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1997 Dodge Neon Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026

21Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints
5.4%Of all 390 complaints
#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

Unspecified / other21 · 5.4%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION21 · 5.4%

Share of the 390 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Dodge Neon overview page.

What owners report

“THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH THIS CAR WAS THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR IT (THE $1000 WAS MY ESTIMATE…”NHTSA complaint 715511 — filed 12/01/1999
“HELP ! IT WAS JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO I PURCHASE A 1997 NEON. I WAS SO HAPPY, I WAS GOING TO BE DRIVING A FAIRLY…”NHTSA complaint 706564 — filed 05/17/1999
“HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE, VERY UNHAPPY.”NHTSA complaint 704825 — filed 03/23/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

21998319995200072001220021200312004

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Dodge Neon have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge Neon: 21 of 390 complaints on file (5.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Dodge Neon have in total?

390 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 44 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, 28 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.