IllustrationTHE VEHICLE IS CONSISTANTLY LEAKING OIL AROUND THE HEADGASKET. EVERY THREE DAYS THE CONSUMER HAS TO ADD OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
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 reportsENGINE DETONATION, DRIVING 55 MPH NORMAL HIGHWAY, PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS. ENGINE BLEW UP IN A BANG, PARTS FELL OFF, GOT CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING (BUT NO POWER)!! *****THE (IDIOT LIGHTS) OIL OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T LIGHT UP BEFORE THE INCIDENT***** DODGE MECHANIC (AT SCHMIT BROS.) CLAIMS "DU…
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ENGINE DETONATION, DRIVING 55 MPH NORMAL HIGHWAY, PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS. ENGINE BLEW UP IN A BANG, PARTS FELL OFF, GOT CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING (BUT NO POWER)!! *****THE (IDIOT LIGHTS) OIL OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T LIGHT UP BEFORE THE INCIDENT***** DODGE MECHANIC (AT SCHMIT BROS.) CLAIMS "DUE TO LACK OF OIL"... HE SAYS MOTOR "WOUND TIGHT". HOW COME ENGINE STILL RAN AFTER EXPLOSION?? THE LAST/PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE WAS ABOUT 4,000 MILES AGO. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE ON THE DAY OF THE DETONATION, EVEN AFTER ENGINE BLEW UP THERE WAS OIL GUSHING OUT ONTO HIGHWAY. REPLACED ONE DEFECTIVE (COILS) SOLENOID AND THREE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDARS DURING OWNERSHIP. CONTACT RAY AT (262) 284-3100 SCHMIT BROS. DODGE, PORT WASHINGTON FOR REPAIR DETAILS. WE TRADED THE DEFECTIVE DODGE IN FOR A USED CAR, WE LOST AROUND $6,000 IN EQUITY/FAIR VALUE. I FEEL DODGE OWES US $6,000 CASH FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. I REALLY MEAN IT!! DODGE SHOULD PAY US. **** COULD DETONATION BE CAUSED BY: LOW GRADE GAS, THOSE FANCY ENGINE VALVES AND ANOTHER FAULTY SOLENOID??*AK
I BOUGHT THIS NEON UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL DODGE AND PLYMOUTH NEONS MAN. BEFORE 1998 , THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT THE COMPANY KNEW THIS AND HAS DONE NOTHING. I HAVE AN 800.00 BILL THAT I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY. THEY REFUSE. IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET THEIR ERROR AND …
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I BOUGHT THIS NEON UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL DODGE AND PLYMOUTH NEONS MAN. BEFORE 1998 , THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT THE COMPANY KNEW THIS AND HAS DONE NOTHING. I HAVE AN 800.00 BILL THAT I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY. THEY REFUSE. IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET THEIR ERROR AND THEY ARE AWARE. *AK
DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE GLASSS WINDOWS SHATTERED. IS THIS NORMAL?
THESE CARS ARE NONE FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKETS NO RECALL MADE YET. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON MANY OF THE DODGE AND PLYMOUTH NEONS AND SIMILAR MAKES. SECRET RECALL BY CHRYSLER WHICH SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EVERYONE.*AK
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED LOSS OF OIL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET
THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET,1ST AT 23000 2ND AT 54000. *AK
I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DAIMLER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON ANY OF THE PARTS THAT HAVE GONE BAD ON MY CAR, BUT I READ THE INFORMAITON ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THE NHTSA SITE. THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE WRONG WITH MY CAR AS WITH THE CARS THAT HAVE RECALLED PARTS, IE BAD TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, AND ELECTRICAL. I HAVE SPENT …
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I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DAIMLER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON ANY OF THE PARTS THAT HAVE GONE BAD ON MY CAR, BUT I READ THE INFORMAITON ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THE NHTSA SITE. THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE WRONG WITH MY CAR AS WITH THE CARS THAT HAVE RECALLED PARTS, IE BAD TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, AND ELECTRICAL. I HAVE SPENT 2,200 DOLLARS FIXING THIS CAR IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, AND NOW THERE IS A ROD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT OTHER NEONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE RECALLED PARTS, BUT MINE DOES NOT. IF THE PARTS DO NOT NEED RECALLED, THEN WHY DID THEY ALL SELF DESTRUCT? I THANK GOD THAT I WAS NOT STRANDED WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. I CAN'T DRIVE MY SON IN MY CAR NOW BECAUSE THE ROD MAY COME COMPLETELY LOOSE AND STRAND US. ALSO, I HAVE TO DRIVE 15 MILES TO SCHOOL FOUR DAYS A WEEK, AND DON'T HAVE A RELIABLE CAR, ANYMORE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING STUCK ALONGSIDE THE ROAD IN TEN DEGREE WEATHER. PLEASE CONTACT ME CONCERNING THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT I FILLED OUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY TIME THAT COULD BE SPENT EXPLAINING MY CURRENT SITUATION/OPTIONS TO ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.*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.