RoadVitals

1997 Dodge Neon Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
15
Latest Apr 1, 2014
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.
4%
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 the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 15 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 steering

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

Steering
Filed Apr 1, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576182
Incident
Nov 15, 2013
Mileage
167,800 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2003

STEERING KNUCKLE SHEERED OFF OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITH NO COLLISION OR ACCIDENT. RIGHT FRONT HUB CAB FELL OFF AS WELL. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041335
Incident
Sep 3, 2003
Mileage
105,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 2, 2002

POWER STEERING UNIT MAKES NOISE WHEN STARTING OR WHEN MAKING TURNS. VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001375
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Steering
Filed Sep 28, 2000

WHEN DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE OR WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN POWER STEERING BELT GETS WET, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME DIFFICULT WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED BELTS AND HAS TIGHTENED THEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RETURNS WHENEVER IT RAINS. MANUFACTURER HAS PROVIDED DEALER WITH INSTRUCTION TO TIGHTEN BELTS, AND CHECK THE TORQUE EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
871728
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Feb 15, 2000

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THE HEAD GASKET ON MY YOUNG NEON HAS BLOWN.I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES SQUEALING, POWER STEERING LOCKING UP IN WET WEATHER AND THE TURN SIGNAL NOW ONLY WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED THE CAR - AND IT TOOK THE DEALER NEARLY A MONTH TO GET THAT DONE.

NHTSA ID
718253
Incident
Jan 15, 2000
EngineSteering
Filed Jun 22, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
707785
Incident
Mar 15, 1998
Steering
Filed Dec 15, 1998

CONSUMER SAYS THAT ONLY WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS THAT THE POWER STEERING BELT GETS LOOSE, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND THE STEERING WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN TURNING A CORNER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
832279
Incident
Jun 18, 1998
Steering
Filed Nov 13, 1998

POWER STEERING BECOMES INOPERATIVE PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING STEERING TO GO HARD,DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. DEALER HAS TIGHTENED STEERING BELT, AND REPLACED SOME STEERING COMPONENTS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID
830701
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 13, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A WALL. ALSO, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS IN VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
826667
Steering
Filed Jun 13, 1998

CONSUMER HAS HAD THREE INCIDENTS CONCERNING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE LAST INCIDENT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE CANYON ROAD, APPROX 45 MPH, BEFORE COMING TO AN APPROACHING TURN,CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO 35 MPH; STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND HARD TO TURN; CONSUMER BARELY MADE THE TURN, CAUSING DANGER TO CONSUMER . DEALER NOTIFIED. AS ALWAYS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE FOUNDED.

NHTSA ID
824272
Incident
Jun 8, 1998
Steering
Filed Apr 29, 1998

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING HARD LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO TURN, AND BUMPING NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
822904
Incident
Mar 31, 1998
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 9, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE MAP SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ON 10/27/97. ON 10/28/97 WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. DEALER ALSO REPLACED CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
817945
Incident
Oct 26, 1997
Steering
Filed Nov 14, 1997

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 08-NOV-97, CALLED ON THE TENTH OF NOV, DEALER SAID IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN TEN DAYS FOR PARTS. CUNSUMER CLAIMS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
819066
Incident
Nov 10, 1997
BrakesSteering
Filed Oct 24, 1997
Crash reported

STEERING: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH AND WENT OVER SPEED BUMP, STEERING LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT STEER CAR LEFT OR RIGHT, STRUGGLED TO TURN LEFT TO GET BACK ON HIGHWAY, HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HIT 3 TON BOULDER , AND CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
817566
Incident
Oct 13, 1997
BrakesSteeringVisibility
Filed Oct 3, 1997

WINDOW SEALS FAILED DUE TO AIR LEAK.

NHTSA ID
523166
Incident
Sep 25, 1997

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 .