IllustrationPAINT DEFECT. MR
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 DRIVING THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND MOAN WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES YET IT REOCCURS. MANUFACTURERS HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM *YH
HEAD GASKET BLEW AND REPAIRED THROUGH LOCAL DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. WE CONTACTED THE MAIN OFFICE AND GOT NOWHERE. WE WERE TOLD IT'S NOT A RECALL SO WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WAS VERY RUDE AND HUNG UP ON US. IT COST US OVER $600.00 FOR THE REPAIR. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING…
Read full complaint
HEAD GASKET BLEW AND REPAIRED THROUGH LOCAL DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. WE CONTACTED THE MAIN OFFICE AND GOT NOWHERE. WE WERE TOLD IT'S NOT A RECALL SO WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WAS VERY RUDE AND HUNG UP ON US. IT COST US OVER $600.00 FOR THE REPAIR. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM DODGE NEEDS TO BE RESPOSIBLE. WE WERE VERY LOYAL DODGE OWNERS BUT FROM NOW ON WE ARE NOT. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS BUT WE WERE TOLD IF IT'S NOT A RECALL WE CANNOT HELP YOU. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NLM
ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL, AND VEHICLE IS RUNNING HOT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT/ SMOKE AND LIQUID STARTED POURING FROM VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS COOLING FAN RELAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING A COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF SHAKING,/VIBRATING, AND PERFORMING ERRATICALLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 74,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO INTERACTION FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED, LED TO RUINED CYLINDER HEADS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL.CONTACTED DEALER, PROBLEM DUE TO HEAD GASKET GOING 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.