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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.

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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

222 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

FIRST- THE CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT LESS THAN 24000 MILE. NOW WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BLOW. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT IS NOW IN THE GARAGE FOR THE EIGHTH TIME. DODGE WILL NOT BACK THEIR…

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FIRST- THE CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT LESS THAN 24000 MILE. NOW WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BLOW. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT IS NOW IN THE GARAGE FOR THE EIGHTH TIME. DODGE WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT AND THE DEALER JUST SENDS THE CAR OUT TO BE REPAIRED, SINCE "THEY CAN NOT FIX IT". THE VIN NUMBER THAT WAS SUBMITTED IS THE NUMBER FROM THE CAR. IT IS COMING UP THE WRONG NUMBER, THIS IS THE ONLY NUMBER I HAVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736819

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER ONLY 32,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 97 DODGE NEON. IT MUST BE RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736746

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAKGES AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR LEAKAGES, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875172

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH AND HEADGASKET LEAKING, TOOK TO DEALER. *AK TRANSMISSION IS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #874754

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOTICED OIL LEAK, TOOK TO MECHANIC, WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS GONE. I HAVE ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHEN THEY WILL PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THESE CASES ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS, WHICH SHOULD SHOW THAT THESE CARS …

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NOTICED OIL LEAK, TOOK TO MECHANIC, WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS GONE. I HAVE ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHEN THEY WILL PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THESE CASES ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS, WHICH SHOULD SHOW THAT THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED OR PAID TO BE FIXED BY THE DEALER OR CHRSYLER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735623

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrashInjury

WELL LETS SEE THE FIRST DEFECT WAS A FAN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES BEFORE A WIRING DEFECT WAS FOUND NEXT WE HAVE "HARD BRAKES" WHICH CONTRIBUITED TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED 7000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 1 MINOR INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WE FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WHICH CHRYSLER…

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WELL LETS SEE THE FIRST DEFECT WAS A FAN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES BEFORE A WIRING DEFECT WAS FOUND NEXT WE HAVE "HARD BRAKES" WHICH CONTRIBUITED TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED 7000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 1 MINOR INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WE FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WHICH CHRYSLER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO RETURN 1/2 OF MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ALONG WITH WIRING DEFECTS AND AIR BAGS THAT DON'T COME OUT OTHER THAN THE FACT I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN EVERY OTHER CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED THEY MADE UP FOR THIS LEMON BY HAVING A BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOO.

NHTSA ODI #735533

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #735388

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR HAS BEEN OVER HEATING AND CUTTING OFF FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE COMPANY HAS ONLY PUT A PATCH ON THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT 13 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A SAFTY FACTOR AND IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #734724

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

I FOUND OUT ABOUT A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR ANOTHER SERVICE. THE REPAIR MAN WAS GOING TO CHANGE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID/PAN BUT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAL TO THE PAN ON THE HEAD GASKET MAY BE LEAKING, BUT THE PAN WAS SEALED WITH SOME TYPE OF SEALANT THAT HE COULD NOT REMOVE I…

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I FOUND OUT ABOUT A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR ANOTHER SERVICE. THE REPAIR MAN WAS GOING TO CHANGE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID/PAN BUT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAL TO THE PAN ON THE HEAD GASKET MAY BE LEAKING, BUT THE PAN WAS SEALED WITH SOME TYPE OF SEALANT THAT HE COULD NOT REMOVE IT. ALSO, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE AIRBAGS AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS "VERY IMPORTANT" ISSUE. ALSO, THE PAINT ON MY CAR IS LITERALLY FALLING OFF IN PATCHES. IT APPEARS TO ONLY BE THE ONLY COLOR (PURPLEISH/BLUE) OF THE NEON'S THAT THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. MY CAR (KEEP IN MIND ONLY 2YRS OLD) ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A SPOTTED COW. I CAN TAKE MY FINGER AND PEEL THE PAINT OFF WITH EASE. THERE ARE CARS THAT ARE 10YRS OLDER THAN MY 97 AND THE PAINT LOOKS 100 TIMES BETTER! DODGE IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS "BAD PAINT" BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE $300 TO GET IT RE-PAINTED--THE EXACT SAME COLOR??!!! DODGE SHOULD REPLACE THE PAINT FREE OF CHARGE ON ALL THESE MODELS WITH THIS COLOR PAINT. IT MAKES ME NOT EVEN WANT TO DRIVE MY 2 YR OLD CAR WITH PAINT MISSING FROM FRONT,BACK,SIDE TO SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #734657

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER WILL COMPLETER FORM CONCERNING ENGINE OVERHEATING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #872300

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.