Used 1997 Plymouth Neon Consumer Reviews
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Good Car!
One of my favorite cars, (I have 7) Never lets me down. Bought used at 43,000 miles. In 35,000 miles I have fixed..... NOTHING! I do my own maintenence, oil plugs, etc. It's faster and handles better then my antique Italian sports car! (No, it's not a Fiat!) My only complaint is wind noise, so far I've been too lazy to adjust the window angle so it's my own fault.
The Little Car that Could
This car has done it all for me. I have driven it from NJ to CA, from CA to AZ, CO, Mexico and back. The mileage and comfort is amazing. And the handling is awesome. I have taken it offroad in the desert. The fold down seats allow me to haul 8ft boards of lumber home without a problem. Some jerks at the lumberyard dind't want to beleive that it would fit. What would be the point of their SUVs in that case? I caught someone trying to break into my car by throwing a large rock at the glass. It bounced off with a small scratch! I not had to do more than routine maintanence. (Oil, Filter, Tire Rotation, etc.)
My Perfect Car
Since I was 15, I wanted a Neon. At the age od 20 when I finally got a license and save dup I purchased one. It was a 2 door 1997. My Neon was perfect. It was there whenever I needed it; for late night food runs or appointments at the salon. I didn't have any real problems other than getting new spark plug wires. It took me from Alabama to Miami and back on several occasions. At 67,000 I was in an accident where my Neon was hit. It was totalled, but it helped me to be able to walk out ok. Thanks, Neon. I'll miss you.
Fun and Comfort for a small auto
I have had this Neon since 1998. Brought it with 10,000 miles on it. This car has been put to the test and has held up. Of course Head Gasket went at 52,000 miles. So I replaced the timming belt at same time. Has had couple of other small problems but with 88,000 hard miles this car has held up. If you can find a auto with no repairs needed you are just lucky. All will need repairs. As for my Neon 88,000 miles and I am looking for another for my teenage children to have. Used Neons are cheap and a very good auto for the money.
great second car
i purchased my neon spring of 99. 2.0 SOHC 4 5spd. has good power, i have not exp. any major problem, 2 biggies though, 1 paint pealing, has primer issues with certain colors, mine is white, 2 valve cover seals for spark plugs eroded away, causing oil residue in spark plug section easy fix. car is great to get around town in, it is fun to drive. although on long road trips (500+mil) seats get uncomfy, and fuel tank is small. good gas milage though. sound system is not bad. trunk is good size, two sets of golf clubs and suitcase no problem. summary great point a-b car or first car. watch the paint. i love this car.
I love my car!
I love my car. The one and ONLY time it didn't start was when the battery died. I've never had any other problems than that. I love everything about the car. I love the color, the look of the car, the handling, smooth ride, etc.
Cheap Car, One of My Worst Buys
Ever buy something cheap thinking you can probably "get by" with it only to discover that it broke after 2-3 uses? That's exactly how I feel about my Neon. I definitely wish now that I had spent $4,000 more or so and picked up a Civic instead. I have had headgasket trouble, oil and transmission leaks, failure by the Dodge dealership to fix or even admit the problems, stupid window design that leaks air at highway speeds, plus now my gas mileage has dropped from almost 30 when new to 25. I took it to the shop and they can't figure out why, they just said probably engine and transmission wear. The cost of ownership and hassle have just been too much on this car. My advice - stay away from it like it's a virus.
This Car does suck
Well the first yr was pretty good because there was only 25,000 mi on it. But now after 55,000 i have had two major oil leaks had to get a whole new transmission in it. The spedometer has'nt worked for a year and a half. Also like others i got the neon with the paint defect the blue one that chips. Also when its cold it does'nt start up very well and the motor is very loud. Never buy a neon again.
It can take anything.
