1997 Plymouth Neon complaints

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. *AK

THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED A MAJOR OIL LEAK. YH

DID NOT REPORT PAINT PROMBLEM UNTIL 92,342 MILES. STARTED HAPPENING AT 6/15/99 71,000 MILES. CAN NOT EVEN GO THROUG CAR WASH WITH OUT PAINT PEELING OFF AND LEAVING MY PAINT ALL OVER CAR WASH GROUND. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

OIL IS LEAKING DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. YH

THIS NEON HAD A KNOW MANUFACTURES DEFECT CONCERNING ENGINE HEAD GASKET. OIL COMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE HEAD. COVERING THE COMPLETE BACK SIDE OF THE MOTOR. DRIPPING DOWN ON ALL THE HOT PARTS OF THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. MY CAR DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS BUT SOMEBODIES WILL ONE DAY. CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM YET WILL NOT RECALL IT. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP THE POOR SAPS THAT BOUGHT THESE CARS.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A BUY BACK, BUT THEY ASSURED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ONE PERSON TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND ANOTHER TOLD ME IT WAS WATER DAMAGE. STARTING THE SECOND DAY I RECEIVED THE CAR I HAD PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR SPEAKER PROBLEMS, WHENEVER IT RAINS THE SPEAKERS BLOW OUT. IT WAS IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE WHENEVER I SHIFTED IT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES. FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS IT HAS HAD A HARD TIME STARTING UP AND 2 WEEKS AGO IT WAS DEAD IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 3 DAYS. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITHOUT SUCCESS. I AM CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH ARBITRATIO, BUT I WANT SOME ADVICE.

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP ENGINE BLEW OUT, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

OIL LIGHT WENT ON, PUT SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL IN THROUGHOUT WEEK BUT DIP STICK ALWAYS READ EMPTY, OIL LIGHT STAYED ON, TOOK TO LUBE SHOP WHERE THEY IDENTIFIED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TOOK TO AUTHORIZED DEALER/REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY AT FIRST WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT AFTER INSPECTION THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, AS WELL AS A BROKEN CAM VALVE, FAULTY THERMOSTAT, AND SOME EXHAUST PARTS, ALL OF WHICH WERE DEFECTIVE/BROKEN UNBEKNOWNST TO ME. PLYMOUTH COVERED ALL REPAIR EXPENSES THEN. *AK

PREVIOUS TO EXPERIENCING HEAD GASKET FAILURE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. AT APPROXIMATELY 6 A.M., I WAS COMMUTING TO WORK AT A SPEED OF 45 M.P.H. WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS AND THEN WENT OFF. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN OK UNTIL I ARRIVED AT WORK. AFTER WORK, I CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK TO BE DRY. I ADDED OIL TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE VEHICLE AND HE DISCOVERED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THIS MECHANIC - AS WELL AS OTHERS (INCLUDING THE DEALERS') - STATED THAT THE NEON HAS A LONG HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY, THERE WAS A LOT OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM VERY UPSET AT CHRYSLER - ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I HAVE LEARNED OF THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG NEON OWNERS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY AT 65,000 MILES. I SUED DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AND WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS! BRING ALL YOUR SERVICE RECORDS AND NHTSA CUSTOMER COMPLAINT DATABASE RECORDS (GET THEM FROM NHTSA, NOT OFF INTERNET, FOR COURT!). *AK

IT IS COMMON CONSUMER KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS AND BRAKES ON THE 95-99 DODGE/PLYMOUTH NEONS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH MY CHRYSLER VEHICLE.

I WAS JUST CHARGED $400 FOR A NEW CAM SEAL, AND NOW $650 FOR A HEAD GASKET. AT 50,000 MILES A CAR SHUOLD NOT BE LEAKING THIS MUCH OIL. MAYBE I WILL GO BACK TO FORD. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE VERY COMMON, CAUSING LARGE QUANITIES OF OIL TO LEAK ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD; GREAT RISK OF FIRE

UPON ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, CAUSING A SLOW START. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER . DEALER NOTED THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HAD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR A 27 MONTH OLD CAR. *AK

