1997 Dodge Neon problems
NHTSA has received 553 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Neon, and 41% of them involve engine. After that come brakes (9%) and air bags (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 553 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 61 and 17
- Injuries and deaths
- 40 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 62,000 miles 48 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 48 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 62,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 52,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 61 complaints mention a crash; 17 complaints mention a fire; 40 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Dodge Neon with enough data (348 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
In the words of the chrysler fire investigator. "... Fire appears to have started after the vehicle sustained a hard impact to the front area of the vehicle..." the report goes on to say that the fire was not caused by a manufacturing defect. I am very concerned that if this vehicle had not caught fire it would not have been a total loss and that it appears to me that the reason it caught fire is a design defect involving the electric fuel pump.
After frontal impact, air bag took 2 minutes after the impact to deploy. Liquid in air bag caused drivers shirt to catch on fire, and burned her arms.. Consumer stated he hit a utility pole.
Dual airbags did not deploy during total front end collision, driver lost control, vehicle crashed into a guard rail, chrysler has determined not manufacturer's defect.
Consumer stated her brakes failed. There was a multi-car accident on the beltway. As she approached she saw the truck in front of her apply his brakes, she then applied her brakes. Her vehicle did not stop and the vehicle rear ended the truck in front of her. The air bags did not deploy, and she received some musculoskeletal injuries and was very sore. Her vehicle was totaled. Daimlerchrysler won't claim any responsibility for the defect on the vehicle. *scc
I am having a lot of problems with my 1997 dodge neon. The steering wheel has nothing but clicks. I am having so much problems turning on my signal lights. The problem has gotten worse. I am hoping that this is a recall so I won't have to pay so much money out of pocket.