1997 PLYMOUTH NEON Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAK. *AK

VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY. DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT AXLE BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE HEADS GASKET WAS ALSO REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE THEY BLEW AND WERE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

68000 MILES. BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CAR IS ON 2ND HEAD GASKET ALREADY. THIS'LL BE THE 3RD. MAJOR OIL & COOLANT LEAKAGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS NEON OWNERS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. PLEASE COMPEL CHRYSLER TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF MECHANICAL FAILURES TO MY 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON WHICH I PURCHASED TWO YEARS AGO. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; RADIO STOPPED WORKING, CLOCK DISPLAY WOULD BLACKOUT. THE MOST RECENT WAS EXPERIENCING A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. HOWEVER, HAD THE GASKET BLOWN WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY JUST MINUTES BEFORE THEN, THE SCENE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. I DISCOVERED OIL IN MY ANTIFREEZE. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RESEARCH AND LOCATED A WEBSITE THAT INFORMED CONSUMERS OF MANUFACTURE DEFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE NEONS FROM THE 1995 TO 1998. A NUMBER OF COMPLAINS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRYSLER CORPORATION BY OTHER CONSUMERS. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHANNEL 5...

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, REVERSE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, WINDOW SEALS AND SEALS TO THE TRUNK ARE FALLING OFF, THE TRUNK IS TAKING IN WATER WHICH IS DRAINING INTO THE VEHICLE'S REAR FLOOR. *NLM

1997 PLYMOUTH NEON WITH 84,000 MILES SPRAYING OIL ONTO EXHAUST. COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND HAVE SMELLED OIL BURNING AND SEEN SOME SMOKE.NEED TO CALL DEALER. VERY UNSAFE.*AK

CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF TIRES ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE, EXCESSIVE WEAR, NEW TIRE ONLY LAST ABOUT 6 TO 7 MONTHS, HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES. MISFIRES A LOT EVEN THOUGH I GET IT TUNED UP EVERY 3 MONTHS, EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE. DEALER GIVES ME NO GOOD ANSWERS FOR THIS. *NLM

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BEFORE AT 25,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

BRAKES REDONE AFTER 3 YEARS, HEAD GASKET REPLACED AFTER 4 YEARS, CLEAR COAT ON PAINT ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED, MUFFLER ALMOST FELL OFF, EXHAUST DETECTED IN CABIN OF CAR, REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN, SEALS ON WINDOWS FALLING DOWN DOOR JAM. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768018

AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *YH

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPOTS UNDER CAR, RADIATOR BLEW TWO MONTHS PRIOR, CONSUMER FEELS ITS A DEFECTED HOSE, ITS TOO SMALL AND BLOWS OUT HEADGASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OIL LEAKING ON BACK OF ENGINE. MR

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET BLEW 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB

VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL LEAK . LEAK PROGRESSED OVER A MONTH'S PERIOD AND WAS CAUSED BY A HEAD GASKET TO FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND SENT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT'S A NEON, THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!*JB

ENGINE DETONATION, DRIVING 55 MPH NORMAL HIGHWAY, PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS. ENGINE BLEW UP IN A BANG, PARTS FELL OFF, GOT CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING (BUT NO POWER)!! *****THE (IDIOT LIGHTS) OIL OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T LIGHT UP BEFORE THE INCIDENT***** DODGE MECHANIC (AT SCHMIT BROS.) CLAIMS "DUE TO LACK OF OIL"... HE SAYS MOTOR "WOUND TIGHT". HOW COME ENGINE STILL RAN AFTER EXPLOSION?? THE LAST/PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE WAS ABOUT 4,000 MILES AGO. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE ON THE DAY OF THE DETONATION, EVEN AFTER ENGINE BLEW UP THERE WAS OIL GUSHING OUT ONTO HIGHWAY. REPLACED ONE DEFECTIVE (COILS) SOLENOID AND THREE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDARS DURING OWNERSHIP. CONTACT RAY AT (262) 284-3100 SCHMIT BROS. DODGE, PORT WASHINGTON FOR REPAIR DETAILS. WE TRADED THE DEFECTIVE DODGE IN FOR A USED CAR, WE LOST AROUND $6,000 IN EQUITY/FAIR VALUE. I FEEL DODGE OWES US...