VEHICLE NOT 2 YRS OLD THAT HAS TRANSMISSON PROBLEMS TREND IN DEFECTIVE NEONS? WARRANTY IS OBSELTE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY! HAS HAD MAINTENANCE CHECKS. TOOK IT TO ALLEY'S CHRY/PLY DEALER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM. VERY ANGARY THAT THE VEHICLE IS BARELY 2 YRS OLD TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS I CAN'T AFFORD TO SHELL OUT $1285 FOR TRANSMISSION AND $ 450 FOR ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

PLYMOUTH DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $700 TO REPLACE THIS HEAD GASTET - APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT

VEHICLE HAS A LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET. IT WAS APPARENTLY NOTICED BEFORE I PURCHASED AND MAY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITH THE SAME STYLE HEAD GASKET. NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS LEAKING. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE MANAGER ,AT SAM DELL, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON BECAUSE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET AND THAT A NEW HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN DESIGNED, FIXING THE PROBLEM. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY REPAIR AND COST. I HAVE SINCE WRITTEN A LETTER TO CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT CHRYSLER, IN AUBURN HILLS. IT WAS SENT CERTIFIED MAIL AND RECEIVED ON OCTOBER 12,1999. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY. I QUESTIONED WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, KNOWING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR WHEN THE WARRANTY IS DONE. I HAVE JUST SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM SURE YOU HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS AS TO THE NEON HEAD GASKET AND HOPE YOU WILL REQUIRE CHRYSLER/PLYMOUTH TO RECALL. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SHOULD I GET A RESPONSE, I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WAS WRITTEN. THANK YOU

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS DISCOVERED DEFECTIVE AND REPAIRED BY A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT 66,000 MILE OF WEAR. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS CONDITION BEING A NORMAL WEAR OF THE HEAD GASKET OR DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK

I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL FOR THE 1997 NEON'S. HOWEVER THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE CAR. I'VE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MAKER,TO NO AVAIL. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? THANK-YOU!

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH THIS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE SPINNED OUT IN THE MIDDELE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS HIT FOUR MORE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

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. *AK

OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED OVER . NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING LED TO VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS RESULTED IN BURNS TO DRIVER (CHEST,ARMS). MJS

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. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON WET PAVEMENTS THE STEERING WHEEL JAMS UP. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

I HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN MARCH AND IT IS NOW GOING OUT AGAIN.EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED IT COSTS ME $500.00.

PAINT STARTED TO BUBBLE AND PEEL

VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN TWO ACCIDENTS. FIRST ACCIDENT WAS BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES AT AN IMPACT OF 35 MPH, AND THE SECOND ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN IMPACT OF 45 MPH. UPON BOTH IMPACTS, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPOLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATS DUE TO THE RELAY STICKING IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ENGINE GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL WHICH IS SPRAYING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT UP UNTIL THE 2000 NEON, THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTS OF THE HEAD GASKET BEING DEFECTIVE AND MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AGAINST THE FIREWALL AND BACK OF THE ENGINE. IS THIS A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR? *AK

SAID VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONTAL IMPACT CRASH- AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

THE PITTING IN THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET COULD NOT BE SHAVED DOWN WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET TO PREMATURELY LEAK AND TO EVENTUALLY BLOW OUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD GASKET, IT CANNOT HOLD THE OIL PRESSURE,CAUSING AN OIL LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN# *AK

AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE.

THE HEADGASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. INVESTIGATION OF ANOTHER OIL LEAK DETECTED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AGAIN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A CRACKED HEAD. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND HAS REQUESTED THAT I PAY A DEDUCTIBLE.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CONTINUALLY / INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED DAMAGES AND INJURIES TO OTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. VEHICLE DELAYED IN STOPPING. DEALER NOTIFIED/ INSPECTED AND INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

AT 13,000 MILES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN ,CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS LEAK OIL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP WHEN BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A TRUCK. *AK

UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE BAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE A FEW TIMES TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS GRINDING METAL TO METAL WHICH IS COMMON ON THOSE VEHICLES . *AK

RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON THE AIR BAG, HOWEVER FAILURE WHICH CAUSED HORN TO FAIL AND AIR BAG LIGHT TO BE ON CONTINUALLY.

BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20,OOO MILES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. *AK

VEHICLE PULLS AND STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CENTERED AND IT MAKES A POPPING NOISE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE DISLODGED WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SEATBELTS. *AK