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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 · May 17, 2001
Electrical SystemCrash

THAT IS ONLY SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY NEON, THE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR WENT OUT AT 14,000 MILES, THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING EVEN AFTER CAR COMPLETELY REPAINTED AT MY COST PAINT PEELED AGAIN VA BEACH DODGE TOLD ME IT IS A DEFECT IN THE METAL AND PAINT THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TREATED WITH A CHEMICAL AND REPAINTED…

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THAT IS ONLY SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY NEON, THE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR WENT OUT AT 14,000 MILES, THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING EVEN AFTER CAR COMPLETELY REPAINTED AT MY COST PAINT PEELED AGAIN VA BEACH DODGE TOLD ME IT IS A DEFECT IN THE METAL AND PAINT THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TREATED WITH A CHEMICAL AND REPAINTED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME, HEAD GASKET BLEW AND HEAD SEVERLY PITTED MY MECHANIC SAW 5 IN THE WEEK MINE WENT OUT ALL LEAKING FROM THE SAME AREA, ENGINE LOOSES POWER CONSTANTLY, TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEARS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE GEARS CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE, CAR OVERHEATS PERIODICLY SINCE HEAD GASKET AND HEAD SHAVED, INTERIOR SENSORS FOR DOORS WORK RANDOMLY BUT MOSTLY DO NOT WORK, BACK UP LIGHTS BLOW OUT EVERY 2 MONTHS, CAM SENSOR BACKS OUT OF ENGINE PERIODICLY, FRONT END MAKES CLUNKING NOISE DURING TURNS WAS TOLD STRUT BEARINGS WERE BAD AND CAUSING NOISE ALTHOUGH AFTER REPLACEMENT NOISE CONTINUES, BRAKES ALWAYS NOISY CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT DOES CLEAR NOISE UP, AIRLEAKS IN WINDOWS OF THE CAR CAUSING NOISY RIDE, CAR DOES NOT LIKE TO START IN COLD WEATHER, POWER LOSS WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CORRECTED EVEN AFTER MECHANIC HAD THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND COULD FIND NOTHING CAUSING IT BUT COULD RECREATE THE PROBLEM, AND AN O-RING ON THE FUEL LINE CONNECTORS TO THE "FUEL ACCUMILATOR" BLOW OUT (HAPPENED 6 TIMES SO FAR) CAUSEING GAS TO POOR OUT ON TO ROAD WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND ENGINE TO CUT OUT.. NEONS IN GENERAL ARE LEMONS, CHRYSLER EVEN AFTER CONTACTING OVER SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR REFUSE TO HELP ANY WITH COST OF REPAIRS DUE TO WARRANTY EXPIRED. WOULD LOVE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT CAN NOT DUE TO ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND PUTTING ALL MONEY INTO IT TO FIX IT AND REPAIR CHRYSLER'S DEFECTS IN DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745476

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

HEAD GASKET BLEW. OXYGEN SENSOR BLEW. LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF AND JAMMED IN THE DRUM RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNMOVABLE. UPON INSPECTION, HAD TO REPLACE BOTH DRUMS, BOTH DISCS, AND NEW PADS ON FRONT AND BACK BOTH SIDES. WINDOW SEALS HAVE FAILED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW. WATER LEAKS IN AND AIR LEAKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS…

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HEAD GASKET BLEW. OXYGEN SENSOR BLEW. LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF AND JAMMED IN THE DRUM RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNMOVABLE. UPON INSPECTION, HAD TO REPLACE BOTH DRUMS, BOTH DISCS, AND NEW PADS ON FRONT AND BACK BOTH SIDES. WINDOW SEALS HAVE FAILED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW. WATER LEAKS IN AND AIR LEAKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOWS CAR DOWN IMMENSLEY AND CAUSES MORE FUEL CONSUMPTION. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HARSHLY SCRATCHED. GETS WORSE AS TIME GOES BY, HAVE SEEN OTHER NEON'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FUEL FILTER WENT, CAUSING THE ENTIRE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #745430

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ENTIRE BRAKES SYSTEM AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY MECHANIC DUE TO SYSTEM BEING RUSTY AND MAKING SQUEALING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #887523

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGING UP. TURNED SWITCH TO PUT ON DEFOGGER AND SWITCH BLEWOUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #887520

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. HAD HAPPENED TWICE, AND EACH TIME WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH SPARK PLUGS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887467

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Exterior Lighting

WENT TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS AND SWITCH BROKE OFF IN CONSUMER'S HAND. WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887460

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN ON. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887408

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION MOUNT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887407

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT IF IT WAS SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED JUMPER WIRING AND RADIATOR FAN RELAY.ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. CONSUMER WILL ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO TSB. *AK

NHTSA ODI #887361

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

I BOUGHT THIS NEON IN AUGUST OF 1998, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED ON TWICE. WHEN YOU GO OVER 60MPH THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES. THE SPEAKERS FOR THE RADIO WORK SOMETIMES. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT RAINS THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS GET …

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I BOUGHT THIS NEON IN AUGUST OF 1998, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED ON TWICE. WHEN YOU GO OVER 60MPH THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES. THE SPEAKERS FOR THE RADIO WORK SOMETIMES. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT RAINS THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS GET SOAKED WITH WATER. LAST MONTH THE I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKET, AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS THE THE MANUFACTURER THEY PAID HALF, BUT THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK SEVERLY.

NHTSA ODI #744722

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.