IllustrationTHIS CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR PROBLEMS BRAKE PROBLEMS, OIL LEAK, WINDOW LEAKING WITCH THEY SAY THERE NOT RESPONCIBLE FOR . I AM FRIGHTEND BY THE OIL LEAK TO TO POTENCHIAL FIRE HAZERD. I FEAL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. *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
What owners actually said
161 reportsAIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE FOR INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE,NOT DRIVEN @TIME,19 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY !!!*AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. SEE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND 100S OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS. *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
OK I CALLED INDEPENDENCE LAND MARK DODGE THEY GAVE ME A RUN AROUND SAID THERE WAS NOT ANY TSB ON MY CAR .I GOT ON HERE AND THERE WERE TEN PAGES OF THEM FOR MY CAR. MY ? IS THE MANUFACTURE OF MY FEHICLE RESPONSABLE TO PAY FOR THAT TO GET FIXED IF ITS A PROBLAM THATS ON THE TSB .. THANK U MICHAEL TRIGG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN …
Read full complaint
OK I CALLED INDEPENDENCE LAND MARK DODGE THEY GAVE ME A RUN AROUND SAID THERE WAS NOT ANY TSB ON MY CAR .I GOT ON HERE AND THERE WERE TEN PAGES OF THEM FOR MY CAR. MY ? IS THE MANUFACTURE OF MY FEHICLE RESPONSABLE TO PAY FOR THAT TO GET FIXED IF ITS A PROBLAM THATS ON THE TSB .. THANK U MICHAEL TRIGG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD A HOLE BURNING IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT AFTER THE IMPACT. THE FIRE BURNED THE PASSENGER'S CLOTHING AND SKIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED, BUT NOT COMPLETELY AND ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *ML
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.