IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, AND THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
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 reportsDODGE NEON 1997, I FOUND OUT TODAY THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED, I WAS TOLD BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, 2 WERE DODGE MECHANICS, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS FIXING THE HEAD GASKETS AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE GASKET WAS TOO THIN, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES THE CAR WAS NEVER RUN HARD AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED THEY NEED…
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DODGE NEON 1997, I FOUND OUT TODAY THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED, I WAS TOLD BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, 2 WERE DODGE MECHANICS, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS FIXING THE HEAD GASKETS AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE GASKET WAS TOO THIN, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES THE CAR WAS NEVER RUN HARD AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A OIL LEAK THAT MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
MY DAUGHTER JUST TURNED 16 AND BOUGHT A USED 1997 DODGE NEON WITH 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD HER OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AND REPLACED. ONE OF HIS SELLING POINTS WAS A NEW HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. WELL IT'S BEEN JUST OVER THE 3 MONTH, 3000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO THE WE…
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MY DAUGHTER JUST TURNED 16 AND BOUGHT A USED 1997 DODGE NEON WITH 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD HER OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AND REPLACED. ONE OF HIS SELLING POINTS WAS A NEW HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. WELL IT'S BEEN JUST OVER THE 3 MONTH, 3000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO THE WEB, AND TO MY HORROR THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE. THE ROADS ARE BEING MADE HAZARDOUS WITH SLIPPERY OIL AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BY A BADLY DESIGNED ENGINE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THEM. I KNOW YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOPE YOUR AGENCY CAN MAKE CHRYSLER RECALL THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE, ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REAPPEARED, THE DEALER THEN INFORMED CONSUMER A RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED.*JB
THE SPARK PLUGS THAT ARE IN THE CAR WAS DONE ILLEGALLY. AND I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOT HAVE HAD A RESPOND. I HAVE BEEN LEAVING MESSAGES FOR 1 WK. DT
WHILE DRIVING AVERAGE SPEED 40 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET RUPTURED, WITH A MAJOR LEAK. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THIS BY A MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. TS
CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM, DAMAGING THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLYED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER HAD TO PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *MR
MINE IS THE SAME COMPLAINT AS THE OTHER 200 THAT I HAVE READ. ITS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN ALL 97 NEONS. MR
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.