I am really attached to my little neon expresso! It has needed a new transmittion right after i bought it and has a minor oil leak. The gas gague hasn't woked since i bought it but i just go by the tripometer. It gets about 27 mpg. The interior design is a little tacky but seriously comfortable. I live in a mountainy area and this car handls turns and hills spectacularly at the speeds i push it to. It ratles a bit but hey it's a decade old and I bought it with 150,000 miles on it. Paint has faded and chipped a bit though.
let down by plymouth
I was extremely happy with my little Neon.I bought the car at a time when I didn't have a lot of money to spend. Up until today, I was amazed at how reliable this car had been. Never a problem. Today I took it in to have it checked and it turns out the vehicle is not worth repairing.I would have to spend thousands to fix it. So after years of reliability, the one time it needs work (head gaskit among other issues)it's a major repair. My car is useless. Beware.
True Beliver
This car was well taken care of and showed minimum wear for the amount of miles and year. Avg miles driven per yr. was about 11000. I purchased the car for my grandaughter who is 16. It is a 5 speed stick and gets about 25 to 27 miles per gal in town. The owner had all repair bills and service done on the car. This is the only reason I would purchase the car.
I wouldn't suggest it...
After buying this car with 70,000 miles on it and putting about 300 miles on it, i had a list of problems. First, the speedometer (well, entire instrument panel to be exact) works when it wants to. Then, I found I had a number of oil leaks. Every time i got one fixed another would pop up. The head gasket had already been replaced by the previous owner. I chronically overheat, even though there is no apparent reason for it. I've had the car for 2 months and have put almost $700 dollars into it for repairs. i hear that most of these problems are common in older neons, so i have to strongly recommend against buying this car.
Poor Choice
Be careful with this car. It looks like fun to begin with, but we had nothing but problems since day one. It may have just been our car, and the way the previous owners cared for the car, but we found that owning the car cost us more than buying a new one. Again, if you chose this car, buyer beware!
The Rare Happy Neon Owner
Well, I bought it with 124+K from a local used car dealer. It was a one owner that was ORDERED from the factor by a woman who lives in my state. I simply drove the car for the first 7 months with NO problems. Then I elected to replace the shirt cables (5spd) and the struts. I also did a general tune up. The car is loaded with pwrs and keyless entry. Great ride, super MPG (36+), and looks good. I guess I am the rare happy Neon owner...compared to the responses written here. Good luck people!
Do not buy Chrysler ever again
I have had to put so much money in the car it is not even funny anymore. I have had to replace the head gasket (twice), the brakes (twice), the battery, tires oh the list goes on. They need to accept the fact that the head gasket problem is a problem with the neon and recall it and fix it. I have heard of others including the dealers complain that Chrysler will not accept that it is a design flaw. NEVER EVER BUYING ANY CHRSLER CAR AGAIN.
Peters Neon
My Neon is a great fun car because it gets great gas mileage, 35 mpg hiway and 33 in town. Its AC system works great even on 115 degree days cooling the cab fast. I drive this car 95 miles to work and back 6 days a week.
never again
I bought this car brand new and loved everything about it except! when the brakes shrieked, or when the horn would go off, or when it had no pick- up or when it would stop dead 1/2 way through a turn. I went to the dealer 3x and they couldn't detect the problem. It gave me great pleasure when I took it the 3rd time and the car would not start at all for them. I wrote letters to everyone imaginable. Finally, when the whole front end did a volatile shaking dance at start-up, I decided that very day to hobble it over to a mechanic who advised me to run to the nearest Toyota dealer to buy a real car....a '01 Corolla. I love it.
Great Little Car
I bought this car as a student in 1998 when I needed something affordable with fairly low payments and have had few complaints. The car has 64,000 miles on it and I have never had to do any major work. The most money I put into it was when I had to change the timing belt at 60,000 miles - which is a standard repair at some point in most cars. The car got me from Montana to Florida and back with no problems and I get at least 30 miles to the gallon on the highway. I think it's a great, affordable car for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a vehicle.
My tiny car
I purchased my neon used at 32k miles. I had some problems right away with electrical, brakes and A/C. I ended up putting a chunk of money into my car even with my extended warranty. My car has never let me down otherwise. I have been through multiple state trips with absolutely no problems. I liked the car with the first test drive and I like it even more after customizing it (not performance improvement). It's still going strong with over 100k miles.
