Used 1997 Dodge Neon Consumer Reviews
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Save Yourself.
don't do it., 02/22/2010
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Chipped paint, burns oil like crazy, coolant leak, fuel pump is going out, serpentine belt is squeaking, the backseat is a joke -- really, nobody can fit in this car. There are some good things. I love the acceleration. Love the manual trans. I like how it handles and parking it is great. But there are so many other better cars out there. You may get it for cheap -- but it will cost you more in the long run.
poor car
gman, 02/27/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
too many repairs to the transmission.costly repairs to the struts.poor electrical system and noisy interior.
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See all 0 listingsDisappointing
Euly, 05/09/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Everyone had told me Neons were crap but that 97 was the year they started getting better. I realized that this wasn't true. I love my neon because it is fun to drive but I have had numerous problems with it. The EGR valve was a big issue because the car would completely shut off while I was slowing down. I also don't like driving on a windy day because it feels so flimsy. It is a very unsafe car. Buying from a very dishonest car dealership did not help the situation either.
Keeps on Goin'!
RedneckDixie87, 05/26/2008
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This was my first car and I love it its 2008 and I don't want a new car although we are having some problems with it now which is expected it is 11 years old but it gets up to speed fast and drives great. It's comfortable is roomy and with gas at $4 a gallon its great on gas! Haven't had to replace much only thing is the paint especially the green ones like mine i see have the rust spots.
Great Vehicle
h j, 09/26/2008
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I just purchased for a sweet 16 gift, i rebuilt and went through everything on the car. i have been driving it to make sure it is a safe car for her, This is a great compact car, smooth ride, great handling, great on the gas mileage. it is a very comfortable car to ride in
1997 Neon by Brian
BrianGriffis, 02/28/2010
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
love the milage, style and handling
Little Red FunDrive
Customs_MP, 04/10/2010
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Vehicle bought from salvage pool for wife-no damage-theft/recovery. 2 head gaskets needed replaced; then normal maintenance. Had dings taken out, repainted red w/clearcoat, added cruise control She loves it and will keep it til it dies!
Totally reliable, economical little car!
*~Kelli~*, 05/13/2003
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my Neon new in April of 1997 and I have been more than pleased with it ever since! When it was new there was an issue with the transmission that was promptly replaced without any problems and ever since then, it has only been to the shop for scheduled maintenance (knock on wood). It gets SUPER gas mileage! Even today, it is still getting 39mpg hwy and 35mpg city consistently. For a 4cyl car it has alot of power and speed. We now have a Chrysler LHS to use for a luxurious family car, but my husband still drives the Neon daily with no trouble for his 150 mile round trip commute.
Greaaat Car
BigRickK, 06/27/2004
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car goes fast, gets good mileage and is fun to drive. No major problems, just do the maintenance. Goes thru brake pads quickly though.
Neon
byron_caroline, 06/24/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Neon has held up relatively well over the years. Most of the k's are highway driving. I have, however, been extremely disappointed by Chrysler and their lack of help. I have had to have the seals on the rear lights replaced because water was leaking into the trunk. I have also had constant issues with the head gasket. In both cases, Chrysler has refused to help at all. I will not buy another Chrysler product.
Don't buy this car!
KG, 11/14/2005
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Like others, I bought this car b/c it was cheap. But the build quality is horrendous. Huge oil leak, squealing brakes, leaky trunk, a/c that isn't cold, turn signals don't work intermitantly, black rubber seals on door panels stain my clothes, side panel fell off after glue wore out, and such a rough transmission. Just a terribly executed small car.
A good, sporty, economical car.
JP04, 06/14/2004
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm the original owner of the Neon and I will admit that during the first two years, this car suffered through a lot of problems. Some examples are blown head gasket after 9 months, clouding paint after one year, and factory sunroof breaking EVERY summer ( three times during the third year ). However, after these "teething" problems, the car has turned out to be a reliable, thrifty, comfortable and fun little car.
The best cheap car
redmonza327, 06/17/2004
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is by far the best cheap car that money can buy. It out performs all other cars in its price range with respects to acceleration, braking, handling, and MPG. Only major complaint it paint quality, and some goofy interior parts.
Affordable, but still disappointing.
mbennett, 11/23/2004
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Head gasket went out at 50000 mi, they told me it was expected and commmon. Very disappointing. The car is very doggy in the low rpm range, probably due to the 3 speed automatic transmission as much as anything. The windows are frameless and do not seal very well, hence there is a lot of wind and road noise. Decent daily driver, good mileage but nothing to be too excited about. The price was right.
