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1997 Plymouth Neon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Plymouth Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 151.

About this comparison →
161Owner complaints

Model-year median: 151

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
1994481
1995308
1996161
1997167
199862
1999141
2000
Compare all Neon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
103Air Bags
16Power Train
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Unknown Or Other
11
All reported categories
Structure
9Electrical System
8Steering
6Exterior Lighting
5Seat Belts
5Suspension
5Tires
5Visibility
4Equipment
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 22 of 161 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

103 reports
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67,000 miles · Nov 11, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLED OUT AND STOPPED ON FREEWAY! I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. STATED RIGHT UP BUT STALLED AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP (PEPBOYS). THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS BEFORE REFERRING ME TO DEALERSHIP AS THEY COULD NOT FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS ENGINE WIRE HARNESS AT $930.00 TO FIX. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER KNOWS…

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CAR STALLED OUT AND STOPPED ON FREEWAY! I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. STATED RIGHT UP BUT STALLED AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP (PEPBOYS). THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS BEFORE REFERRING ME TO DEALERSHIP AS THEY COULD NOT FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS ENGINE WIRE HARNESS AT $930.00 TO FIX. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER KNOWS PART IS FAILING IN NEONS BUT DECLINED TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. DEALERSHIPS ORDERED PART 7 DAYS AGO. STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED AND I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098689

82,000 miles · Jan 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1997 PLYMOUTH NEON HEADGASKET FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEM OF THE ORIGINAL GASKET.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10055175

65,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS REPLACED. CRACKED MANIFOLD REPLACED. BLOWER MOTOR TO HEATER WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. IGNITION COIL REPLACED. ALSO TIRES, BRAKES, STRUTS, BATTERY. WHEN I FIRST LEASED THE CAR I HAD TO GET NEW TIRES AS THERE WERE PLUGS IN TWO OF THE TIRES AND THEY BLEW OUT. WHEN I LEASED THE CAR IT…

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MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS REPLACED. CRACKED MANIFOLD REPLACED. BLOWER MOTOR TO HEATER WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. IGNITION COIL REPLACED. ALSO TIRES, BRAKES, STRUTS, BATTERY. WHEN I FIRST LEASED THE CAR I HAD TO GET NEW TIRES AS THERE WERE PLUGS IN TWO OF THE TIRES AND THEY BLEW OUT. WHEN I LEASED THE CAR IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD AND PREVIOUSLY LEASED. I HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED THAT WAS MISSING, LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK AND THAT WAS REPLACED. ALSO, PAINT ON HOOD IS BUBBLING AND IS STARTING TO PEEL ON RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE PANEL BEHIND REAR WINDOW. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T ROLL UP TIGHT AND AIR BLOWS IN AND IT WHISTLES. ALSO LINES ON WINDOWS ON PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FROM ROLLING IT UP AND DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10070482

122,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

IN HEAVY RAIN THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE 02 SENSOR, AND NOW THE COOLING FANS DON`T WORK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A MUSTY SMELL WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR COND. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE EGR VALVE IT IS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER THAT KEEPS GOING WRONG WITH THIS …

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IN HEAVY RAIN THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE 02 SENSOR, AND NOW THE COOLING FANS DON`T WORK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A MUSTY SMELL WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR COND. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE EGR VALVE IT IS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER THAT KEEPS GOING WRONG WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10068910

85,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAD BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE FIRDT TIME WAS AT APROXMITLY 40,000 MILES AND NOW A SECOND TIME AT 85000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10068816

65,000 miles · Dec 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049980

97,000 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A N ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT NHTSA TO URGE THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL OE ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048297

77,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY. DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046292

25,000 miles · Oct 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER BOUGHT NEON NEW IN 1997. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK, AND WOULD COST $450 TO FIX IT. CONSUMER THOUGHT DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT THE LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SINCE HE ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED THERE. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE W…

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CONSUMER BOUGHT NEON NEW IN 1997. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK, AND WOULD COST $450 TO FIX IT. CONSUMER THOUGHT DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT THE LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SINCE HE ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED THERE. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WAS LEAKING 1 QUART PER DAY. CONSUMER TALKED TO MECHANICS, WHO INDICATED THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES FOR THE SAME LEAKING PROBLEM AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10042914

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT AXLE BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE HEADS GASKET WAS ALSO REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE THEY BLEW AND WERE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10040617

Official recalls

1

97V080000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

May 16, 1997

THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.