16 of the 553 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Neon are about the steering — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 136,400 miles.
16
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10576182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
STEERING KNUCKLE SHEERED OFF OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITH NO COLLISION OR ACCIDENT. RIGHT FRONT HUB CAB FELL OFF AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10041335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #8001375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
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.
NHTSA complaint #871728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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 complaint #718253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #707785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
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.
NHTSA complaint #832279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #830701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
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.
NHTSA complaint #830701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #826667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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 complaint #824272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
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.
NHTSA complaint #822904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #817945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #523166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #819066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #817566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.