IllustrationWHILE 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
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
44 reportsSUDDEN ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION. BRAKE FAILURE ON OCCASION CONTRIBUTING TO COLLISION.
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED , THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR/ LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND CAUSING A COLLISION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND. HAD A ROLLOVER IN WHICH THE DEFECTIVE SEATBELT UNLATCHED DURING THE ACCIDENT, AND AFTER ROLLOVER WAS COMPLETED THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEFLATED IMPROPERLY. *AK
BRAKES FAILED TWICE TO STOP VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL. RESULTING IN COLLISION.
WHEN TRAVELING ON WET PAVEMENT/UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BLOW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
BRAKES MAKE NOISE, SYSTEM OPERATING NORMAL.
CONSUMER WAS EXITING PARKING LOT WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN A LOUD CLICK WAS SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. CONSUMER STILL HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AND PRESSING TO THE FLOOR AS IT BEGAN TO MAKE GRINDING NOISES. AS CONSUMER PROCEEDED, THE GRINDING NOISE WAS STILL THERE. NOW, WHENEVER VEHICLE…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER WAS EXITING PARKING LOT WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN A LOUD CLICK WAS SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. CONSUMER STILL HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AND PRESSING TO THE FLOOR AS IT BEGAN TO MAKE GRINDING NOISES. AS CONSUMER PROCEEDED, THE GRINDING NOISE WAS STILL THERE. NOW, WHENEVER VEHICLE IS STARTED THE GRINDING NOISES AUTOMATICALLY BEGINS. CONSUMER HAD THIS HAPPEN TWO TIMES BEFORE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED FOR SAME BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP--SOUTHBAY MITSUBISHI--3131 PACIFIC COAST HWY---310-539-9797. *AK
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE DID NOT LOCK UP WHEN APPLIED FOR A SUDDEN STOP AT 30 MPH. VEHICLE CRASHED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
BRAKES FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.
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.