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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

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1Investigations

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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

Steering complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
122,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

IN HEAVY RAIN THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE 02 SENSOR, AND NOW THE COOLING FANS DON`T WORK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A MUSTY SMELL WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR COND. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE EGR VALVE IT IS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER THAT KEEPS GOING WRONG WITH THIS …

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IN HEAVY RAIN THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE 02 SENSOR, AND NOW THE COOLING FANS DON`T WORK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A MUSTY SMELL WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR COND. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE EGR VALVE IT IS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER THAT KEEPS GOING WRONG WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10068910

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
SteeringCrash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HIM. CAR WENT INTO A SPIN AND SPINNED INTO A FIVE FOOT CONCRETE WALL. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH. NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848304

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 1999
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING LED TO VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS RESULTED IN BURNS TO DRIVER (CHEST,ARMS). MJS

NHTSA ODI #548098

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999
Steering

ON WET PAVEMENTS THE STEERING WHEEL JAMS UP. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844911

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 1998
Steering

VEHICLE PULLS AND STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CENTERED AND IT MAKES A POPPING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #530468

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1997
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #525404

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.