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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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.

20 crash reports4 fire reports15 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2006
Exterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #10147171

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2004
Exterior LightingInjury

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT CONTINUOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.…

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CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT CONTINUOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083583

61,550 miles · Nov 5, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

WHEN BRAKE IS PUSHED THE TURN LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULDN'T BRIGHTEN. THIS WAS (08/13/01). IN 10/10/01 WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD IN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL, DIDN'T HAVE A REVERSE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED. IN 03/12/02, FOUND OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVE AND RADIATOR, REPLACED ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. IN 04/…

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WHEN BRAKE IS PUSHED THE TURN LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULDN'T BRIGHTEN. THIS WAS (08/13/01). IN 10/10/01 WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD IN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL, DIDN'T HAVE A REVERSE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED. IN 03/12/02, FOUND OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVE AND RADIATOR, REPLACED ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. IN 04/15/02, TRANSMISSION DOING THE SAME THING BACK ON 10/10/01 , TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED AGAIN. IN 10/31/02, TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME, DUE TO SHIFTING HARD, AND SAME PROBLEM AS 10/10/01 AND 04/18/02. ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEED SENSOR WENT OUT SO THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER WORKING. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING AND REPLACED THE OIL SENDING UNIT. ***DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 121/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------769334. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10008546

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Exterior Lighting

DURING RECENT HEAVY RAINS CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE PROBLEM IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNITS WHICH IN TURN, OVERFLOWED DOWN INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND FLOWED INTO THE INTERIOR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COLLECTING IN THE BACK SEAT FLOORBOARD ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT LOCATIONS, DE…

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DURING RECENT HEAVY RAINS CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE PROBLEM IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNITS WHICH IN TURN, OVERFLOWED DOWN INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND FLOWED INTO THE INTERIOR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COLLECTING IN THE BACK SEAT FLOORBOARD ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT LOCATIONS, DEALER REFUSED ASSISTANCE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #556721

Official recalls

1

99V001000 · 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

1

PE02082 · 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.