES. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
DODGE NEON HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS- ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THEM ( 4 X'S IN JUST 7000 MILES ) WERE FUTILE- CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *AK
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING MAJOR OIL LEAK/HEAD ALSO BADLY PITTED. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AT ONLY 56,000.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MY CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE A CIRCUT BOARD, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND NEW GASKETS AT ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND 39280 MILES. I FEEL THAT THE CIRCUT BOARD COULD CAUSE CRASH OR INJURY BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING OR IF I HAVE GAS IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A NEON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (CIRCUT BOAR…
Read full complaint
MY CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE A CIRCUT BOARD, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND NEW GASKETS AT ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND 39280 MILES. I FEEL THAT THE CIRCUT BOARD COULD CAUSE CRASH OR INJURY BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING OR IF I HAVE GAS IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A NEON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (CIRCUT BOARD) THAT THEY HAD FIXED JUST THE WEEK BEFORE.
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING FLUID. TIRES WOULD MAKE NOISES WHEN TURNING. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS ON TIRES & HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED. REPAIRS ON TIRES HAVE BEEN DONE AT LEAST 3 TIMES. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK *ML
CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER HAS NOT YET CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. *AK
CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LEAKAGE AROUND HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED FOLLOWING OIL LEAK AROUND CAM SENSOR HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH CAR WHICH CHRYSLER SAYS IS NOT RECALLED AND WILL NOT HELP ME WITH THESE REPAIRS ALTHOUGH YOU SHOW THEM AS BEING RECALLED PARTS. *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.