Problems · by component
1997 Dodge Neon power train problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Neon cite power train, 7% of all 396 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
7% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE CONSUMER SAW OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON JUNE 3RD 2002, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT. THE MAIN GEAR HAD A CRACK IN THE CASTING AND STARTED TO LOOSE TEETH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS WET. THE HEADS OF THE ENGINE WERE WARPED. THE DEALERS IN BOTH CASE ONLY CHANGED THE GASKET AND NOT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE HEAD WAS WARPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD IN THE MORNING, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS, THEN CLUNKS IN HARD AND IF DRIVING WHEN STILL COLD, IT SEEMED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. (AND SHIFTS HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND OVER REVS IN 2ND PRIOR TO SHIFTING) *SC *JB”
“I JUST BOUGHT THIS 97 DODGE NEON WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THE A/C HAS A LEAK IN THE COIL , THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING . THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT THOSE FEW THINGS SO FAR . THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE CAR BEFORE ME WAS AN OLDER GENTLEMAN WHO DOES NOT WRECK HIS THINGS. I WAS WONDERING ARE THESE PROBLEMS, FACTORY PROBLEMS AND/OR RECALLS? *LA”
“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF SHAKING,/VIBRATING, AND PERFORMING ERRATICALLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 74,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO INTERACTION FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK”
“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”
“I BOUGHT THIS PILE OF C... 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH 38000 MILES ON IT . NOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE THE DEALER $800 TO REPAIR IT WHEN THE TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAS A CRACK IN IT. NOW IT WILL BE $3500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT ONLY HAS 71000 MILES ON IT . AND CHRYSLER DOESNT CARE THAT THIS IS QUITE POSSILY THE WORST CAR EVER MADE. IT RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH A YUGO AND A PINTO”
“EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. HERE IS JUST A BRIEF LIST: INCORRECT GAS MILEAGE BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BRAKES SQUEAKING, AIR COMING THROUGH BAD WINDOW SEALS, DEFROST NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, 3 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED, 2 HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, AND WATER COMING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH HAS CAUSED THE JACK AND TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT TO RUST. ALSO THE WATER THEN LEAKS INTO THE BACK FLOOR WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SMELL. THE CS FOR DODGE WILL NOT AGREE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL ROOF DESIGN WHICH WOULD CORRECT THE WATER FROM COMING INTO THE TRUNK. FOR THE PAST YEAR, ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE CAR WHICH HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 62,000 MILES AND PROPER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED.*AK”
Showing 6 of 27 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.