My best investment
Dee, 08/11/2005
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Neon new in '97. Aside from normal maintenance such as tires, brakes, etc., the single only repair I have had to make was replacing my starter at 90k miles. I love my Neon and would gladly purchase another. Key point: take care of it. My oil was changed regularly with protective additives routinely. I haven't even had so much as a belt break. I drive about 200 miles a day for work 4 days a week now, and I am thankful for this car and its dependability.
Not Satisfied!
stephaniequeen2, 01/03/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just read all of the complaints on here and I wish I would've read up on a neon BEFORE I bought it! I have had many problems and the car is in the shop right now. I do not say anyone should buy this car unless they like fixing it all of the time! Problems include: headgasket (reimbursed under a "secret warranty"), oil leaks and burns, alternator, battery (twice!), tires, brake pads, air conditioning switch ... do not buy this car!!
Junk Car
extremely unhappy, 04/08/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has many problems. Head Gasket went, squeaky brakes, windows don't seal....seems to be a recurring problem. Like others, the "customer service" department didn't live up to thier name! I would NOT recommend buying a Neon!
My Green Machine
sharonda, 07/11/2007
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Neon was my first car. It's a terrific first car. It was easy to drive, handled well, spacious, great on gas, and cute. It is also very fun to drive considering it's a manual. It only had minor problems like turn signal doesn't turn off and door squeaks a little. At only 65,000 miles, it drove like new. I can't complain but only wish it was more powered: power windows, locks and steering. Also I would love a CD player over the cassette any day.
Expensive brand new, but OK overall
Kayla, 06/14/2007
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm the original owner and this is the first car that did not have a lot of problems at all. Had the car for 10 years and plan to keep it for my son. Yes, the doors with no frame are a little disappointing. They leak a bit when raining and it's noisy when driving, but overall the car has been doing OK. I just had some regular jobs done on it. Recently put a new engine, but hey, it's been 10 years! The paint is still in great condition, I have the hunter green. My 16 year old son likes it and looks forward to having it for himself, and this is a manual car!
a big paperweight
mscotti, 07/06/2003
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
great purchase.. at first. now, just 3 years later engine has seized and i am stuck with a worthless vehicle and 1 year of payments to go. had problems right from start ranging from altenator to battery connections. ending with a seized engine @ 86,000 miles. would not recommend this car AT ALL. older models have shown to be very problematic (head gaskets, engines). not worth anything in resale value.
Unreliable & Disappointed
Princess_Di28, 07/08/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my neon for 2.5 years- I have had several repairs. Many issues with electrical problems- pluggs, wiring,etc. The brakes are noisy- I keep getting told that it is just how neons are!? The framless doors make the car seem very flimsy and creates a horrible noise when you close the door if the window is open. Furthermore, the front speakers to the radio do not work half the time, and the back ones died! These cars seem nice and economical- until you find yourself taking them into the garage to get fixed every month!!!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR!
My commuter car
mswing11, 02/11/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It's just plain fun to drive, even to work. For a small car, it fits a tall guy quite well. It has been very dependable. For a used car to need no repairs except a battery and front brake pads is awesome. An easy car to service.
Used Neon Experience
KVL, 05/16/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car from the original owner at a discount, knowing that the head gasket would eventually need repair. It was in good shape and fun to drive. I drove it over 1000 miles the first month, on a trip to Maine. About 4 months later, my mechanic replaced the gasket and also replaced the timing belt, major head bolts, and other things that needed it. Since then, it uses maybe a quart of oil per 1500 miles (instead of 500 or less miles before).
buy gm:
Bushleague, 01/18/2003
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
An absolute lemon, lousy ride uncomfortable seats. How many head gaskets can you replace? Nearly get killed trying to accelerate on the highway.
should go manual.
hherve, 07/12/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Decent car. The automatic transmission makes the performance poor. The comfort is fine. In brief, a very good car if you just look for 1 engine 4 wheels, 4/5 seats and a roomy trunk. Should have got it manual and it would have been great (hopefully).
Great Little Car
zxcvb, 06/04/2003
1997 Dodge Neon 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought the car in 99. My Teenage daughter drives it. It has had some considerable use, in the time that we own it. I have not had any repair costs for this vehicle, only the usual maintenance type of stuff. It's a GREAT little car.
