IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 35-40 MPH IMPACT/ BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *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 SAYS THAT ONLY WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS THAT THE POWER STEERING BELT GETS LOOSE, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND THE STEERING WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN TURNING A CORNER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN 3 TIMES AND REPLACED, DEFECT STILL OCCURS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CHILD'S FOOT HIT THE GEAR SHIFT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET A BAG OUT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HITTING VARIOUS THINGS. DEALER CONTACTED AND INSPECTED VEHICLE. STATED OWNER'S MANUAL PARKING BRAKE SHOULD BE ON, AND KEYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED. CONSUMER SAID EVERYTHING WAS DONE. DEALER CANNOT…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CHILD'S FOOT HIT THE GEAR SHIFT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET A BAG OUT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HITTING VARIOUS THINGS. DEALER CONTACTED AND INSPECTED VEHICLE. STATED OWNER'S MANUAL PARKING BRAKE SHOULD BE ON, AND KEYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED. CONSUMER SAID EVERYTHING WAS DONE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK.ET.
THERE IS A BUSTED HEAD GASKET THAT IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CAR TO SMOKE. DEALER HAS SEEN. *AK
CIRCUIT BOARD BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUGHT FIRE AS I DROVE,SENDING SMOKE THROUGH DASH BOTH TO LEFT AND RIGHT OF SPEEDOMETER-GAUGE AREA. NO FLAME EVER VISIBLE. SMOKE STOPPED OF ITS OWN ACCORD. GAS GAUGE DROPPED TO INDICATE "EMPTY" - THEN RETURNED TO PROPER INDICATION. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, THEN TO GARAGE, NO APPARENT EFFEC…
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CIRCUIT BOARD BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUGHT FIRE AS I DROVE,SENDING SMOKE THROUGH DASH BOTH TO LEFT AND RIGHT OF SPEEDOMETER-GAUGE AREA. NO FLAME EVER VISIBLE. SMOKE STOPPED OF ITS OWN ACCORD. GAS GAUGE DROPPED TO INDICATE "EMPTY" - THEN RETURNED TO PROPER INDICATION. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, THEN TO GARAGE, NO APPARENT EFFECT ON ANY OPERATING SYSTEMS. CIRCUIT BOARD AND GAUGE KIT WERE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. (CAR STILL IN WARRANTY) SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED HOLE BURNED IN CIRCUIT BOARD 2 OR 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
POWER STEERING BECOMES INOPERATIVE PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING STEERING TO GO HARD,DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. DEALER HAS TIGHTENED STEERING BELT, AND REPLACED SOME STEERING COMPONENTS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK
WHEN DRIVING 0-10MPH, FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELLING 45MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH HEAD GASKETS LEAKING OIL, OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, MANUFACTURER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DEALER CONTACTED AND NO WARRANTY, CONSUMER'S EXPENSE FOR REPAIRS. *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.