1997 Plymouth NEON: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000160 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
1997 BLOWN HEAD GASKET
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000302 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
97 NEON HEAD GASKET FAILURE ONCE IN 2000 AND 12/2002. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR SECOND REPAIR. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002670 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
PAINT IS PEELING OFF CAR, ON DOORS AND TRUNK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002670 at NHTSA ↗
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 10011749 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK WHICH GOES INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. MR SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014879 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014879 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 10020988 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF TIRES ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE, EXCESSIVE WEAR, NEW TIRE ONLY LAST ABOUT 6 TO 7 MONTHS, HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES. MISFIRES A LOT EVEN THOUGH I GET IT TUNED UP EVERY 3 MONTHS, EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE. DEALER GIVES ME NO GOOD ANSWERS FOR THIS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020988 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V080000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 1997-05-16 (May 16, 1997)
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