Worst Decision to buy Neon
I would never recommend a Neon to anyone unless they were my worst enemy. But, even then... The problems started immediately after buying it at 36,000 miles. The oil leaks, the gasket blowing up, the water leaks, the paint peeling, and the attitude from Chrysler that nothing was wrong added up to a horrible first year with this car. The kicker was when it burst into flames while driving home from work one night. This car has serious problems and after thousands of dollars repairing it, I can honestly say I'd never do it again. The name of my car: The Turquoise Lemon
Cheap unreliable car
I bought this car and it was a clean looking car and at the time, it seemed reliable. But two months later, the air conditoner stopped working and the car started dying, not to mention the speedometer also went out. Fixed the problem with the car dying, but not the speedometer or air conditoner. I've also had to replace a motor mount recently, but that still has not completely fixed the car. Altogether, I've spent over $400 in repairs but it hasn't really repaired much. I would recommend if you want a good, dependable car to stay away from a Neon.
Ernie's Review
I really enjoy driving my 1997 Plymouth Neon around. I call it my Toy because I have so much fun with it. The light blue paint on the Plymouth is far superior to the light blue on the Dodge models, it does not chip at all. For a small car it is a very comfortable ride, yes it can be noisy but definitly on of the more comfortable rides is the compact category.
Do not buy Chrysler
Within the first year, the weatherstripping on the right side of the car had to be replaced (covered under warrenty, but the new strip does not match the one on the left side of the car). The windows occassionally leak when it rains, as does the floor of the front passenger's seat. Recently, the trunk leaked and soaked everything inside. There are oil leaks, which a mechanic said is a factory defect and will cost a few hundred to fix. Finally, the paint is peeling off and exposing the primer. Chrysler is only willing to pay for 50% of the $1400 paint job. I've had it with Chrysler and their employees. I'm off to buy a Honda or Toyota!
Unreliable Lemon
My poor 1996 Plymouth Neon . . . it has needed SO MANY expensive repairs. I don't know if it is just a lemon, or if that make and model is just crap. I feel like it was a cheap car to begin with, and now that it is older, it is very unreliable and I plan to get rid of it. It ends up in the shop every couple of months needing $500+ repairs.
One Happy Neon Owner
I love my Neon. It's been a great car, I have yet to even replace a lightbulb! It's peppy with amazing fuel economy. I have the model "Expresso" which may be only a Canadian thing but it's sporty with funky interior. I've owned alot of cars in my life, I like this one the best for the money.
Disappointment
Bought this car brand new, ordered from the factory back in '95. Thought it would be a fun and reliable car to own for a family of three. Fun, yes. Reliable? Uh, no. Here's a brief list of problems: -Numerous battery replacements -Leaking seal in trunk -Water accumulates in tail light lens -Speed sensor shorting out left me and family stranded during Christmas vacation -ABS gave out -Head gasket replaced twice, still leaks -Instrument panel works intermittently -Water pump and AC compressor needed replacing...And on, and on...and on. Finally giving up and trading it in (if they'll even take it) on a new 2009 Honda CR-V.
Needs work under the hood
This isn't a horrible car. It gets me to the train station and back. The problem is, like with many other neons out there, you need to replace the head gasket. My brother, who is a mechanic, has had to replace many of these and Chrystler will not recall it.
It's been a great car but it's aging.
My car has always started and has been very reliable. It has had it's share of problems including the head gasket which has gone out twice, the air conditioning which is poorly designed (the electrical system burned a hole in the hose), and I had to replace my gas tank recently. Otherwise, the car has served it's purpose and always gets me to work and back.
Hasn't been too bad
I bought my neon cuz I needed a cheap car. That's all it is. I've had all the leaks like everyone else. But my car has been good to me. However, I can't wait to get rid of it. I would NEVER buy one again. It's not even worth the parts that are in it. Chrysler needs to take some responsibility for their errors. It's obvious it's a design flaw cuz EVERYONE has a head gasket problem. It's been a cute car with a zippy engine. But I won't miss it.
My 96 Plymouth Neon
Well she really goes fast as I have the Stick shift model. In 73000 mils of driving I've lot 2 oxygen sensors and the electrical gauges sporadically drop null position leaving you blind while drivng. Otherwise very little problems during mostly highway driving.
An average car...
