IllustrationWHEN APPYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, BRAKES WILL NOT STOP INTO A FEW FEETS AWAY, AND THE PEDAL FEELS HARD AND HIGH. *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 reportsOIL IS LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FAULTY, LEAKING HEAD GASKET, SREVICE DEPT. SAYS ALL NEONS HAVE SAME PROBLEM, LEAK CAUSES LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE BRAKING IN LINE OF TRAFFIC BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ENGAGE,CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT, THAT CAR HIT NEXT IN LINE. RECEIVED SUMMONS BUT AT LATER DATE FOUND NOT GUILTY AND FINE RETURNED. INSPECTION SAID CRUISE WAS OK. ON 23/25/99 BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TIL CRUISE CONTROL WAS HIT AT OFF BUTTON. CR…
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WHILE BRAKING IN LINE OF TRAFFIC BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ENGAGE,CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT, THAT CAR HIT NEXT IN LINE. RECEIVED SUMMONS BUT AT LATER DATE FOUND NOT GUILTY AND FINE RETURNED. INSPECTION SAID CRUISE WAS OK. ON 23/25/99 BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TIL CRUISE CONTROL WAS HIT AT OFF BUTTON. CRUISE WAS NOT IN USE - HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE 1996 ACCIDENT. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT CONNECTED AT TIME OF PURCHASE - NORTHTOWN DODGE CONNECTED 10/4/96 WHEN FOUND CRUISE DID NOT WORK. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 30-35 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC AND HE HAS STATED THAT THE OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD IN THE BACK OF THE MOTOR. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT & THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO A DODGE DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, BUT IT IS A COSTLY MECHANICAL REPAIR IS…
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I HAVE HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC AND HE HAS STATED THAT THE OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD IN THE BACK OF THE MOTOR. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT & THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO A DODGE DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, BUT IT IS A COSTLY MECHANICAL REPAIR ISSUE THAT I FEEL NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR POSSIBLE RECALL TO REPAIR. *AK
TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS MATS AND PANEL SMELL . IT SEEMS TO BE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE TRUNK . DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO COAPERATION. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT CAN'T GET THROUGH TO THEM. *AK
CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OIL WAS LEAKING. TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. *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.