Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Plymouth Neon
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Plymouth Neon has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 161 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #97V080000 CHRYSLER/AIR BAG NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 100 complaints
- Air Bags 15 complaints
- Unknown or Other 11 complaints
- Power Train 10 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 9 complaints
- Structure 8 complaints
Of the 161 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 161 complaints, owners report 22 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Plymouth NEON has a high number of engine complaints and a significant recall related to airbag issues, suggesting below-average reliability. The data indicates a pattern of engine-related concerns, but evidence on other components is limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 50,000–100,000 miles | $500–$3,000 | very common |
| Air bags | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | occasional |
| Power train | 60,000–100,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake pad replacement
- Coolant flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Belt and hose inspection
- Battery check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating
- Airbag warning light
- Transmission noise
- Grinding brakes
- Electrical failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Plymouth Neon at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.