1997 Plymouth Neon

Defect. THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.

Risk. UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVE-THRU, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED, BUT STATED NOTHING WAS HIT OR RUN OVER. BOTH FRONT WINDOWS SHATTERED AND THE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

I BOUGHT THIS 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON ON 8/19/2005 USED WITH 66000 MILES IT SEEMED LIKE A SOLID VEHICLE BUT IN SEPT/OCT WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF RAIN AND I NOTICED PUDDLES IN MY BACK SEAT AREA ON THE FLOOR BOTH SIDES,I CHECKED AROUND THE CAR FOR OPEN WINDOWS ECT.....THERE WAS NOTHING I CHECKED THE TRUNK AND IT SEEMED DAMP BUT NOTHING AS TO MAKE THE REAR FLOOR WET LIKE IT WAS. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL?I KNOW IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE NOW BUT WHAT IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND NOW WITH ME IT COULD TURN INTO A SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE FLOOR WAS TO GET RUSTY AND ROT THROUGH SOMEONE COULD END UP GETTING SEVERELY INJURED. IF THERE IS ANY INFO ON THIS PROBLEM COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOMEHOW THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *NM

SINCE 2003 THIS VEHICLE HAD SMALL PATCHES AND A CAR WASH BY HAND OR BRUSHLESS AND NO SUN WILL CAUSE IT TO PEEL. THE PATCHES HAVE BECOME LARGER.*JB

PLYMOUTH NEON 1997 FOUND PAINT USED TO PAINT NEON IS DEFECTIVE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS PEELING OFF IN ALARMINGLY LARGE PATCHES. *JB

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

THE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER WAS DISCOLORED AND DETERIORATED. THE LENS HAS BECOME OPAQUE TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE HIGHWAY PROPERLY. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT HAS NOT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

FIRESTONE FR480 P175 70R14 DOT CODE (HYEP FRA 229) 4 NEW TIRES PURCHASED NOV 8, 2003 FROM FIRESTONE DEALER IN PORT RICHEY FL, APPARENTLY MANUFACTURED 22ND WEEK OF 1999. *JB TIRE FAILED CATOSTROPHICALLY ON INTERSTATE CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON CAUSED BY THE TIRE. THERE WAS A BLOWN OUT SECTION OF THE TIRE THROUGH THE METAL BELTS AND COMPLETE TREAD SEPERATION AROUND 3/4S OF THE TIRE. IT APPEARTS BASED ON THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE TIRE, THAT FIRESTONE HAS KEPT THESE TIRES IN A WAREHOUSE DURING THE PRIOR LAWSUITS AND INVESTIGATIONS, AND NOW THAT THINGS ARE QUIET, HAVE RETURNED THEM TO THE MARKET. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THE SALE TO ME OF 4 BRAND NEW TIRES THAT ARE ACTUALLY OVER 4 YEARS OLD. PLUS, 1 BLEW OUT NEARLY CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GET MY CAR FIXED OR NEW TIRES, OTHER THAN A REPLACEMENT OF THE SINGLE BLOWN OUT TIRE.

1997 PLYMOUTH NEON HEADGASKET FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEM OF THE ORIGINAL GASKET.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAD BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE FIRDT TIME WAS AT APROXMITLY 40,000 MILES AND NOW A SECOND TIME AT 85000 MILES.

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.

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 PASSENGER SIDE PANEL BEHIND REAR WINDOW. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T ROLL UP TIGHT AND AIR BLOWS IN AND IT WHISTLES. ALSO LINES ON WINDOWS ON PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FROM ROLLING IT UP AND DOWN.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAK. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A N ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT NHTSA TO URGE THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL OE ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK

VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY. DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER BOUGHT NEON NEW IN 1997. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK, AND WOULD COST $450 TO FIX IT. CONSUMER THOUGHT DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT THE LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SINCE HE ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED THERE. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WAS LEAKING 1 QUART PER DAY. CONSUMER TALKED TO MECHANICS, WHO INDICATED THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES FOR THE SAME LEAKING PROBLEM AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT AXLE BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE HEADS GASKET WAS ALSO REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE THEY BLEW AND WERE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

68000 MILES. BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CAR IS ON 2ND HEAD GASKET ALREADY. THIS'LL BE THE 3RD. MAJOR OIL & COOLANT LEAKAGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS NEON OWNERS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. PLEASE COMPEL CHRYSLER TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE REVERSING BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. DRIVER SUSTAINED LIGHT BRUISES AND EYE IRRITATION FROM THE CONTENTS OF THE AIR BAGS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN OIL LEAK AT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR BEGINNING AT 35,108 MILES. THE LEAK CONTINUED TO 05/30/03, WITH NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE EGR VALVE IS CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE EGR VALVA CAN NOT WITHSTAND THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION HEAT IN AN ILLUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE.*TS

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 RESEARCH AND LOCATED A WEBSITE THAT INFORMED CONSUMERS OF MANUFACTURE DEFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE NEONS FROM THE 1995 TO 1998. A NUMBER OF COMPLAINS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRYSLER CORPORATION BY OTHER CONSUMERS. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHANNEL 5 TARGET INVESTIGATION NEWS TEAM IN CHICAGO, IL AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THESE PROBLEMS AS WELL. TARGET 5 INVESTIGATION MADE ME AWARE OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAIN THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND I THINK THESE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS WARRANT YOUR INVESTIGATION AS WELL, HOPEFULLY, PROMPTING A NATIONAL RECALL. REPAIRING A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY A CRACKED SEAL ON THE ENGINE, IS A VERY COSTLY PROCEDURE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOUR FINDINGS. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, REVERSE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, WINDOW SEALS AND SEALS TO THE TRUNK ARE FALLING OFF, THE TRUNK IS TAKING IN WATER WHICH IS DRAINING INTO THE VEHICLE'S REAR FLOOR. *NLM

1997 PLYMOUTH NEON WITH 84,000 MILES SPRAYING OIL ONTO EXHAUST. COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND HAVE SMELLED OIL BURNING AND SEEN SOME SMOKE.NEED TO CALL DEALER. VERY UNSAFE.*AK

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

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BEFORE AT 25,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *NLM

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK WHICH GOES INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. MR SCC

THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED. *JB

PAINT IS PEELING OFF CAR, ON DOORS AND TRUNK.

97 NEON HEAD GASKET FAILURE ONCE IN 2000 AND 12/2002. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR SECOND REPAIR. TS

1997 BLOWN HEAD GASKET

AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *YH

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPOTS UNDER CAR, RADIATOR BLEW TWO MONTHS PRIOR, CONSUMER FEELS ITS A DEFECTED HOSE, ITS TOO SMALL AND BLOWS OUT HEADGASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

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

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OIL LEAKING ON BACK OF ENGINE. MR

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET BLEW 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB

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

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARDS.ALSO, AXLE BROKE, AND CV JOINTS FAILED WHICH PREVENTED WHEEL FROM TURNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

COOLING FAN WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND BOTH INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERVED UNDER A RECALL. *AK *YH

VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL LEAK . LEAK PROGRESSED OVER A MONTH'S PERIOD AND WAS CAUSED BY A HEAD GASKET TO FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND SENT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT'S A NEON, THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!*JB

THE VEHICLE IS CONSISTANTLY LEAKING OIL AROUND THE HEADGASKET. EVERY THREE DAYS THE CONSUMER HAS TO ADD OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

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 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 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