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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 →

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762860

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO DESCRIPTION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #762449

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2002
Structure

CONSUMER OFTEN FINDS WATER ON FLOORBOARD WHETHER IT RAINS OR NOT, AND DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. DEALER HAS A BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILE ON THE LOT AND IT DOES THE SAMETHING. CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010695

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN PAST THREE WEEKS. THERE IS OIL LEAKING, AND WHEN GETTING OIL CHANGED, DEALER RECOMMEND THAT ENGINE BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010026

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2002
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

AFTER FRONTAL IMPACT, AIR BAG TOOK 2 MINUTES AFTER THE IMPACT TO DEPLOY. LIQUID IN AIR BAG CAUSED DRIVERS SHIRT TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BURNED HER ARMS.*AK. CONSUMER STATED HE HIT A UTILITY POLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8009862

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2002
Exterior Lighting

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760709

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760381

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2002
Structure

ROOF IS LIFTING WATER LICKING INTO CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760336

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY…

Read full complaint

CHRYSLER SOLD NEONS WITH KNOWN FACTORY DEFECTS AS EVIDENCED BY ISSUANCE OF 70 TSBS AND FAILED TO RECALL CARS WHICH ARE HIGHWAY HAZARDS.TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $10,088.79 ON REPAIRS DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTS. TWO HEAD GASKETS, CYLINDER HEADS, CAM SEALS AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER CHRYSLER'S "SECRET WARRANTY"--AT 20,871 AND 54,049 MILES. NOW SUPPOSEDLY ONLY DEFECTIVE CAMSENSORS ARE THE PROBLEM. OTHER DEFECTS BEGINNING 20,000 MILES: RADIO/TAPE PLAYER, VIBRATION, CLINKLING/CLUNKING SOUND, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE, "TOE" PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE TIRE CONSUMPTION (TIRE & WHEEL RUN OUT), ABS FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, BRAKE HOWLING, BRAKE METAL TO METAL CONTACT, NEED FOR LARGER BRAKE DRUMS, TRUNK WEATHERSTRIPPING DEFECTIVE, FAULTY DESIGN RESULTS IN LEAKS TO INTERIOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE, CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, TIRES COLLAPSE AND FLY OFF, AC FAILURE (HOSE LEAKS, COMPRESSOR REPLACED), NEW BATTERIES REPEATED REPLACED ( AAA CALLED 12 TIMES AND RECHARGER PURCHASED) NOW A TBS SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RKE TRANSMITTER, 02 SENSORS, VARIOUS SEALS LEAK, WIRING DEFECTIVE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED (NOTHING BUT SHARDS OF METAL LEFT--ON DISPLAY AT TRANSMISSION SHOP), TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED, OIL LEAKAGE, LIFETIME BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTHS, INSUFFICIENT POWER ON INCLINE, WITH PARKING BRAKE AND FOOT BRAKE ON CAR ROLLS OR LURCHES WHEN IGNITION TURNED OFF, STEERING COLUMN SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT 45 MPH, DIFFICULT TO STEER AT UNDER 45 MPH, DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, TURN SIGNAL DEFECTIVE, SEPARATION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT, WHEELCOVER LOSS DUE TO MISSING OR LOOSE BOLTS, RIM REPLACEMENTS DUE TO TIRES FLYING OFF, OIL LEAK, GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH FAILURE, POOR DESIGN WITH NO LIGHTS AROUND LIGHTER, AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS A NEGLIGENT MANUFACTURER AND ALL NEONS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759610

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE IS SITTING IDLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. VEHICLE OVERHEATS. ONCE VEHICLE IS MOVING GAUGE GOES BACK DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #8005826

Official recalls

1

97V080000 · 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

1

PE02082 · 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.