Used 1997 Dodge Neon Sedan Consumer Reviews
Used Neon for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Disappointing
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.
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.
1997 Dodge Neon for sale near you
Showing 0 of 0 listings
Sorry, there are no 1997 Dodge Neon vehicles for sale in our network.
See all 0 listingsKeeps 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!!
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
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.
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.
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.
Purple Penelope
Lauren, 07/23/2006
1997 Dodge Neon Highline 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Neon was my first car. It was a terrific first car. It was easy to drive, handled well, spacious, great on gas, and cute. It only had minor problems like loose cables (easy to fix). At over 118,000 miles, it drove like new. I can't complain.
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+.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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...
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.
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.
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)
Dont Buy!!!!!!!!
UNHAPPY, 03/19/2002
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
These cars head gaskets only last 60000 miles and are very costly to repair. Read more about the head gasket problem on internet. These cars also lose value quickly. I bought in 11/99 for $7300 and Value today is only $4700
OK Neon
Johnny lLarue, 03/26/2002
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Solid overall performance. Dont like the frameless window
Something to drive
DDaubenspeck, 08/17/2010
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Honestly it was my second car after my first vehicle (1995 Honda Passport) died on me. I purchased this vehicle with around 144,XXX miles on it. Ran like a charm, but wasn't exactly my "type" of vehicle. Started experiencing odd behavior with the car so I sold it and purchased a Mustang Cobra. I was driving an Automatic and switched to Manual. I love the Mustang 1000x more than that little Neon.
What A Joke
A SUCKER, 11/24/2002
1997 Dodge Neon 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is truly a piece of junk. These cars come staight from the factory with a warped head. Which i believe is like most owners of this car "warped heads". If you don't get the head shaved on theses cars you will have the same problem over again. And then they will start to burn oil and you are spending more money then for gas it seems! I have never had to do so much work to keep it going. I will never own another and will tell my friends the same.