1997 Plymouth NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
112 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 60 of 112 complaints (53.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 60 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 60; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12; Unknown Or Other: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Structure: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 90 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 38 |
| 2001 | 25 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
2000: 38; 2001: 25; 2002: 21; 2003: 17; 2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007436 · 2002-10-02 (October 2, 2002)
BRAKES REDONE AFTER 3 YEARS, HEAD GASKET REPLACED AFTER 4 YEARS, CLEAR COAT ON PAINT ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED, MUFFLER ALMOST FELL OFF, EXHAUST DETECTED IN CABIN OF CAR, REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN, SEALS ON WINDOWS FALLING DOWN DOOR JAM. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768018
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070482 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS REPLACED. CRACKED MANIFOLD REPLACED. BLOWER MOTOR TO HEATER WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. IGNITION COIL REPLACED. ALSO TIRES, BRAKES, STRUTS, BATTERY. WHEN I FIRST LEASED THE CAR I HAD TO GET NEW TIRES AS THERE WERE PLUGS IN TWO OF THE TIRES AND THEY BLEW OUT. WHEN I LEASED THE CAR IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD AND PREVIOUSLY LEASED. I HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED THAT WAS MISSING, LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK AND THAT WAS REPLACED. ALSO, PAINT ON HOOD IS BUBBLING AND IS STARTING TO PEEL ON RIGHT PASSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015518 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068910 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098689 · 2004-11-11 (November 11, 2004)
CAR STALLED OUT AND STOPPED ON FREEWAY! I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. STATED RIGHT UP BUT STALLED AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP (PEPBOYS). THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS BEFORE REFERRING ME TO DEALERSHIP AS THEY COULD NOT FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS ENGINE WIRE HARNESS AT $930.00 TO FIX. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER KNOWS PART IS FAILING IN NEONS BUT DECLINED TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. DEALERSHIPS ORDERED PART 7 DAYS AGO. STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED AND I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733427 · 2000-10-04 (October 4, 2000)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023631 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF MECHANICAL FAILURES TO MY 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON WHICH I PURCHASED TWO YEARS AGO. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; RADIO STOPPED WORKING, CLOCK DISPLAY WOULD BLACKOUT. THE MOST RECENT WAS EXPERIENCING A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. HOWEVER, HAD THE GASKET BLOWN WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY JUST MINUTES BEFORE THEN, THE SCENE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. I DISCOVERED OIL IN MY ANTIFREEZE. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8018593 · 2002-09-13 (September 13, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING APPLYED BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE STEERING LINE ,CAUSING A WHOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE,WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.CONTACTED DEALER. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8018593 at NHTSA ↗