1997 Dodge NEON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
265 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 117 of 265 complaints (44.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 9.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 117 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 17 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 117; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Unknown Or Other: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 10; Electrical System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 230 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 88 |
| 2001 | 69 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 88; 2001: 69; 2002: 44; 2003: 23; 2004: 23; 2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000932 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
MY DAUGHTER JUST TURNED 16 AND BOUGHT A USED 1997 DODGE NEON WITH 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD HER OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AND REPLACED. ONE OF HIS SELLING POINTS WAS A NEW HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. WELL IT'S BEEN JUST OVER THE 3 MONTH, 3000 MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO THE WEB, AND TO MY HORROR THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE. THE ROADS ARE BEING MADE HAZARDOUS WITH SLIPPERY OIL AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF BY A BADLY DESIGNED ENGINE. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THEM. I KNOW YOU ARE WEL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001763 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE, ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER IT CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REAPPEARED, THE DEALER THEN INFORMED CONSUMER A RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004054 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A OIL LEAK THAT MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005057 · 2003-02-01 (February 1, 2003)
DODGE NEON 1997, I FOUND OUT TODAY THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED, I WAS TOLD BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, 2 WERE DODGE MECHANICS, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS FIXING THE HEAD GASKETS AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE GASKET WAS TOO THIN, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES THE CAR WAS NEVER RUN HARD AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006701 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, AND THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007118 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008163 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015325 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 3 HEAD GASKETS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE LAST BLOWN GASKET CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015325 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V080000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 1997-05-16 (May 16, 1997)
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