I bought mine used with just over 40k miles. Since then, thankfully, I haven't had to replace the head gasket, though I'm just waiting for the day when it does. I'm up to 114k miles, and there's hardly a speck of paint left on the roof. It was white, now it's a nice shade of primer gray/rust. The car runs, though it seems to be burning oil. I still get decent highway mileage, though my city mileage, as I do mostly local driving, is slowly creeping more towards 20 mpg and away from 30. I'm ready to ditch it and upgrade to something nicer. My roommate keeps threating to use it to sight in his new rifle.
10 Years and still going strong
I've had my Neon for a long time now, and I've had to do some substantial work to it. It is pushing it's 200,000th mile and is still going good. Personally, i think the older Neon's are a great beginner car for a young driver because they are easy to handle and have lots of safety features. I love my Neon and wish I could keep it much longer.
Warning, do not buy this car
Where this car is cute, it is extremely unreliable. At 6 months and again at 12 months after purchased, my car would not start at all. The dealership said they did not find any problem. Radio light would periodically flash as if there is a short, but some how supposedly could not be detected, Speed senser needed to be replaced about 1.5 years after purchase, Head gasget blew after about 2 years. Windows fog up quickly. Trunk leaked badley when it rained. Vents have an awful odor when turning the heat on. noise coming from front axle, black around the doors peeling after 6 months.
$20,000 Neon
I bought my Neon in 1997 with 24,000 miles. The reason my Neon cost me $20,000 is repairs. I paid $13,999 for the car and more than $6000 for repairs. Here's the list of replaced parts (not including what it came with): 3 head gaskets, 8 sets of brake pads, 3 sets of brake rotors, 2 sets of brake calipers, 1 transmission and several gaskets and seals. Don't ever buy a Neon. I have yet to find anyone who has owned a Neon for more than 6 months who enjoys the car. So I'm getting rid of mine now that I've worked 2 jobs to get out of debt. I had to pay so much in repairs I couldn't afford to pay my other bills. My credit will be ruined forever. Thanks Chrysler!
junk
My daughter bought this car when she turned 16. We thought it would get her through high school before she would have to buy another. Only a month after she got it the headgasket started to leak, then the water pump went out, the electrical in the dash keep shorting out, the drivers window track broke. This car is hopeless and only had 101,000 miles on it thought for sure she would get at least 30,000 more before it fell apart.I would never buy another neon.
Lemonaide Please
My Neon has been nothing but trouble from day one. It has had a constant overheating problem even after the head gasket was replaced (warranty work). In addition, the entire heating/cooling system has been replaced more than one time, I've had electrical repairs, and the car leaks! If having an overheating car wasn't bad enough, every time it rains hard, the car fills up with water . The dealer has replaced the front and rear windshields, but it still leaks! The only time I would recommend this car is if you are planning to give it to your enemy!
Think Twice before buying a 1997 model!
We bought this car used in Jan. 1999 with only 17,000 miles on it. Thankfully it still had two years of a manufacturers warranty left on it because it has been nothing but a mechanical nightmare for us. We have had constant fuel system problems with the car, having to take it in at least twice a year for something. We had to have the head gasket replaced and was told by a service tech that this is a common thing for a 1997 neon to have done. When it isn't in the shop it is a good little car at a great price, but the problems we have had would make me think very hard before every looking at another one.
Adam's Neon Review
So far this car has been reliable for the most part. I have had problems with the alignment and the belts being loosened/breaking. The interior design is hideously ugly. There are ugly little multi-colored triangles all over the seats! (Yuk!) The ride is fairly smooth and gas mileage on the highway is great. City mileage is about average. Overall I would say I would give the car a 7.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR
I bought 2 Neons (new). The years were 1996 and 1997. I've had nothing but problems with these cars!At 60,000 miles, on each car, the heads cracked. . I put thousands into the 1996 and nothing can stop the oil leaks and electrical problems. When the head gasket blew on the 1997, after much arm twisting, Chrysler replaced the engine (at a cost of 1,000 to me). Of course, the head gasket blew on the newer engine as well and the oil leaks just don't seem to be able to be repaired. I will never, ever ever ever buy a Chrysler car again due to the unreliability and immense cost of repairs.
