IllustrationTHIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE PAINT IS PEELING FROM MY LAPUIS BLUE NEON. WHY WON'T THEY REPAINT THE ENTIRE CAR?*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 reportsI PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5-15-03 AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK THE SIZE OF A 50 CENT PIECE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN PURCHASING I ASKED IF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON NEON'S, AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT AN ISSUE ANYMORE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE TODAY 7-18-03 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET AND …
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5-15-03 AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK THE SIZE OF A 50 CENT PIECE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN PURCHASING I ASKED IF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON NEON'S, AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT AN ISSUE ANYMORE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE TODAY 7-18-03 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET AND IT WAS AN OFTEN DONE REPAIR AT A COST OF $700.00! AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FINDING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, I AM MORE THAN SLIGHTLY DISPLEASED THAT DODGE, KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, AND EVEN HAVING A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM IS INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF IT'S OWNERS, I WILL NOT BE BUY A DODGE, CHRYSLER, OR PLYMOUTH EVER AGAIN! *JB
SPEED CONTROL SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. REPLACE THE SENCSOR BUT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTOR,CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PAINT. IT'S BUBLING AND PEELING OFF IN LAYERS ALL OVER CAR.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HEAD GASKET WAS WARPED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK
PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS BECAME FOGGY AFTER 3 YEARS OF SERVICE. INCLUDED CRACKING AND GLAZING. RESULT WAS REDUCED LIGHT INTENSITY AVAILABLE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO REGAIN ABILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY AT NIGHT. *NLM
DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND GAUGES STARTED TO ACT FUNNY AND THEN IT STARTED TO SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IS A TOTAL LOST. *JB
THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 3 HEAD GASKETS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE LAST BLOWN GASKET CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *NLM
PURCHASED CAR IN OCTOBER OR 1996. REPLACED HEAD GASKET IN 1998 DUE TO OIL LEAKING IN SPARK PLUGS. THEN AGAIN IN 2001. NOW 2003 AND OIL IN SPARK PLUGS AGAIN.*JB
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB
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.