1997 Plymouth Neon complaints

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING, ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SHOP, THEY TOLD US THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. WE HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SHOP THAT CONFIRMED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED US OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND TOLD US TO CONTACT CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER TOLD US THE CAR NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT AT A DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO RAINIER DODGE. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND TOLD US THE CAR HAD THROWN A ROD, THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE HEAD GASKETS. IT WILL COST BETWEEN 2500.00 AND 4000.00 TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN THE CAR. WE FEEL THAT CHRYSLER IS RESPONSIBLE AND THEIR DEALER IS ONLY COVERING FOR THEM. WE STILL OWE 5900.00 ON THE CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT NEW MOTOR IN. WHEN WE ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT AT RAINIER WHY A CAR WOULD THROW A ROD WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ANSWER WE REC'D WAS IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AND THEY CAN GUARANTEE THAT IT WAS NOT THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING THAT CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SEIZE. CAN YOU HELP?*AK

DRIVING CAR IN MORNING. CAR HESITATED TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, HEARD THIS HIGH PITCH WINING NOISE, DECREASED SPEED AND CAR WENT INTO GEAR. LATER THAT DAY WAS SHIFTING FINE BUT CONTINUED TO HAVE HIGH PITCHED WINING NOISE. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AFTER I CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID AAND IT WAS FINE. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW BUT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN BRING IT BACH. 2 DAYS LATER SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. (QUALITY TRANSMISSION) THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN . TOOK CAR TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION SAME AFTERNOON FOR SECOND OPINION BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT OTHER SHOP WAS NOTORIOUS FOR RIPPING PEOPLE OFF. SAID I SHOULD BRING IT TO THEM. THEY CHECKED OUT CAR AND CHANGED FILTER AND FLUID. WHEN I PICKED CAR UP FROM SHOP THEY CONFIRMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID IF I PUT THIS STUFF CALED DURALUBE IN IT IT WOULD HELP TILL I COULD SAVE MONEY TO HAVE CAR FIXED. CHARGED ME $20.00 FOR IT. THEY SAID THAT IF WINING STATED BACK OR SHIFTING PROBLEMS OCCURRED IT WOULD BE SOONER THEN LATER THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. 1 WEEK LATER, CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. WAS DRIVING AND LOST GEAR. TURNED AROUND TO COME HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY, AND BY TIME I GOT HOME HAD ALSO LOST 3RD GEAR. NEXT DAY CAR WAS SHIFTING FINE AGAIN. WENT TO SHOPS TO GET QUOTES ON REBUILD KITS, THEY SAID CAR WAS TO NEW. THAT IT WOULD COST ME UP TO $ 5,000.00 TO ORDER FROM FACTORY. THIS WAS MY

HEAD GASKET FAILED (OIL LEAK) AT 40000 MILES, THIS IS PREMATURE FOR ANY CAR UNDER VIRTUALLY ANY CONDITIONS AND IS QUITE COMMON IF COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA ARE ANY INDICATION AT ALL. CHRYSLER BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN 1999 AND DESIGNED A NEW MLS HEAD GASKET. AS THE HEAD GASKET WAS REENGINEERED AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FAILURES OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, I THINK IT SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING ERROR. MY QUESTION IS, IF THIS IS CHRYSLER ENGINEERING MISTAKE WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY $597 TO REPAIR IT, WHY HASN'T CHRYSLER RECALLED THESE ENGINES TO FIX THEM AT THEIR EXPENSE?*AK

BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. *YH

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. *AK

I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE HEAD GASKETS GOING BAD. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE RECALLED? WHEN THEY START KILLING PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAYS WEHEN THEY BLOW? THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE ALUMINUM HEAD, AND THE ENGINE, AND THE GASKET. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP! CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE MADE TO RECALL AND REPLACE THEM AND THE HEADS WHICH ARE BEING MESSED UP DUE TO THE GASKETS GOING, AND LEADKING.*AK

I OWN A 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. IT IS TO COSTLY FOR ME TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT.SO THE CAR WHICH I AM STILL PAYING OR, SITS IN MY YARD UNTILL I CAN COME UP WITH $1,500.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. OIL IN COOLING SYSTEM. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, NO HELP THERE. I STILL OWE $5000 ON A CAR WITH A MESSED UP MOTOR. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER KNEW THESE GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT IN 1998. WHY WEREN'T OWNERS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. IT'S ALOT CHEAPER TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET RATHER THAN REPLACE THE MOTOR. I CALLED THE 1-800 NUMBER AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME. SAME WITH THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO. *AK

THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL NEONS 1996-1999 THE OIL LEAKS DOWN ON THE THE ENGINE AND COULD START A FIRE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *AK

OIL LEAKS(HEAD GASKET), PAINT PEELS FROM 3 SIDES OF THE CAR, OVERHEATS, AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING FLUID. HAD NOTICED LEAKAGE IN DRIVEWAY. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT GASKETS HAD BEEN MANUFACTURERED INCORRECTLY. HEAD GASKETS WERE REPAIRABLE. *AK

AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER NEON OWNERS, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS-LEAKING INTERIOR, HEAD GASKETS BUSTED, NOT TO MENTION OTHER PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPAIRED. *AK

CAR HAVING A OILY SMELL WHEN STOPPING. CAR HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR AWHILE NOW. WENT TO A AUTO SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS A OIL LEAK. HE THOUGHT HE FIX IT THE PROBLEM. THE LEAKING SLOW DOWN BUT I CONTINUE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR TWICE A WEEK!!!!! NOW THE CAR IS STARTING TO DRAG A LITTLE WHEN YOU PUT GAS TO IT ALSO JERK OR BUMP WHEN IT TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. THE AUTO SHOP ALSO SAY THAT THERE WAY TO MANY NEON COMING TO HIS SHOP LATELY WITH A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND HE WOULDNT TAKE MY CAR. HE SAID GO TO THE DEALER THEY SHOULD HANDLE THIS PROBLEM THEY MY HAVE RECALL. ;-( I NEED HELP!!!*AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE.*JB

ENGINE GASKET LEAKS OIL ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBILE FOR $600-$700 REPAIR. GASKETS BELIEVED TO BE THE WRONG SIZE.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND REAR MAIN OIL SEAL THIS CAR HAS ONLY 36000 MILES ON IT AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT OIL LLEAKS FROM THE GASKET CAN IGNITE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DEALER NOTICED OIL LEAK AT LAST OIL CHANGE...ASSUMED IT WOULD WAS HEAD GASKET AS THEY ARE KNOWN TO FAIL. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE $1200 BUT DEALER RECEIVED "DEAL" FROM CHRYSLER SO I ONLY PAY $485. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN NEARLY ALL NEONS MANUFACTURED FOR THIS BODY STYLE, WHY DIDN'T CHRYSLER ISSUE A RECALL?*AK

IS THERE A HEAD GASKET RECALL ON NEONS? UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THE FOLLOWING NHTSA ITEM #'S THAT COULD INDICATE THERE IS ONE. #SB601763,#SB602898 AND #SB603107. IF SO, AM I ENTITLED TO A REFUND ON WORK DONE ON MY HEAD GASKET.*AK

CONSTANT LOSS OF OIL. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND STATED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 10-15 MPH CONSUMER PUSHED ON BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE THE CHECK VALVE, AND THEY REPLACED IT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SECOND TIME THEY CHANGED BRAKES, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND INFORMATION REGARDING A MEMO THAT EGR VAVLE WOULD CORRECT PROBLEM BECAUSE WATER GOT IN IT AND FROZE UP CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES.*AK CHRYSLER IS DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM. *SLC

I WAS JUST INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING OILTO LEAK ONTO ENGINE WHICH SMOKES AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKETS THREE TIMES.*AK *SLC

VEHICLE WOULD TAKE 15-20 SECONDS TO GO IN REVERSE, AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG LOUD BANG/JERK IN REAR. ALSO, SLIPPED INTO 3RD GEAR. AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE COULD EXPLAIN WHY, BUT THAT HAPPENED IN ALL CHRYSLER CARS. *AK

RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILED WHICH CAUSED ENGINE OVERHEATING AND THEN WATER PUMP FAILURE DUE TO DEFECT IN THE ANTI-FREEZE RESEVOIR - THE NIPPLE FOR RETURNING ANTI-FREEZE TO ENGINE WAS MOLDED CLOSED. DEALER DID NOT ADVISE ME OF RECALL ON RELAY AND WANTS ME TO PAY A FEE TO INSPECT RESEVOIR. REFUSES TO PAY FOR WATER PUMP.*AK

MY 97 PLYMOUTH NEON IS ON ITS 3RD HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT BUT IS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 HEAD GASKETS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT AND KEEPS MAKING NEW HEAD GASKETS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT COST ME $770 TO HAVE IT FIXED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. IT SHOULD NOT COST ME A DIME TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

OIL LEAK FROM BACK OF SIDE OF HEAD GASKET MAY NEED NEW GASKET OR HAVE CRACK IN HEAD REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

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.