Bessie's Ailments
Bessie (my red 1996 Neon) is suffering. Here is a list. - Horn didn't work, then came on by itself - A/C died 2X - Blinker switch replaced 2X - Brakes defective - Electrical system died leaving only headlights working 2X - Gas tank replaced - Head gasket blew 2X (I refuse to fix it this time, but can't drive it because it goes through 1 qt. of oil every 2-3 days)
Chrysler is a rip-off!!!
Actually, I've really enjoyed my neon for the most part. The thing that really SUCKS is that I bought one that has a enormous paint defect - the blue one just chips and peels. This peeling began during year 2 of owning the car and Chrysler said they will take no responsibility for it EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT it's a defect of paint. While overall the car is good, I will never give my $$$ to chrysler again.
my piece
I recently bought my Neon in January of this year. Already everything is going wrong with it. My water pump was replaced in February. My head gasket needs to be replaced within the next 2 months and my fuel pump broke last month. I understand it's a 10 year old car, but my last car was an 89 and NOTHING went wrong with it while I had it.
When it runs it's a great car
When this car runs it's a great car. It is good on gas and with a 5-speed acceleration is good. However, this is the least reliable car I have ever owned. I have put over $1,200 into it in the 5 months I have owned it. I had the car just over a week before it needed it's first repair. If you are buying this car cough up the money for an extended warrenty.
Old Reliable
Bought this car brand new in June of '96. Have over 125k miles on it now and other than repairing a blown spark plug once, I haven't had any problems with it. Other than regular oil changes, I have never had to add oil. The little 4 banger has good power and avg 34 mpg. For a car at this price, it has superior handling although the ride is getting a little rough now.
Bad oil leak and electrical problems!
Bought my Neon used and had no problems the first couple of years. Then it started leaking oil and had a lot of electrical problems. Radio has not worked for 5 years. The speedometer and gas gauge not working properly. I bought a new car this year, so I am finally going to sell mine, if anyone will buy it.
good little car
It's been reliable and dependable, not any problems until now at 49,500 miles. Now it needs a head gasket and new tires. Have replaced the battery and two tires, and have had regular maintenance and upkeep.
Love it!
I just lost my beloved Neon to an accident with a Volvo. And for the record, the Volvo looked MUCH worse! LOL. I bought my Neon in '00 with around 40,000 miles on it. I LOVE that car! I have only had to replace the head gasket once. Something that the early models had major problems with. But they got most of the kinks out by '97. This car handles like a champ around corners and in traffic. With a 5-speed you can even play with the "big" kids, 'cause the little things have a good bit of juice for a 4 cylinder. Great gas mileage and I ran that little car for OVER 200,000 miles and I would have gotten a couple more years out of it too!
I'm thinking about another one
I deliver newspapers in this thing 7 days a week for 7 months at least 120 miles a day 2-4 straight hours or more plus the running I do during the day. I've put one turn signal, and one a/c pump in it (which still doesnt help how weak it is) the light switch kept burning out and my speedometer rarely moved, but those problems are under conrol now. I pay close attention to my gas 28+ which for how I drive is great it does need oil every 3-4 days but its never left me stranded on my route after speeding 3 hours straight. Trans getting shoddy and the braking system getting weak I have a feeling im the one to blame for that. Definitely a bang for your buck but be careful not all Neons are made the same
jeckyll & hyde car
I bought my 1996 sport coupe when it was brand new, and have had minor problems down the road, but I have racked up 101k miles on it, and it still runs pretty strong. Problem areas include: the map sensor, the brakes, & the A/C unit (I racked up a $1000 bill to fix it after warranty :(.) I had a lot of problems in the first few years, which soiled my image if the neon, but in its latter years, it is not doing too bad.
needs better refine, better interior
19,000 miles gasket blew out, fuel sensor need to be replaced, 25,000 guages went out, 37,000 check in came on replaces spark plugs, wires, cost over 700 bucks in maintances, 40,000 replace all 4 tires, Very poor paint quality start peeling at 25,000 miles. The car handles well but tons of interior noise coming from the engine.