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Problems · by component

1997 Dodge Neon electrical system problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Neon cite electrical system, 8% of all 396 complaints for this model year.

All 1997 Neon problems
Complaints
33
8% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“1997 DODGE NEON DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE FAN RELAY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THERE WAS AN APPARENT PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR FAN CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE HAD DISPLAYED DIAGNOSTIC CODE P1491. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND THE SOLID STATE FAN RELAY. THERE WAS NO CONTINUITY ON PIN 18 OF THE BACK OF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR. THE PCM WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE OUTPUT ON THE PIN. THE CONSUMER FOUND A BREAK IN THE WIRE AT THE C160 CONNECTOR. THE BREAK WAS CAUSED BY THE WIRE MANAGEMENT CLIP CHAFING AGAINST THE GROUP OF WIRES. THE PCM CONNECTOR NUMBER ONE AND IT'S COVER ARE NOW BROKEN AT THE CONNECTION POINTS AND THE COVER WILL NOT STAY ON AND THE WIRES WERE COMING OUT AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2005Electrical systemODI 10134549
“HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AFTER 45,000 MILES.. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2002.. BBRAKES ARE HORRIBLE.. BRAKES MAKE NOISE, SYSTEM OPERATING NORMAL FAN RELAY SWITCH .. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.. AND WAS ALSO RECALLED.. IN ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO.. AND NEVER NOTIFIED.. FRONT END ALWAYS CLANKING.. WHEN U TURN..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, SeatsODI 10129445
“VEHICLE'S BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A BAD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, THREE TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, STICKING THROTTLE BODY, AN OIL PAN LEAK, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAD AN AIR LEAK WHICH WHISTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Vehicle speed controlODI 10079946
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2003Electrical systemODI 10006701
“WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES LOOSE. VEHICLE SHIFTING BY ITSELF DUE TO A STICKY CABLE. OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. DEALER FOUND HEADGASKET FAILURE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. CAMSHAFT REPLACED. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHILE BRAKING. WEATHERSTRIPPING FELL OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP. BATTERY CLAMP LOOSE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO STAY ON. *AK *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2002Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, StructureODI 8005218
“I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH NEONS MADE IN 97 AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. ALSO THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. I HAVE SEEN MANY NEON'S SINCE I BOUGHT MINE, WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. . NO SAFETYD EFEC TMENTIONED. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2002Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility, StructureODI 757823

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.