RoadVitals

1997 Dodge Neon Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jan 8, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 390 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed Jan 8, 2008
Fire reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10214211
Incident
Jul 1, 2007
Mileage
97,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesExterior lighting
Filed Apr 19, 2006
Fire reported

MY FIRST COMPLAINT WOULD BE ABOUT THE PAINT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PEELING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS NOW, IT BUBBLES THEN PEELS AND GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY. IT IS NOW PEELING IN 6 SPOTS, THE LARGEST IS THE SIZE OF A WATERMELON. VERY UNHAPPY!!!! SECOND, THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, THE SQUEALING OF METAL ON METAL HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DAY 1 OF GETTING MY CAR. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING LIKE CRAZY. I PULLED OVER AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 60KM/HR. I TRIED DRIVING MY CAR TO THE MECHANICS BUT IN THE END DID NOT GET VERY FAR. I PULLED OVER ONCE AGAIN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL. I ALSO NOTICED THE WHEEL WELL CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE FRICTION. MY CAR WAS THEN TOWED AND MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CEASED CALIPER. BEWARE, THIS WAS SCARY. MY WHOLE FRONT END BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOO ADD, I FIND IT'S HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE HEAD LIGHTS. THEY ARE FOGGY AND DON'T GIVE OUT ENOUGH LIGHT. LASTLY, I FIND THAT THE SEALANTS ON THE WINDOWS OF MY TWO DOOR ARE HORRIBLE. I HAVE TO PUSH ON MY WINDOW WHEN CLOSING IT IN ORDER FOR THE WINDOW TO SEAL. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, MY CAR WAS STOLEN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PAINT, BREAKS AND HEADLIGHT COVERS AND WINDOWS/SEALS!!! *JB

NHTSA ID
10155727
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+3 more
Filed Jun 23, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10079946
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed May 25, 2003

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS BECAME FOGGY AFTER 3 YEARS OF SERVICE. INCLUDED CRACKING AND GLAZING. RESULT WAS REDUCED LIGHT INTENSITY AVAILABLE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO REGAIN ABILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY AT NIGHT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019279
Incident
May 23, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 15, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
760709
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Body & structureExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 5, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
757823
Exterior lighting
Filed May 4, 2001

WENT TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS AND SWITCH BROKE OFF IN CONSUMER'S HAND. WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK

NHTSA ID
887460
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Sep 19, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID
731841
EngineExterior lightingSuspension+1 more
Filed Feb 21, 2000

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE, AS WELL AS THREE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCHES BECAUSE THE BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THERE IS ALSO A CLNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END AND SAFETY TSB'S ON IT AND THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO CORRECT IT WHEN UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER, DODGE'S PHILOSOPHY IS WAIT TILL THE BUMPER TO BUMPER IS DONE TO HAVE THE PERSON PAY EITHER WITH THE DEDUCTABLE ON THE SERVICE CONTRACT OR OUT OF POCKET. LEGISLATION SHOULD BE PASSED TO HAVE A 3-36 WAR. ON ALL REPLACEMENT PARTS INSTALLED DURING A WAR. PERIOD INCASE OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
719022
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 17, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
718897
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 1999

THERE IS A LEAK IN THE TRUNK AREA, FLOODING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WITH THREE INCHES OF WATER . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE THE NON SEALING OF THE TRUNK AND TAIL LIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
851920
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 25, 1999

REVERSE LIGHTS DOES NOT WORK. THE LIGHTS AND FUSES HAVE BEEN TESTED AND SHOW NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
845823

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .