1997 Dodge Neon vs 1997 Mazda Protege
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Dodge Neon | 1997 Mazda Protege |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 390 | 66 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 62 | 83 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 44 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–29 | 23–29 |
| Median reported mileage | 62,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Neon | Mazda Protege |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 222 | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 11 |
| Air Bags | 41 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 33 | 6 |
| Power Train | 26 | 10 |
| Structure | 24 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 17 | 0 |
| Stalling | 12 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 5 | 0 |
1997 Dodge Neon
1997 Mazda Protege
Compare all Dodge Neon vs Mazda Protege years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.