AI Damage1997 Plymouth Neon: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Plymouth Neon filed 161 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 161
- involving a crash
- 19
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 64% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 4% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 3% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 103 complaints (64% of all).
- Air bags: 16 complaints (10% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 14 complaints (9% of all).
- Service brakes: 12 complaints (7% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 9 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 161 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 103 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 16 | 9 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During airbag deployment both driver and passenger side glasss windows shattered. Is this normal?
While stopping vehicle was rearended by a truck and pushed into another vehicle. Front passenger's seat broke and went backwards where headrest was on backseat. Did not contact dealer.
Upon impact, airbags did not deploy, and seat belt did not retract, resulting in minor injuries. Vehicle was totalled.the dealer and manufacturer have been notified.
Consumer was involved in a frontal collision in which driver's air bag deployed and caught on fire. The airbag on the passenger side had a hole burning in the middle right after the impact. The fire burned the passenger's clothing and skin. Cause unknown.
Consumer was involved in a 40 mph frontal collision in which the driver's air bag deployed and caught on fire. The airbag on the passenger side deployed, but not completely and also caught on fire.
After starting vehicle up and putting it into drive, vhicle took off and ran across the street, hitting 2 cars. Driver applied brakes, and the vehicle would not stop. No one has seen vehicle.
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.
At 55mph hood latch popped open, causing hood to fly up, obstructing the view of the driver, and resulting in a collision. Driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. Manufacturer has been notified.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,490 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 7% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Neon has 153 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 161, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Plymouth Neon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, air bags, powertrain. Total complaints: 161. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (18%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%), windows, sunroof (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Plymouth Neon?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Plymouth Neon from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.