IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN TWO ACCIDENTS. FIRST ACCIDENT WAS BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES AT AN IMPACT OF 35 MPH, AND THE SECOND ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN IMPACT OF 45 MPH. UPON BOTH IMPACTS, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPOLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *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 reportsVEHICLE OVERHEATS DUE TO THE RELAY STICKING IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ENGINE GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL WHICH IS SPRAYING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT UP UNTIL THE 2000 NEON, THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTS OF THE HEAD GASKET BEING DEFECTIVE AND MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AGAINST THE FIREWALL AND BACK OF THE ENGINE. IS THIS A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR? *AK
SAID VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONTAL IMPACT CRASH- AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
THE PITTING IN THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET COULD NOT BE SHAVED DOWN WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET TO PREMATURELY LEAK AND TO EVENTUALLY BLOW OUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD GASKET, IT CANNOT HOLD THE OIL PRESSURE,CAUSING AN OIL LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN# *AK
AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE.
THE HEADGASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. INVESTIGATION OF ANOTHER OIL LEAK DETECTED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AGAIN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A CRACKED HEAD. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND HAS REQUESTED THAT I PAY A DEDUCTIBLE.
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CONTINUALLY / INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED DAMAGES AND INJURIES TO OTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CONTINUALLY / INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED DAMAGES AND INJURIES TO OTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *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.