IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. VEHICLE DELAYED IN STOPPING. DEALER NOTIFIED/ INSPECTED AND INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *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 reportsAT 13,000 MILES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN ,CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS LEAK OIL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP WHEN BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A TRUCK. *AK
UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE BAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE A FEW TIMES TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS GRINDING METAL TO METAL WHICH IS COMMON ON THOSE VEHICLES . *AK
RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON THE AIR BAG, HOWEVER FAILURE WHICH CAUSED HORN TO FAIL AND AIR BAG LIGHT TO BE ON CONTINUALLY.
BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20,OOO MILES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS AND STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CENTERED AND IT MAKES A POPPING NOISE.
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE DISLODGED WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SEATBELTS. *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.