TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND WOULD NOT DISPLAY THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER CIRCUIT BOARD RESISTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN
1998 Plymouth Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Plymouth Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 151.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 22 of 167 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 91 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
167 reportsCAR HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT AND OIL STARTED RUNNING OUT UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER HAS YET TO CORRECT IT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THAT I WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN SINCE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS TOLD FROM MECHANIC …
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CAR HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT AND OIL STARTED RUNNING OUT UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER HAS YET TO CORRECT IT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THAT I WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN SINCE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS TOLD FROM MECHANIC THAT SEVERAL OTHER CARS THE HEADS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THE STRUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR RATTLES. IT RUBS WHEN I MAKE RIGHT TURNS. I HAVE ONLY CHANGED THE STRUTS IN THE REAR AND A WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR AND IT IS STILL DOING IT. *TR
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING CONTROL RE DEFECTIVE NEW CHRYSLER VEHICLE FWD TO POTUS RE HOW CORPORATIONS ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE USA. *NJ WITHIN A WEEK OF THE CONSUMERS MOTHER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMERS MOTHER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICL…
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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING CONTROL RE DEFECTIVE NEW CHRYSLER VEHICLE FWD TO POTUS RE HOW CORPORATIONS ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE USA. *NJ WITHIN A WEEK OF THE CONSUMERS MOTHER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMERS MOTHER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE SOUNDED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS 54,000 MILES AND WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THE VEHICLES ENGINE ROD IS ABOUT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR WAS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE SENDER MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF THE MOTOR LEAKED. THE LEAK WAS NORMALLY SMALL AND ONLY LEAKED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. HOWEVER, OVER TIME, THE LEAKING CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSED WEAR AND TEAR ON THE HEAD GASKETS, PISTONS AND RODS. *JB
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING CONTROL RE DEFECTIVE NEW CHRYSLER VEHICLE FWD TO POTUS RE HOW CORPORATIONS ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE USA. *NJ WITHIN A WEEK OF THE CONSUMERS MOTHER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMERS MOTHER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICL…
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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING CONTROL RE DEFECTIVE NEW CHRYSLER VEHICLE FWD TO POTUS RE HOW CORPORATIONS ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE USA. *NJ WITHIN A WEEK OF THE CONSUMERS MOTHER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMERS MOTHER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE SOUNDED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS 54,000 MILES AND WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THE VEHICLES ENGINE ROD IS ABOUT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR WAS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE SENDER MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF THE MOTOR LEAKED. THE LEAK WAS NORMALLY SMALL AND ONLY LEAKED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. HOWEVER, OVER TIME, THE LEAKING CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSED WEAR AND TEAR ON THE HEAD GASKETS, PISTONS AND RODS. *JB
REPORTS ON DEFECTIVE PARTS MADE BY CHRYSLER WITH REGARD TO 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON ENGINE OVERHEATING AS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY, COOLANT RESERVOIR AND/OR THE COOLANT CAP. *NJ
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR
A 1990 CHEVY IMPALA TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF MY SON WHILE HE WAS DRIVING MY CAR, HE WAS GOING 30 MPH HE HIT THE OTHER CAR IN THE B PILLAR, BOTH SIDE DOORS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. NEITHER AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED ON MY CAR. THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO THE FENDER BEING JAMMED BACK INTO THE DOOR. THE BUMPER IS DANGLING AB…
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A 1990 CHEVY IMPALA TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF MY SON WHILE HE WAS DRIVING MY CAR, HE WAS GOING 30 MPH HE HIT THE OTHER CAR IN THE B PILLAR, BOTH SIDE DOORS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. NEITHER AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED ON MY CAR. THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO THE FENDER BEING JAMMED BACK INTO THE DOOR. THE BUMPER IS DANGLING ABOUT 4-5 INCHES FROM WHERE IT SHOULD BE. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER INJURED THEIR KNEES ON THE DASH WHEN THEY SLID FORWARD FROM THE IMPACT. THE SEAT BELTS HELD. *NM
I HAVE A 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. I AM ANGRY WITH THE WAY THESE CARS WERE BUILT FROM CHRYSLER. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GET FOGGIER AND FOGGIER. I TAKE NORMAL CARE OF MY CAR TO INCLUDE KEEPING IT CLEAN AND MECHANICALLY SOUND. I HAVE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE LIGHTS BECOMING SO CLOUDY. IT IS ALMOST AS THO…
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I HAVE A 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. I AM ANGRY WITH THE WAY THESE CARS WERE BUILT FROM CHRYSLER. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GET FOGGIER AND FOGGIER. I TAKE NORMAL CARE OF MY CAR TO INCLUDE KEEPING IT CLEAN AND MECHANICALLY SOUND. I HAVE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE LIGHTS BECOMING SO CLOUDY. IT IS ALMOST AS THOUGH I HAVE DIM LIGHTS DUE TO THIS CLOUDING OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES. I INSIST THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE INSTATED IN ORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR EACH AND EVERY NEON FROM 1998 FOR SURE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AND EITHER THE FOG LIGHTS HAVE TO BE ON OR YOUR BRIGHTS JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO REPLACE SOMETHING WITH OUR OWN MONEY WHEN IT WAS A QUITE OBVIOUS PROBLEM ON CHRYSLER'S END? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. *NM
CAR CONTINOUSLY OVERHEATS. HAVE REPLACE THE RADIATOR CAP AND THE THERMOSTAT.
Official recalls
199V001000 · Structure:body
Jan 7, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER MAY BE MISSING SPOT WELDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL CRACKS IN THE BODY, AND REDUCED CRASH PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MISSING WELDS, AND WILL HAVE STRUCTURAL RIVETS INSTALLED IN PLACE OF THE MISSING WELDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
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