Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Dodge Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Consumer stated her brakes failed. There was a multi-car accident on the beltway. As she approached she saw the truck in front of her apply his brakes, she then applied her brakes. Her vehicle did not stop and the vehicle rear ended the truck in front of her. The air bags did not deploy, and she received some musculoskeletal injuries and was very sore. Her vehicle was totaled. Daimlerchrysler won't claim any responsibility for the defect on the vehicle.
Contact states: while driving approximately 35 MPH the consumer swerved to avoid hitting another car, however his door was scratched, then the vehicle stalled and the air bags deployed. The consumer suffered a minor injury to his wrist due to the deployment of the air bag.
Tl*- the contact was exiting the parking complex while driving the 1997 Dodge Neon at 5 MPH, when the airbags deployed without warning. This caused the windows on both doors to shatter, and the dashboard and air conditioner vents to come off. The vehicle did not strike or hit anything to cause the airbags to deploy. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause. The vehicle currently has 108000 miles.
Driving at 35 MPH, a pickup truck pulled out in front of and I crashed into the drivers side door. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy, the seat belt did not restrain me from slamming forward, and the seat lock did not engage. The Chrysler investigator claims that all three restraint systems worked properly yet the dealer replaced both the seat belts and the seat locks.
Turned on the car with foot on brake, put car in drive, removed foot from brake and car accelerated and hit head on a 1999 Dodge dakota. Pressed on the brake as car sped across the lot and nothing happened. Engine made high pitched whirring noise. Airbags did not deploy. My incident resembles the one posted on the NHTSA web site odi id# 535732.
While making a turn, a vehicle hit the side of the bumper, causing the vehicle to turn and hit a pole on the front end, in which driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy. Did not protect the occupant in this accident. Cause unknown. No one has inspected the vehicle as of yet. Please provide further information.
While driving 30 MPH, applying the brakes and the braking system malfunctioned, causing the brakes to lock up and vehicle to spin around. Had a rollover in which the defective seatbelt unlatched during the accident, and after rollover was completed the driver's and passenger's airbags deflated improperly.
While in the house heard a big boom noise. Went out side and the front window was in flames. Took to mechanic, and and mechanic said that a previous dealer had punctured the air bag and some fluid was leaking into car for 8 month., dealer believed this was what caused the fire.
Driving at aprrox 45 MPH rearended another vehicle, dual air bags did not deploy. Front end received $4500 worth of damage alone. Consumer had concussion, hit steering wheel. Seat belts was worn at the time, chest injuries. Dealer claims to high of a hit did not disturb sensor.
When traveling on wet pavement/upon depressing brake pedal the vehicle went into a skid, consumer was involved in a rear end collision in which the driver's and passenger's side air bags deployed, causing the windshield to blow out. Please provide any further details.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.
Airbag complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Dodge Neon?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Dodge Neon, 11% of the model year's 390 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (31 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Dodge Neon airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 97V-080 (sensor/control module-inactive, May 16, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Neon airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 138,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 31 crashes, 3 fires and 21 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.