I BOUGHT THIS NEON UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL DODGE AND PLYMOUTH NEONS MAN. BEFORE 1998 , THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT THE COMPANY KNEW THIS AND HAS DONE NOTHING. I HAVE AN 800.00 BILL THAT I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY. THEY REFUSE. IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET THEIR ERROR AND THEY ARE AWARE. *AK

THESE CARS ARE NONE FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKETS NO RECALL MADE YET. *AK

OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET

BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED LOSS OF OIL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED (OIL LEAK) AT 40000 MILES, THIS IS PREMATURE FOR ANY CAR UNDER VIRTUALLY ANY CONDITIONS AND IS QUITE COMMON IF COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA ARE ANY INDICATION AT ALL. CHRYSLER BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN 1999 AND DESIGNED A NEW MLS HEAD GASKET. AS THE HEAD GASKET WAS REENGINEERED AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FAILURES OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, I THINK IT SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING ERROR. MY QUESTION IS, IF THIS IS CHRYSLER ENGINEERING MISTAKE WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY $597 TO REPAIR IT, WHY HASN'T CHRYSLER RECALLED THESE ENGINES TO FIX THEM AT THEIR EXPENSE?*AK

I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE HEAD GASKETS GOING BAD. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE RECALLED? WHEN THEY START KILLING PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAYS WEHEN THEY BLOW? THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE ALUMINUM HEAD, AND THE ENGINE, AND THE GASKET. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP! CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE MADE TO RECALL AND REPLACE THEM AND THE HEADS WHICH ARE BEING MESSED UP DUE TO THE GASKETS GOING, AND LEADKING.*AK

I OWN A 1997 PLYMOUTH NEON THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. IT IS TO COSTLY FOR ME TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT.SO THE CAR WHICH I AM STILL PAYING OR, SITS IN MY YARD UNTILL I CAN COME UP WITH $1,500.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. OIL IN COOLING SYSTEM. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, NO HELP THERE. I STILL OWE $5000 ON A CAR WITH A MESSED UP MOTOR. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER KNEW THESE GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT IN 1998. WHY WEREN'T OWNERS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. IT'S ALOT CHEAPER TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET RATHER THAN REPLACE THE MOTOR. I CALLED THE 1-800 NUMBER AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME. SAME WITH THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO. *AK

OIL LEAKS(HEAD GASKET), PAINT PEELS FROM 3 SIDES OF THE CAR, OVERHEATS, AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING FLUID. HAD NOTICED LEAKAGE IN DRIVEWAY. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT GASKETS HAD BEEN MANUFACTURERED INCORRECTLY. HEAD GASKETS WERE REPAIRABLE. *AK

AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER NEON OWNERS, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS-LEAKING INTERIOR, HEAD GASKETS BUSTED, NOT TO MENTION OTHER PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPAIRED. *AK

CAR HAVING A OILY SMELL WHEN STOPPING. CAR HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR AWHILE NOW. WENT TO A AUTO SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS A OIL LEAK. HE THOUGHT HE FIX IT THE PROBLEM. THE LEAKING SLOW DOWN BUT I CONTINUE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR TWICE A WEEK!!!!! NOW THE CAR IS STARTING TO DRAG A LITTLE WHEN YOU PUT GAS TO IT ALSO JERK OR BUMP WHEN IT TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. THE AUTO SHOP ALSO SAY THAT THERE WAY TO MANY NEON COMING TO HIS SHOP LATELY WITH A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND HE WOULDNT TAKE MY CAR. HE SAID GO TO THE DEALER THEY SHOULD HANDLE THIS PROBLEM THEY MY HAVE RECALL. ;-( I NEED HELP!!!*AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK FROM FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE.*JB

