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Electrical system

1997 Dodge Neon Electrical problems

Owners have filed 32 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Neon's electrical system with NHTSA - 8% of all its complaints, most recently on August 24, 2005. They describe 2 crashes, 4 fires and 1 injury. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Electrical complaints

Electrical system

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...

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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

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10134549
BrakesEngine & coolingElectrical systemSeats & seat belts

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..

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · SeatsNHTSA 10129445
BrakesEngine & coolingElectrical systemLightsBody, doors & structureAcceleration & cruise control

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

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Structure · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10079946
Electrical systemFire

Dashboard lights and gauges started to act funny and then it started to smoke. I got out of the car and it caught on fire and is a total lost. *Jb

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10018765
Electrical system

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

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10006701
BrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody, doors & structure

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

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical system · StructureNHTSA 8005218
Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structure

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

Filed Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Visibility · StructureNHTSA 757823
Engine & coolingElectrical systemSeats & seat belts

Vehicle just shut off while stopping at a stop sign, and would not restart. Also, battery light and seat belt light came on.Consumer had vehicle towed to dealer.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Seat beltsNHTSA 895675
Electrical systemCrash

That is only some of the problems I have had with my neon, the speedometer sensor went out at 14,000 miles, the paint has been peeling even after car completely repainted at my cost paint peeled again va beach dodge told me it is a defect in the metal and paint that the car would have to be treated with a chemical and repainted again for the third time, head gasket blew and head severly pitted my mechanic saw 5 in the week mine went out all leaking from the same area, engine looses power constantly, transmission...

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slams into gears and sometimes does not want to change gears causing engine to race, car overheats periodicly since head gasket and head shaved, interior sensors for doors work randomly but mostly do not work, back up lights blow out every 2 months, cam sensor backs out of engine periodicly, front end makes clunking noise during turns was told strut bearings were bad and causing noise although after replacement noise continues, brakes always noisy cleaning and replacement does clear noise up, airleaks in windows of the car causing noisy ride, car does not like to start in cold weather, power loss was not able to be corrected even after mechanic had the car for 3 months and could find nothing causing it but could recreate the problem, and an o-ring on the fuel line connectors to the "fuel accumilator" blow out (happened 6 times so far) causeing gas to poor out on to road while vehicle is moving and engine to cut out.. Neons in general are lemons, chrysler even after contacting over several problems with the car refuse to help any with cost of repairs due to warranty expired. Would love to get rid of this car but can not due to only transportation and putting all money into it to fix it and repair chrysler's defects in design.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 745476
Engine & coolingElectrical system

While driving vehicle engine head gaskets blewout. Had happened twice, and each time was replaced along with spark plugs.*Ak

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 887467
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Vehicle would overheat if it was sitting at stop light. Dealer replaced jumper wiring and radiator fan relay.Also, manufacturer had a technical service bulletin. Consumer will add additional information relating to tsb. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 887361
Engine & coolingElectrical systemBody, doors & structureLightsEquipment & accessories

I bought this neon in august of 1998, it has been nothing but problems since purchase. I have had to have the electrical system worked on twice. When you go over 60mph the steering wheel rattles. The speakers for the radio work sometimes. The overhead light comes on while driving. When it rains the front floor boards get soaked with water. Last month the I needed to replace the headgasket, and after several calls the the manufacturer they paid half, but the next day the engine started to knock severly.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Structure · Interior lighting · EquipmentNHTSA 744722
Electrical system

Alternator failed 6 miles after warr. Exp. Dealer refuse to help w/ any of costs. Now the head gasket same from dealer. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 739948
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Six miles over my warranty my alternator went out. The dealership refused to fix it. My headgasket with less than 60,000.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 739796
Engine & coolingElectrical system

