IllustrationBOTH REAR RETRACTORS WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK CONSUMER NEEDS SEAT BELTS THAT LOCK DUE TO NEEDING CHILD SAFETY SEAT BELTED IN SECURELY. *SLC
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 reportsTRUNK IS SOAKED WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS, CAUSING ALL CARPETING TO BE MILDEWED AND MOLDY, JACK AND SPARE TIRE RIM TO RUST.*AK
HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT RADIATOR FAN RELAY SWITCH CIRCUIT SHORTED OUT WHICH COULD HAVE ALLOWED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND CRACK HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CHRYSLER OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIRS. *SLC
VEHICLE HAD BEEN USING A LOT OF OIL, HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED, AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED YET.*AK
OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKETS AND FROM REAR MAIN SEAL. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THIS MODEL CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER A RECALL. *AK
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DO NOT LOCK SO IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND PUSHES ON THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT THEN THEY CAN BE PUSHED FOWARD. SO IF I WERE TO GET INTO A CAR ACCIEDENT WITH PEOPLE IN THE BACKSEAT AND THEY PUSH ON THE SEAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WILL BE PUSHED INTO THE DASH BOARD. THE SE…
Read full complaint
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DO NOT LOCK SO IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND PUSHES ON THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT THEN THEY CAN BE PUSHED FOWARD. SO IF I WERE TO GET INTO A CAR ACCIEDENT WITH PEOPLE IN THE BACKSEAT AND THEY PUSH ON THE SEAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WILL BE PUSHED INTO THE DASH BOARD. THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WILL LOCK UP AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN DRIVING AND WILL NOT LOCK UP WHEN THE DRIVER SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. THE PAINT IS PEELING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND THE TOP DOOR PANELS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. EVERY TIME I WASH MY CAR MORE AND MORE PAINT PEELS OFF THE MAIN AREAS AND SMALLER AREAS FORM.*AK
GLARE FROM DASHBOARD REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHEILD IS DANGEROUS. AT TIMES THE GLARE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN HEADING INTO THE SUN. THIS IS A PROBLEM EVEN WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES. *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.