IllustrationTHIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL NEONS 1996-1999 THE OIL LEAKS DOWN ON THE THE ENGINE AND COULD START A FIRE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsOIL LEAKS(HEAD GASKET), PAINT PEELS FROM 3 SIDES OF THE CAR, OVERHEATS, AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *AK
ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING FLUID. HAD NOTICED LEAKAGE IN DRIVEWAY. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT GASKETS HAD BEEN MANUFACTURERED INCORRECTLY. HEAD GASKETS WERE REPAIRABLE. *AK
AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER NEON OWNERS, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS-LEAKING INTERIOR, HEAD GASKETS BUSTED, NOT TO MENTION OTHER PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPAIRED. *AK
CAR HAVING A OILY SMELL WHEN STOPPING. CAR HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR AWHILE NOW. WENT TO A AUTO SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS A OIL LEAK. HE THOUGHT HE FIX IT THE PROBLEM. THE LEAKING SLOW DOWN BUT I CONTINUE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR TWICE A WEEK!!!!! NOW THE CAR IS STARTING TO DRAG A LITTLE WHEN YOU PUT GAS TO IT ALSO JERK O…
Read full complaint
CAR HAVING A OILY SMELL WHEN STOPPING. CAR HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR AWHILE NOW. WENT TO A AUTO SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS A OIL LEAK. HE THOUGHT HE FIX IT THE PROBLEM. THE LEAKING SLOW DOWN BUT I CONTINUE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR TWICE A WEEK!!!!! NOW THE CAR IS STARTING TO DRAG A LITTLE WHEN YOU PUT GAS TO IT ALSO JERK OR BUMP WHEN IT TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. THE AUTO SHOP ALSO SAY THAT THERE WAY TO MANY NEON COMING TO HIS SHOP LATELY WITH A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND HE WOULDNT TAKE MY CAR. HE SAID GO TO THE DEALER THEY SHOULD HANDLE THIS PROBLEM THEY MY HAVE RECALL. ;-( I NEED HELP!!!*AK
HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE.*JB
ENGINE GASKET LEAKS OIL ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBILE FOR $600-$700 REPAIR. GASKETS BELIEVED TO BE THE WRONG SIZE.*AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND REAR MAIN OIL SEAL THIS CAR HAS ONLY 36000 MILES ON IT AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT OIL LLEAKS FROM THE GASKET CAN IGNITE. *AK
DEALER NOTICED OIL LEAK AT LAST OIL CHANGE...ASSUMED IT WOULD WAS HEAD GASKET AS THEY ARE KNOWN TO FAIL. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE $1200 BUT DEALER RECEIVED "DEAL" FROM CHRYSLER SO I ONLY PAY $485. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN NEARLY ALL NEONS MANUFACTURED FOR THIS BODY STYLE, WHY DIDN'T CHRYSLER ISSUE A RECALL?*AK
IS THERE A HEAD GASKET RECALL ON NEONS? UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THE FOLLOWING NHTSA ITEM #'S THAT COULD INDICATE THERE IS ONE. #SB601763,#SB602898 AND #SB603107. IF SO, AM I ENTITLED TO A REFUND ON WORK DONE ON MY HEAD GASKET.*AK
Official recalls
197V080000 · 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
1PE02082 · 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.