FIRESTONE TIRE PEELED OFF WHEN DRIVING
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.
What owners actually said
390 reportsTRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 75,000 MILES. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK
NO SUMMARY
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH/ ALSO, THERE WAS OIL INSIDE SPARK PLUGS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
MY SISTER IN TN HAS A NEON THE DEALER FIXED HER HEAD GASKET THESE CARS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ONE AUTO REPAIR THAT HE FIXES THESE HEAD GASKETS AT LEAST ONE EVERY OTHER WEEK DODGE SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL OR AT LEAST FIX THE PROBLEM I CAN NOT GET ANY ONE ON THE PHONE AT CHRYSLER AND I LIVE HERE. THEY SHOULD PAY THE COST THEY KNOW T…
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MY SISTER IN TN HAS A NEON THE DEALER FIXED HER HEAD GASKET THESE CARS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ONE AUTO REPAIR THAT HE FIXES THESE HEAD GASKETS AT LEAST ONE EVERY OTHER WEEK DODGE SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL OR AT LEAST FIX THE PROBLEM I CAN NOT GET ANY ONE ON THE PHONE AT CHRYSLER AND I LIVE HERE. THEY SHOULD PAY THE COST THEY KNOW THAT ITS A PROBLEM. THE UP AND DOWN STREAM SENSORS WENT BAD IT COST ME $300. TO FIX. I KNOW A GENTLEMAN THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HIS WENT BAD TWICE AND THE CAR DEALER PAID FOR HIS. I ON THE OTHER HAND COULD GET NO ONE HELP WITH THIS EITHER. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROBLEMS WITH THERE NEON'S AND PAY TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE. IF CHRYSLER WANTS ME TO BUY THERE PRODUCT AGAIN THEY NEED TO MAKE THE FIRST ONE RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN.
NO SUMMARY
OIL LEAK DETECTED BY MYSELF AT ABOUT 40-45,000 MILES; HAD A NON-CHRYSLER MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME IT LOOKED LIKE THE HEAD GASKET (50,000+ MILES BY THIS TIME) - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $400.00+ TO REPAIR AT THAT TIME. WHEN I FINALLY HAD THE MONEY (8/10/00 AND 88,000 MILES) MY MECHANIC REFERRED ME TO O-REILY'S BECAUSE HE HAD H…
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OIL LEAK DETECTED BY MYSELF AT ABOUT 40-45,000 MILES; HAD A NON-CHRYSLER MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME IT LOOKED LIKE THE HEAD GASKET (50,000+ MILES BY THIS TIME) - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $400.00+ TO REPAIR AT THAT TIME. WHEN I FINALLY HAD THE MONEY (8/10/00 AND 88,000 MILES) MY MECHANIC REFERRED ME TO O-REILY'S BECAUSE HE HAD HEARD OF A RECALL. O'REILLY'S GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND. I AM PURSUING EVERY AVENUE TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED INCLUDING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. *AK
ON SUNDAY JULY 23, 2000, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM A RESTAURANT WITH MY FAMILY, I CAME UP TO AN INTERSECTION AND STOPPED. AFTER APROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AT THE STOP LIGHT, I NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN BLOWING HOT AIR. I IMMEDIATELY GLANCED AT THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE IN THE CAR. IT HAD RISEN TO APROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY TOW…
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ON SUNDAY JULY 23, 2000, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM A RESTAURANT WITH MY FAMILY, I CAME UP TO AN INTERSECTION AND STOPPED. AFTER APROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AT THE STOP LIGHT, I NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN BLOWING HOT AIR. I IMMEDIATELY GLANCED AT THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE IN THE CAR. IT HAD RISEN TO APROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY TOWARD THE RED MARK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE AC OFF AND THEN TURNED THE HEAT ON AS TO NOT RAISE THE HEAT ANYMORE THAN WHAT IT ALREADY WAS. I WAS WITHIN A MILE OF MY MECHANICS , SO I DROVE OVER THERE AND DROPPED OFF THE CAR. ON THE NEXT DAY, MY MECHANIC CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT MY HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT THESE CARS WERE KNOWN FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED SMITHFIELD DODGE ( WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR ) THEY GAVE ME THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE NEONS. HE TOLD ME TO CALL THE COMPLAINTS LINE AT DODGE/CHRYSLER AND THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY REPAIR IT FOR FREE AS THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF A RECALL WITH THESE CARS. MY WIFE CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE REGIONAL DISTRICT MANAGER WHO CALLED ME BACK AND TRIED TO STRIKE UP A BOGUS DEAL WITH ME, OFFERING TO FIX THE CAR FOR 544.00 SAYING THIS WAS THE BEST THEY WERE GOING TO DO. I HAD ALSO HEARD FROM PEOPLE OVER THE INTERNET WHO HAD ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR REPAIRS AND, THEY TOO WERE ALSO OVER THE WARRANTY. I ALSO HEARD THAT THIS IS NOT THE SAME GASKET, THEY HAVE REDESIGNED IT TO ACCOMADATE THE PROBLEM. THIS ALONE SHOULD BE RECOURSE FOR A RECALL. I STILL OWE TWO YEARS ON THIS CAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD BILLS LIKE THIS. I WANT A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE WORK I HAD DONE ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED ALL MY VEHICLES AND KEPT THEM ALL IN EXCELLENT RUNNING CONDITION. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS OCCURING CONSTANTLY ON THESE VEHICLES. CHECK THE INTERNET IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME. PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH DODGE. THEY'RE NOT !
MECHANIC ADVSD OF PROBLEM W/HEAD GASKET ON NEON & TO CALL CHRYSLER. CHRYS PAID 50% OF CHARGE, BUT NOW PAY 100%. DEALER ADVSD OF PROBLEM W/ORIG VENDOR PRODUCING FAULTY HEAD GASKET. CONTACT CHRYSLER FOR ASSISTANCE.
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.
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