Split Decision on this car
BigSAC, 06/05/2004
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It's got a nice exterior look and decent accelaration for a car in it's size/class. The doors feel cheap. The big problems that I experienced were reat oil seal and then a blown head gasket, around the 65-75 thousand mile timeframe. Ask any mechanic, the head gasket will blow, and while the replacement gasket is improved, it will blow also. Each of these repairs will cost $1000+.
97 plymouth neon
neonHappy, 10/27/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car as a year old, with 20,000 miles. I never had any problems with reliability - the car always ran great and started without a problem. I drove the car for 4 years until someone hit me and the car was totaled. My only problem was that sometimes the back passenger side door would ajar lose after a bumpy road and the interior light would go on, as well as the "door open" light. On particularly bumpy, dirt roads this would be frustrating!
This is a great little car!
Neonlover, 09/25/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My wife and I bought this car new in '97. We have driven it in virtually all weather conditions that you may encounter in the United States. This car is phenomenal in the snow. My wife and I are not gentle on the car either. We both like to use the 150 HP engine, bringing it to redline every once in a while. Gas milage has been as high as 39 on the highway and as low as 28 in the city. Not too bad in my book. We did have to replace the Head Gasket at 39K miles under warranty, but since then, we have only had fun with the car. I would highly recommend this car.
not pleased
not pleased, 09/03/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Got it at 42k. I have put another 45k on it, but have also put tons of repair money too. This year alone I have put a new headgasket, brakes(again), suspension, ignition wires, battery (again), and it still needs work on the AC. The sticker price might not me too high, but you'll make it up in repairs. Although I hear later models have improved.
I love this car!
mnewland2, 01/08/2004
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Exclusive owner for all 7 years, 67k miles. This was the fastest, best handling compact available at the time. The host of aftermarket performance parts available keeps it competitive. Not a cushy luxury car, but for the enthusiast on a budget. The ONLY reliability problems were the head gasket (fixed by dealer for $100), and the gauge panel (fixed under warranty.) Routinely get over 30 mpg in mixed driving.
Beware not a car to purchase
nfrn, 07/29/2004
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought our 97 Neon new in late 1996 and it has been nothing but trouble. The headgasket has been replaced twice , brakes 3 times and we had it laid up for six months in a garage because it wouldn't start and no one could find the problem ( eventually the third mechanic to look at it found the key chuck had snapped off the end of the cam ). It still has only has 70000 miles on it. For 50000 of those miles I would say oil was leaking from somewhere. The Dodge dealers in Texas were fair to deal with but back here in Newfoundland they were nothing but trouble so we eventually purchased a Saturn.
Costly to maintain
Wiseguy357, 11/12/2002
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I bought this car, I did not know that it had a lot of problems. The car was cheap when i got it($4500).I have had thousands of dollars worth of repairs done to it. I have had trouble with: head gasket,axle seals, barrings in the transmission,master cylinder, breaks, rotors, ac compressor, battery and minor electric problems. I have 12" subs in the trunk, and it really rattles when the bass hits.
I expected something better
It@doesntmatter.com, 08/21/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm very disappointed. Less that 40K miles and have had too many things go wrong. Currently have it in the shop, all dials (water, speedometer, tach, odometer, etc) stopped moving. I'm told it's due to a bad circuit board, $440 to fix. Also have gone through two sets of tires and approaching the third already.
Not a good car
Frankie, 12/25/2006
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I guess I should not have expected much when buying this car. Nothing special about it not even the mileage. The engine has horrible responsiveness and handles like a boat.
don't buy the neon
antidodge, 12/03/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
during the three years that I have owned this vehicle I've put over 6,000 dollars in repair. I've replaced the head gasket, transmission, and the motor. This car does not even have 85,000 miles on it.
The paint chipped Neon
Billy, 03/27/2007
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well originally my father bought this car for himself and it had 140,000 miles on it from the dealer. It was in good shape one paint chip on the right side of the car behind the driver side door. The car never seemed to give to much trouble, a blown head gasket and a transmission leak were two very big problems, other then that the car has run fine and been dependable. When I got it as my first car it became a bit of a nightmare, with 166,000 miles and almost no paint left with an oil leak and a fried electrical system I couldn't expect much though being that it was worn out and my father gave it almost little to no service at all I'd say it had a good run as a fun sporty car.
My Favorite Car Ever!
