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Research · Compact Cars

1997 Plymouth NeonRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 166 owner complaints for the 1997 Plymouth Neon. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (101) and air bags (15). The EPA rates it 25–29 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
25–29mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest May 1997
Owner complaints
166
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$2,050est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

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

Air bagsReported May 16, 1997NHTSA 97V080000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

166 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 1997 – Dec 2007
  1. Engine and engine cooling101
  2. Air bags15
  3. Power train11
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  5. Structure8
  6. Steering7
  7. Electrical system6
  8. Exterior lighting5
  9. Seat belts5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Neon model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996309
1997166
1998173
199967
2000140
200149
Crashes reported
19
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
22
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

101 reports
“ON JULY 17, 2006 MY BELT TENSIONER BROKE ON MY 97 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER SE. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP THE NEXT DAY WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TENSIONER AND PUT ON A NEW BELT. ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, (THE FIRST DAY DRIVING CAR IN THE RAIN SINCE REPLACING BELT & TENSIONER), WHILE DRIVING CAR IN THE RAIN 5 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON - THE BELT HAD COME OFF. RETURNED CAR TO REPAIR CENTER. THEY PUT BELT BACK ON AND COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED, OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT BELTS CAN FALL OFF MORE EASILY IN WET WEATHER. ON SEPT. 17, IT WAS NOT RAINING WHEN I WAS DRIVING CAR AT THE TIME, HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN AVERAGE SIZE PUDDLE THAT I DID DRIVE INTO AND AS SOON AS I DID I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND THE BATTER LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO A DEALER. THEY PUT THE BELT BACK ON AND COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON WHY IT WOULD HAVE COME OFF, OTHER THAN IT GETTING WET. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD HEARD THROUGH A FRIEND THAT CHRYSLER VANS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OF THE BELT COMING OFF IN WET WEATHER BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF IT. THE ONLY 2 TIMES I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR IN WET…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10168894

Air bags

15 reports9 crashes2 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2006Air bagsODI 10149275

Power train

11 reports
“WE BOUGHT THIS VAN WITH 46000 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY "REBUILT" THE TRANSMISSION. AT 67,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN, AND WE BOUGHT A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS INSTALLED. THE VAN RAN FINE UNTIL NOW, IT IS AT 90,000 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT! THIS IS SO UNFAIR AND UNSAFE. WE AS CUSTOMERS DESERVE BETTER! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2007Power trainODI 10207273
All 1997 Neon problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 3-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Neon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253529$2,050306
Neon
Auto 3-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$2,400355
  • Neon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    25 city · 35 hwy · $2,050/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Neon
    Auto 3-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,400/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Plymouth Neon as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 3790
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1997 Neon questions

How many recalls does the 1997 Plymouth Neon have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1997 Plymouth Neon problems?

Owners filed 166 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (101), air bags (15), power train (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1997 Plymouth Neon get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Plymouth Neon at 25–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026