VEHICLE HAS HAD ENGINE (OIL) LEAKS SINCE APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. NOW VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND OIL IS LEAKING INTO OTHER ENGINE COMPARTMENTS CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. *AK

HEAD GASKET ALREADY REPLACED LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AGO...

CONSUMER HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS NOISE. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD AN OIL LEAK, AND SHE TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE. THEN, SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC REPLACED HEAD GASKET. BRAKE DRUM WAS PITTED, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. FINALLY, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG PANEL WAS BULGING ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE AIRBAG MODULAR. *AK

ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THIS OCCURS AT A PHENOMINAL RATE FOR ALL '95-'97 NEONS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE. THEN, AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY EXPLAINED THAT PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AT 38,000 MILES. ALL THE FLUIDS ARE FULL AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. IS THIS AN AUTOMATIC THING THAT COMES ON AT 38,000 TO GET THE CAR CHECKED OR IS IT REALY A PROBLEM?*AK

HEAD GASKET - 20,000 MILES - 2ND HEAD GASKET & HEAD AT 27,800 MILES - 3RD HEAD GASKET AT 47,000 MILES. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN GOING OUT SINCE 1/00, AND NOW SEVERE OIL LEAKS , IVE PUT IN 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE LAST 3 DAYS! (THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN NEARLY ALL 97 NEONS AS, IN MY OPINION, THE MANUFACTURER ADMITS THROUGH AT LEAST TWO SERVICE BULLETINS) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND MY OIL LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF REGARDLESS OF OIL LEVEL IN ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND STRONGLT URGE YOU TO FORCE THEM INTO A RECALL SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX THIER MISTAKES. ALSO MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT TURN OFF AFTER COMPLETION OF A TURN THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE ODOMETER READING OF 30,000. INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, PASSENGER SIDE, KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS TWICE BUT IT IS LOOSE YET AGAIN. MY INTERIOR ROOF LIGHT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE FIRST TIME DOOR PANEL CAME LOOSE. AND LASTLY, IT FREQUENTLY HAPPENS THAT WHEN MY PASSENGER TRYS TO EXIT THE VEHICE THEY RECEIVE A PAINFUL ELECTRIC SHOCK UPON TOUCHING THE DOOR HANDLE OR PANEL. I SINCERELY HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH AT LEAST THE HEAD GASKET DEFAULT ON MY VEHICLE AND ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM!*AK

REPORTED PROBLEM WITH LEAKING OIL WITH 20,000 MILES. DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. REPORTED THE PROBLEM AT 45,000 MILES AND THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE THIS. *AK

THIS CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR PROBLEMS BRAKE PROBLEMS, OIL LEAK, WINDOW LEAKING WITCH THEY SAY THERE NOT RESPONCIBLE FOR . I AM FRIGHTEND BY THE OIL LEAK TO TO POTENCHIAL FIRE HAZERD. I FEAL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. *AK

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE FOR INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION. 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. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. SEE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND 100S OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE,NOT DRIVEN @TIME,19 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY !!!*AK

WHEN DRIVING NOTICED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THEN, ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE EACH TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BE RESOLVED.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

OK I CALLED INDEPENDENCE LAND MARK DODGE THEY GAVE ME A RUN AROUND SAID THERE WAS NOT ANY TSB ON MY CAR .I GOT ON HERE AND THERE WERE TEN PAGES OF THEM FOR MY CAR. MY ? IS THE MANUFACTURE OF MY FEHICLE RESPONSABLE TO PAY FOR THAT TO GET FIXED IF ITS A PROBLAM THATS ON THE TSB .. THANK U MICHAEL TRIGG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

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. *AK *ML

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. *AK *ML