Joelabc, 05/30/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I recently bought a 97 Dodge Neon Sport, 2 door car from Winnipeg, Canada. The car has 70000kms (43000 miles). The funny thing is that this car has the DOHC 150 hp engine. According to this site the 97 neon sports do not have this engine, they have the SOHC 132hp engine. It could because this is a Canadian car and varies slightly from the American car. But anyway i bought the car for only $7000 CAN, or $4500 USD. This car runs like a dream, its fast, looks sweet, is remarkable on gas, and is cheap to fill up as well. This car also has plenty of aftermarket modifications you can do to it which i plan to do in the future. Buy a neon!
Sweet
Christi3435, 06/06/2007
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Awesome car! Especially when swapped with a 2.4L! The SOHC engine that was in it was virtually indestructible. Interior was a little plain and goofy, but you can swap any year neon (including the SRT-4) seats into it.
too many repairs
Very displeased, 01/06/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I do not suggest buying this car unless you are a mechanic, or someone else who gets cheap parts and labour, because otherwise you will probably spend more money repairing it than you did buying it! short list of problems I have had -leaky trunk -framless windows that dont seal and leak into car -faulty head gasket -smelly AC -squeaky brakes that never shut up -radiator fan relay died -steering seizes up when you drive through puddles -bad wiring
run in the exact opposite direction
sucka with a clunka, 01/09/2004
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
the price sounded good. thats about it. they should pay the consumer to take the car from them. fun to drive when it runs right. those times are few and far between. bad head gaskets, fuel pumps, cam seal, bad brake life, light seals, not to mention all the noise. wind noise is annoying at highway speeds, occasional clunking from front end, and the rear struts always sound like they're shot too. and the worst part is when the noises are checked by professionals they can't find anything wrong. if you enjoy getting taken then i suggest buying a dodge/plymouth neon.
Neon Sport 4Dr
neondriver76575, 09/09/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have driven this car for about 2 years (it now has 55000 miles), and have had no major problems. The brakes are noisy, and the parking brake always need re-adjusting, but it's been great. I wish I had the ABS, but oh well. It does slide a bit on wet roads. It is a reliable, and fun to drive car, as long as you aren't friends with too many "car" people.
My 97 Base SOHC
1hotjava, 04/02/2003
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has performed flawlessly since new. It consistently gets 38-42 mpg on the highway, with 26-32 in the city. No mechanical problems since new (now 65,000 miles). Only problem was paint flaking off, but Chrysler re-painted the car. My next daily driver will probably also be a Neon...
NeoncoloredLEMON
nowahondadriver, 07/09/2003
1997 Dodge Neon Sport 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Off the lot was a piece of garbage. Went through 2 yrs of arb. w/ Chrysler eventually gave me a 75k warranty. More time in shop than in driveway. Clugging sound in suspension, head gasket blew, oil leaked first 2 months, seat cloth defective, bad accel. on automatic, trunk never stay open, blowout nearly killed me, funnel shaped gas tank, bad gas mileage, "alloy wheel" coating disintegrated, bad int. noise, deposit problem in choke and more. Got lucky, head gasket blew just b4 warranty expired so I sold it. I'm still paying for the bad karma from it's sale.
Great Cars
neonknight97, 03/16/2004
1997 Dodge Neon 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Ive owned this car for 7 years and for what I have had to put in it you cant find a better car.
Great car, fun to drive
Bfett4eva, 03/17/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Only simple repairs needed. Very reliable. I liked the Neon so much I bought another.
Ok car
leanboy, 03/16/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Pretty reliable, only suprise problem was a fuel pump failure at 40,000 miles. Well known engine gasket problem at 60,000 but Chrysler will pay for it if you push them. I get 25mpg, which I think is low for such a small car.
disposable car
danitamb, 03/15/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
lets face it this is not a high end car. But for what it is, its worth the money. It has been very dependable for me. I've had trouble with the brakes squeking from the start, they say it's just the neon. But other than that, with maintence upkeep it has kept me on the road, never has it broken down. I've driven it cross country several times. From IA to NC, TX to IA (4 times)
Good little car.
jarriop, 05/14/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Neon for my girl friend. But found that this little car quite fun to drive. Aside from the little noises, the drivers door opening sensor not working (Even after having dodge fix it.) This little car is a brisk accelerater. Ihave currently begun modifying the car, starting with a cold air intake, and next is my exsaust.(Manifold is shot, as is my muffler.) I purchased the car with 62000 miles on it.
totally dependable
spin, 05/01/2002
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car was well worth the low cost. I have driven in the cold and snow as well as the desert, it has always performed great for me. It handles nice and has a remarkable response. Hugs the curves and turns tight. The brakes have always been noisy but they still stop. I just got an oil leak but 3 different mech cannot find it.