ENGINE GASKET LEAKS OIL ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBILE FOR $600-$700 REPAIR. GASKETS BELIEVED TO BE THE WRONG SIZE.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND REAR MAIN OIL SEAL THIS CAR HAS ONLY 36000 MILES ON IT AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT OIL LLEAKS FROM THE GASKET CAN IGNITE. *AK

IS THERE A HEAD GASKET RECALL ON NEONS? UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THE FOLLOWING NHTSA ITEM #'S THAT COULD INDICATE THERE IS ONE. #SB601763,#SB602898 AND #SB603107. IF SO, AM I ENTITLED TO A REFUND ON WORK DONE ON MY HEAD GASKET.*AK

CONSTANT LOSS OF OIL. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND STATED THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK *SLC

I WAS JUST INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING OILTO LEAK ONTO ENGINE WHICH SMOKES AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKETS THREE TIMES.*AK *SLC

MY 97 PLYMOUTH NEON IS ON ITS 3RD HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT BUT IS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 HEAD GASKETS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT AND KEEPS MAKING NEW HEAD GASKETS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT COST ME $770 TO HAVE IT FIXED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. IT SHOULD NOT COST ME A DIME TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT.

HEAD GASKET BLEW, OIL ALL OVER, ,AND MACHINE STALLED ON HWY THE MECHANIC SAYS, MOTOR IS DESTROYED. I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO HOW AN DWHY THIS HAPPENED, I HAVE SENT EMAIL TO CHRYSLER NO REPLY SO FAR I THINK CAR STALLING ON HWY COULD BE DANGEROUS, ACCIDENT INJURY DEATH ETC NO PERSONAL HARM MY SISTER 'S MERCURY HAD SAME PROBLEM AND CAR WAS RECALLED BY DEALER LATER ON- AFTER WE MADE ALL REPAIRS- DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTICES FROM COMPANY OR OTHER OWNERS IN THIS REGARD? IF THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED IN TO AS SAFETY PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

OIL LEAK FROM BACK OF SIDE OF HEAD GASKET MAY NEED NEW GASKET OR HAVE CRACK IN HEAD REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD ENGINE (OIL) LEAKS SINCE APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. NOW VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND OIL IS LEAKING INTO OTHER ENGINE COMPARTMENTS CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. *AK

HEAD GASKET ALREADY REPLACED LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AGO...

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THIS OCCURS AT A PHENOMINAL RATE FOR ALL '95-'97 NEONS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS NOISE. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD AN OIL LEAK, AND SHE TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE. THEN, SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC REPLACED HEAD GASKET. BRAKE DRUM WAS PITTED, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. FINALLY, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG PANEL WAS BULGING ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE AIRBAG MODULAR. *AK

ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE. THEN, AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY EXPLAINED THAT PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET.*AK

HEAD GASKET - 20,000 MILES - 2ND HEAD GASKET & HEAD AT 27,800 MILES - 3RD HEAD GASKET AT 47,000 MILES. *AK

REPORTED PROBLEM WITH LEAKING OIL WITH 20,000 MILES. DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. REPORTED THE PROBLEM AT 45,000 MILES AND THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE THIS. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN GOING OUT SINCE 1/00, AND NOW SEVERE OIL LEAKS , IVE PUT IN 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE LAST 3 DAYS! (THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN NEARLY ALL 97 NEONS AS, IN MY OPINION, THE MANUFACTURER ADMITS THROUGH AT LEAST TWO SERVICE BULLETINS) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND MY OIL LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF REGARDLESS OF OIL LEVEL IN ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND STRONGLT URGE YOU TO FORCE THEM INTO A RECALL SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX THIER MISTAKES. ALSO MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT TURN OFF AFTER COMPLETION OF A TURN THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE ODOMETER READING OF 30,000. INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, PASSENGER SIDE, KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS TWICE BUT IT IS...

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. SEE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND 100S OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS. *AK