SINCE 2003 THIS VEHICLE HAD SMALL PATCHES AND A CAR WASH BY HAND OR BRUSHLESS AND NO SUN WILL CAUSE IT TO PEEL. THE PATCHES HAVE BECOME LARGER.*JB
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
11 reportsMAJOR 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.
PAINT IS PEELING OFF CAR, ON DOORS AND TRUNK.
ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AT 38,000 MILES. ALL THE FLUIDS ARE FULL AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. IS THIS AN AUTOMATIC THING THAT COMES ON AT 38,000 TO GET THE CAR CHECKED OR IS IT REALY A PROBLEM?*AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN GOING OUT SINCE 1/00, AND NOW SEVERE OIL LEAKS , IVE PUT IN 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE LAST 3 DAYS! (THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN NEARLY ALL 97 NEONS AS, IN MY OPINION, THE MANUFACTURER ADMITS THROUGH AT LEAST TWO SERVICE BULLETINS) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND MY OIL LIGHT N…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN GOING OUT SINCE 1/00, AND NOW SEVERE OIL LEAKS , IVE PUT IN 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE LAST 3 DAYS! (THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN NEARLY ALL 97 NEONS AS, IN MY OPINION, THE MANUFACTURER ADMITS THROUGH AT LEAST TWO SERVICE BULLETINS) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND MY OIL LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF REGARDLESS OF OIL LEVEL IN ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND STRONGLT URGE YOU TO FORCE THEM INTO A RECALL SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX THIER MISTAKES. ALSO MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT TURN OFF AFTER COMPLETION OF A TURN THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE ODOMETER READING OF 30,000. INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, PASSENGER SIDE, KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS TWICE BUT IT IS LOOSE YET AGAIN. MY INTERIOR ROOF LIGHT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE FIRST TIME DOOR PANEL CAME LOOSE. AND LASTLY, IT FREQUENTLY HAPPENS THAT WHEN MY PASSENGER TRYS TO EXIT THE VEHICE THEY RECEIVE A PAINFUL ELECTRIC SHOCK UPON TOUCHING THE DOOR HANDLE OR PANEL. I SINCERELY HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH AT LEAST THE HEAD GASKET DEFAULT ON MY VEHICLE AND ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM!*AK
WHEN DRIVING NOTICED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THEN, ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE EACH TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BE RESOLVED.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DID NOT REPORT PAINT PROMBLEM UNTIL 92,342 MILES. STARTED HAPPENING AT 6/15/99 71,000 MILES. CAN NOT EVEN GO THROUG CAR WASH WITH OUT PAINT PEELING OFF AND LEAVING MY PAINT ALL OVER CAR WASH GROUND. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
PREVIOUS TO EXPERIENCING HEAD GASKET FAILURE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. AT APPROXIMATELY 6 A.M., I WAS COMMUTING TO WORK AT A SPEED OF 45 M.P.H. WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS AND THEN WENT OFF. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN OK UNTIL I ARRIV…
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PREVIOUS TO EXPERIENCING HEAD GASKET FAILURE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. AT APPROXIMATELY 6 A.M., I WAS COMMUTING TO WORK AT A SPEED OF 45 M.P.H. WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS AND THEN WENT OFF. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN OK UNTIL I ARRIVED AT WORK. AFTER WORK, I CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK TO BE DRY. I ADDED OIL TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE VEHICLE AND HE DISCOVERED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THIS MECHANIC - AS WELL AS OTHERS (INCLUDING THE DEALERS') - STATED THAT THE NEON HAS A LONG HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY, THERE WAS A LOT OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM VERY UPSET AT CHRYSLER - ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I HAVE LEARNED OF THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG NEON OWNERS. *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.
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