First- the car blew a head gasket at less than 24000 mile. Now we continue to have problem with the car stalling. The fuse under the hood for the fuel system continues to blow. No one can seem to find the problem, I have completely replaced the fuel system. It is now in the garage for the eighth time. Dodge will not back their product and the dealer just sends the car out to be repaired, since "they can not fix it". The vin number that was submitted is the number from the car. It is coming up the wrong number, this is the only number I have. *Ak

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 736819
BrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash1 injury

Well lets see the first defect was a fan relay which was replaced 5 times before a wiring defect was found next we have "hard brakes" which contribuited to an accident which caused 7000 dollars in damage and 1 minor injury due to the fact that the air bags did not deploy, we follow that up with a leaky head gasket which chrysler was kind enough to return 1/2 of my out of pocket expenses along with wiring defects and air bags that don't come out other than the fact I have had more problems with this car than every other cars I have ever owned they made up for this lemon by having a bad customer service department too.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 735533
Engine & coolingElectrical systemLightsBody, doors & structure

I bought my neon used (but only a year old) I have had many problems with this car my blinkers come on by themselves, my trunk and back floors are getting drenched (puddles of water 3 inches) my brakes are squaling, my door light is shorting my reverse lights are blown my head gasket has blown twice. I have also had problem with my fires under the hood. This car is made poorly. I am trying to trade it and it not as much as I owe. Talk to dealer but does not seem like they want to help.

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · StructureNHTSA 731841
Engine & coolingElectrical system

My sister in tn has a neon the dealer fixed her head gasket these cars I have been told by one auto repair that he fixes these head gaskets at least one every other week dodge should have done a recall or at least fix the problem I can not get any one on the phone at chrysler and I live here. They should pay the cost they know that its a problem. The up and down stream sensors went bad it cost me $300. To fix. I know a gentleman that had the same problem his went bad twice and the car dealer paid for his. I on the...

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other hand could get no one help with this either. Chrysler needs to be accountable for the problems with there neon's and pay to correct these problems I will not buy another one. If chrysler wants me to buy there product again they need to make the first one right. Thank you for your time and concern.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 728906
Engine & coolingElectrical system

My car had exactly 12000 miles on it when purchased. At around mile 43000, the car began to leak oil. I then took it to a mechanic who told me that it was the valve cover gasket. The repair was to cost me $800 until he also informed me that the problem was reoccuring in dodge neons and should have been recalled. The dodge dealership took care of it. Then, around mile 70000, the car began to overheat tremendously, going dead every time the gas pedal was released, the electrical system began to go haywire, the...

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battery had to be replaced, and as well as the thermostat. I am a college student and for this to be my dependable mode of transportation, it is truly a joke. The dodge corporation should do something about this. Thank you!*Ak

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 727119
Engine & coolingFuel systemElectrical system

My car has had to have a circut board, fuel pump, fuel filter, and new gaskets at only two years old and 39280 miles. I feel that the circut board could cause crash or injury because I cannot tell how fast I am driving or if I have gas in my car. I was told at the dealer that there was a neon with the same problem (circut board) that they had fixed just the week before.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical systemNHTSA 711132
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Vehicle experienced oil leakage. Vehicle taken to an independent repair shop. Consumer was informed of a blown head gasket. Dealer was not notified. Vehcile has also had electrical problems. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 857588
Engine & coolingElectrical systemLightsSeats & seat belts

In the fist month I had the vehicle it blew 4 oxygen sensors.When you go to brake the left turn signal comes on, also the car will shock you when you get out even when it is truned off. The locks on the seat belts in the back seat has broken off for ne reason. The back se

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Seat beltsNHTSA 718897
Electrical systemFire

Under the dash electrical wiring short out, causing a fire, resulting in total loss of vehicle. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 849508
Electrical system

Battery light came on and won't go off. Vehicle is hard to start due to a short within ignition switch. Consumer has to wait until vehicle will start up. Dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 847874
Electrical system

The attachment which covers the airbag / horn assembly is loose and can be pulled off. *Yc

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 845802

Dodge Neon electrical complaints by year

Neon electrical problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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