DURING A COLLISION FRONT END WAS PRETTY SMASHED UP: NOT DRIVABLE: NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *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.
What owners actually said
390 reportsDRIVER'S AND THE REAR SEAT CLIP WHICH LOCKS BUTTOM OF THE SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE VERY LOOSE. WITHOUT THIS DEVICE THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT GET TIGHT, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE CLIP ON THREE OCCASIONS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THE EXTERIOR PAINT OF THE 1997 DODGE NEON COUPE IN LAPUIS BLUE IS PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND TOP OF VEHICLE. VERY POOR PAINT JOB AS CAR IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
BIGGEST CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS THE AIR AND WATER LEAK. THIS HAS GONE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. AIR LEAK IS SO LOUD I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WE CANNOT HEAR SIRENS OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT AIR FOR THAT MATTER. ALAMO CAR COMPANY AND CHRYSLER SAY IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND AIR AND WATER LEAKS ARE COMMON IN NEONS. WE …
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BIGGEST CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS THE AIR AND WATER LEAK. THIS HAS GONE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. AIR LEAK IS SO LOUD I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WE CANNOT HEAR SIRENS OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT AIR FOR THAT MATTER. ALAMO CAR COMPANY AND CHRYSLER SAY IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND AIR AND WATER LEAKS ARE COMMON IN NEONS. WE REQUESTED THEY BUY OUR VEHICLE BACK FOR THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD WITH IT, BUT THEY REFUSED TO. THEY OFFERED US A 6 YEAR/75,000 MILE WARRANTY. WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE, SO THIS IS USELESS. IT IS ALSO USELESS BECAUSE CHRYSLER STATES THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM, SO HOW WILL THE WARRANTY HELP THE AIR AND WATER FROM LEAKING. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION ON HAND. *AK
AFTER DRIVING THE NEWLY PURCHASED NEON (PURCHASE USED, AS IS) WE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE CAR AFTER BEING PARKED. WE HAD THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET OF THE CAR. BEING A FAIRLY NEW MODEL, I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS COMPLAINT…
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AFTER DRIVING THE NEWLY PURCHASED NEON (PURCHASE USED, AS IS) WE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE CAR AFTER BEING PARKED. WE HAD THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET OF THE CAR. BEING A FAIRLY NEW MODEL, I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN LOGGED BEFORE FOR THIS MODEL. I AM ALREADY FURIOUS THAT A DEALERSHIP CAN GET AWAY WITH SELLING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE, IF ANY I HAVE. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN, CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. NLM
HELP ! IT WAS JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO I PURCHASE A 1997 NEON. I WAS SO HAPPY, I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A FAIRLY DECENT CAR. IT WAS 1998 AND I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A 1997. WITH A/C EVEN. HA. HA. HA. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW THREE WEEKS LATER I WOULD BE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS WAITING O…
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HELP ! IT WAS JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO I PURCHASE A 1997 NEON. I WAS SO HAPPY, I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A FAIRLY DECENT CAR. IT WAS 1998 AND I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A 1997. WITH A/C EVEN. HA. HA. HA. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW THREE WEEKS LATER I WOULD BE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS WAITING ON A PART THEY HAD TO ORDER. BOY DID THAT PUT A SOUR TASTE IN MY MOUTH. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND WANTED TO GIVE THE CAR BACK. I NO LONGER WANTED THE CAR. I KNEW THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. WELL YOU KNOW THEY SAID NO. GOOD THING I HAD THE 1595.00 EXTEDED SERV. CONTRACT I GOT THE PROBLEM FIX FREE . WELL NOT REALLY FREE IT COST ME 1595.00 FOR THE WARRANTY AND FIFTY DOLLARS EVERYTIME YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR CAR IN THE SHOP. I ONLY HAD 30.000.00 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDED IT A TRANSMISSION? HMMMM. IN DECEMBER WE HAD A RECALL ON THE CAR. IN JAN.1999 I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL FAILURE. IN FEB.1999 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. ALSO IN FEB. I TURN ON MY AIR CONDITING TO FIND OUT IT DOESN'T WORK. IT WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. I CALL CHRYSLER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. IT WAS GOING TO COST ME THE $50. WHICH I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR, BEING I JUST PURCHASE THE CAR IN NOV.1998. IN MAR. 12TH I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE INSPECTION BECUASE I WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR, THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT, WHICH THEY SAID HAD RUINED THE FRONT ROTORS. AND THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ROTORS AND D PADS. THEY SAID THE VEH. WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN CURRENT CONDITION. WELL THEY WANTED TO CHG. ME OVER $300.00 AND I JUST DIDN'T TRUST THEM ANY MORE SO MY DAD DID THE JOB FOR $100.00. M Y EXTENDED SERV. CONTRACT DID NOT COVER THE BRAKES. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LEMON FOR A CAR. I DON'T THINK THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE THERE IS ALL WAY SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. AND IT IS PUTTING A HOLE IN MY POCKET. SO MUCH FOR A NEWER CAR SO YOU CAN HAVE FEW
HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS
TURNED ON THE CAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT HEAD ON A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS CAR SPED ACROSS THE LOT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. ENGINE MADE HIGH PITCHED WHIRRING NOISE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY INCIDENT RESEMBLES THE ONE POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEB …
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TURNED ON THE CAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT HEAD ON A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS CAR SPED ACROSS THE LOT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. ENGINE MADE HIGH PITCHED WHIRRING NOISE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY INCIDENT RESEMBLES THE ONE POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE ODI ID# 535732. *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.
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