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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

What owners actually said

161 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING AT 10-15 MPH CONSUMER PUSHED ON BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE THE CHECK VALVE, AND THEY REPLACED IT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SECOND TIME THEY CHANGED BRAKES, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND INFORMATION REGARDING A MEMO THAT EGR VAVLE…

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WHILE TRAVELING AT 10-15 MPH CONSUMER PUSHED ON BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE THE CHECK VALVE, AND THEY REPLACED IT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SECOND TIME THEY CHANGED BRAKES, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND INFORMATION REGARDING A MEMO THAT EGR VAVLE WOULD CORRECT PROBLEM BECAUSE WATER GOT IN IT AND FROZE UP CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES.*AK CHRYSLER IS DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #879504

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS JUST INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739532

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739305

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING OILTO LEAK ONTO ENGINE WHICH SMOKES AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKETS THREE TIMES.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #877253

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Power Train

VEHICLE WOULD TAKE 15-20 SECONDS TO GO IN REVERSE, AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG LOUD BANG/JERK IN REAR. ALSO, SLIPPED INTO 3RD GEAR. AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE COULD EXPLAIN WHY, BUT THAT HAPPENED IN ALL CHRYSLER CARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875857

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILED WHICH CAUSED ENGINE OVERHEATING AND THEN WATER PUMP FAILURE DUE TO DEFECT IN THE ANTI-FREEZE RESEVOIR - THE NIPPLE FOR RETURNING ANTI-FREEZE TO ENGINE WAS MOLDED CLOSED. DEALER DID NOT ADVISE ME OF RECALL ON RELAY AND WANTS ME TO PAY A FEE TO INSPECT RESEVOIR. REFUSES TO PAY FOR WATER PUMP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735249

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 97 PLYMOUTH NEON IS ON ITS 3RD HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT BUT IS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 HEAD GASKETS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT AND KEEPS MAKING NEW HEAD GASKETS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT COST ME $770 TO HAVE IT FIXED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. IT SHOU…

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MY 97 PLYMOUTH NEON IS ON ITS 3RD HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT BUT IS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 HEAD GASKETS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT AND KEEPS MAKING NEW HEAD GASKETS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT COST ME $770 TO HAVE IT FIXED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. IT SHOULD NOT COST ME A DIME TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT.

NHTSA ODI #734773

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #872866

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAK FROM BACK OF SIDE OF HEAD GASKET MAY NEED NEW GASKET OR HAVE CRACK IN HEAD REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

NHTSA ODI #733797

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET BLEW, OIL ALL OVER, ,AND MACHINE STALLED ON HWY THE MECHANIC SAYS, MOTOR IS DESTROYED. I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO HOW AN DWHY THIS HAPPENED, I HAVE SENT EMAIL TO CHRYSLER NO REPLY SO FAR I THINK CAR STALLING ON HWY COULD BE DANGEROUS, ACCIDENT INJURY DEATH ETC NO PERSONAL HARM MY SISTER 'S MERCURY HAD SAME PROBLEM AND CAR…

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HEAD GASKET BLEW, OIL ALL OVER, ,AND MACHINE STALLED ON HWY THE MECHANIC SAYS, MOTOR IS DESTROYED. I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO HOW AN DWHY THIS HAPPENED, I HAVE SENT EMAIL TO CHRYSLER NO REPLY SO FAR I THINK CAR STALLING ON HWY COULD BE DANGEROUS, ACCIDENT INJURY DEATH ETC NO PERSONAL HARM MY SISTER 'S MERCURY HAD SAME PROBLEM AND CAR WAS RECALLED BY DEALER LATER ON- AFTER WE MADE ALL REPAIRS- DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTICES FROM COMPANY OR OTHER OWNERS IN THIS REGARD? IF THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED IN TO AS SAFETY PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #733427

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.