IllustrationSEAT BELTS; FRONT DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AND REAR BELTS ARE TWISTED AND CURVED WHERE THEY CANNOT BE USED. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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 reportsWHILE PARKED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR THAT RAN IT INTO A TREE. DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A TRUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOT PROTE *AK
HOOD FELL ON CONSUMER'S ARM CAUSING INJURY.
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON A ENGINE AT IDLE. HEATER WAS TURNED ON TO COOL VEHICLE.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE.
DRIVER PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE SAT LOW TO THE GROUND WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT TO HIT THE FRONT WHEEL, RESULTING IN DEPLOYMENT BOTH OF THE AIR BAGS. ONCE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WAY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
CONSUMER HAS HAD THREE INCIDENTS CONCERNING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE LAST INCIDENT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE CANYON ROAD, APPROX 45 MPH, BEFORE COMING TO AN APPROACHING TURN,CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO 35 MPH; STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND HARD TO TURN; CONSUMER BARELY MADE THE TURN, CAUSING DANGER …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER HAS HAD THREE INCIDENTS CONCERNING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE LAST INCIDENT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE CANYON ROAD, APPROX 45 MPH, BEFORE COMING TO AN APPROACHING TURN,CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO 35 MPH; STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND HARD TO TURN; CONSUMER BARELY MADE THE TURN, CAUSING DANGER TO CONSUMER . DEALER NOTIFIED. AS ALWAYS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE FOUNDED.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY SPEED AND WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION BECOMES NOISY. *AK
TRANSMISSION CLUNKS.
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.