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.
The worst 1997 Dodge Neon problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine221
- Brakes47
- Airbags41
- Electrical33
- Transmission25
- Body24
- Seat belts17
- Lights16
- Steering15
- Acceleration11
- Fuel system9
- Visibility8
- Tires6
- Suspension4
- Seats3
- Wheels2
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Dodge Neon
Overheating 17No deployment 16Grinding brakes 13Brake failure 11Fire or smoke 11Engine failure 10Oil consumption 9Stalling 8Harsh shifting 5Headlights 5Transmission failure 5Water leak 5
Recalls 1
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.
- Risk
- Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.
Recall number 97V080000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1997 Dodge Neon
Defect investigations
Safety belt cinching latch plate
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.
PE02082
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Dodge Neon 62
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the...
- Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard...
- Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to...
- Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision...
- Valve Body
- Child Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child Seat Tether...
- Seat belt cinch bar service for various models including 2004 models. tt
- Subject regarding outside rearview mirror glass replacement. tt
- Automatic transmission fluid usage ATF+4. tt mj
- This bulletin involves installation of a new component to assist cam seal retention. jb
1997 Dodge Neon fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22-25 | 31-35 | 25-29 |
What 1997 Dodge Neon owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge neon. While placing fuel into the vehicle, the filler tube fell to the ground and caused gasoline to leak onto the ground. The dealer stated that there was no recall and the vehicle was taken to a repair shop. The mechanic stated that the filler tube had rusted out. The mechanic replaced the filler tube and the vehicle has been performing normally. The failure mileage was 120,000 and current mileage is 130,000. Updated 10/06/09 *bf updated 10/08/09
None of my vehicles have latch supported systems although all my carseats do. Is it still safe to use a carseat with just a seat belt? Can the vehicle manufacturers install the latch systems in my vehicles for free as this is a safety requirement for carseats? I cannot afford to pay for this myself or get a new vehicle. (related vehicle information: model year=1997, make=dodge, model=neon).
I made a short trip to a local store and large amounts of smoke started coming from the front of my car. The car was overheating and I had to stop and pull over. The car had to be towed to the dealership. The car had a head gasket failure.which cost $920 to repair. Although the vehicle is old (1997), it only has 39,000 miles on it and it is ridiculous for something like this to happen to car with such low mileage. I have done quite a bit of research online to find that several neon owners have had this same problem. The 1995-1997 models have been predominantly affected by this problem. I contacted chrysler about this and they will take no responsibility for this.
Safety/emissions reprt states recall on my vehicle/ defect number: dr-1158. The solid state fan relay may fail because of heat rellated electrical over stress causing the fan to stop and the vehicle to over heat.
Passenger side air bag randomly deployed, while going 4 miles per hour, there was no impact to initiate the deployment of airbag. The deployment busted out the passenger side airbag with such force that it blew glass to the complete other side of the vehicle.
Whenever I sit in the driveway, or look for a parking spaces, or sit in traffic...the car's temperature gage goes all the way to hot. I had it diagnosed and they said that its the fan control module or relay...basically the fans stop working. *tr I had a new water pump put in, a new thermostat, a new radiator put, and I"m beginning to think that all these problems are coming up when the fans stop working. It has 145000 miles on it, but I was told that is not a common think on this module. I'm going to get repaired, but I feel that this is a manufacturer issue.
1997 dodge neon caught fire. Consumer would like any info available about the problems that cause fires in the mid nineties model year dodge neons. *kb the consumer was injured. (lawyer wrote in on behalf of client)
Through the life of owning this car. I have had to replace the head gasket several times 3 times in last 2 years alone and replace the engine. The head gasket still leaks and no one can seem to fix it even the dealer. I have talked to other people that have neons and they are experiencing the same exact head gasket problem. Why hasn't there been a recall for this. This is an extremely costly repair.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge neon. The headlights and high beams are very dim. The bulbs were replaced; however, the lights remained dim. Oil was placed in the vehicle, but then leaked onto the ground, causing the oil warning indicator light to illuminate intermittently. The contact noticed a grayish-colored smoke exiting the rear of the vehicle. The repair shop stated that the failure was caused by a blown head gasket. The failure mileage was 97,000 and current mileage was 140,301.
Compare the 1997 Dodge Neon
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Questions about the 1997 Dodge Neon
Is the 1997 Dodge Neon reliable?
Owners have filed 388 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Neon, 2.7 times a typical Neon model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Dodge Neon?
Engine and cooling, with 221 complaints, typically around 54,800 miles. Next is brakes (47).
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Neon have?
1 recall, covering air bags.
What year does the Dodge Neon have bad engine?
The Dodge Neon model years with the most engine complaints are 1996 (341 complaints), 1995 (292 complaints) and 1997 (221 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Dodge Neon get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Dodge Neon range from 25 to 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 22-25 city and 31-35 highway.
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