IllustrationDRIVING 55MPH & NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. SMOKE NOTICEABLE HEAVIER INSIDE VEHICLE. LIFTED HOOD & FLAMES WERE AROUND ENGINE AREA. FIRE DEPT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. WAS HARD TO DETERMINE ORIGIN OF FIRE, BUT INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING. *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
What owners actually said
390 reportsTHE REAR BRAKES SQUEAK. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS.
REVERSE LIGHTS DOES NOT WORK. THE LIGHTS AND FUSES HAVE BEEN TESTED AND SHOW NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER HAD TIRE BALANCE PROBLEMS, UNTIL GETTING NEW TIRES. *ET
HEAD GASKET BLOWN TWICE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. BRAKES LET UP WHEN FLOORED AT COMPLETE STOP.
HAD RECEIVED RECALLON RADIATOR. WHILE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED AT DEALER'S, MECHANIC NOTICED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN ON ENGINE. MANUFACTURER INFORMED OWNER HEAD GASKETS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RADIATOR. *AK
EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN SIX MONTHS. RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILED AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR T.A. ON FAN RELAY I HAD TO PAY FOR PART AT 39101 MI.???
THE PANELS OF THE DOOR ARE FAULTY, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE FLOODED WITH WATER IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT. *AK
VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON AT 40MPH AND NEITHER OF THE DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW UP. VEHICLE IS BEING INSPECTED NOW. *AK
MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A COMMOM PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *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.