IllustrationBACK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED. ALSO, THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE THAT HAPPENS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
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.
20 crash reports4 fire reports15 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
9 reportsWHILE COMING TO A STOP WITH BRAKES APPLIED VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WE TOOK VEHICAL TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS FINE JUST REPLACE YOUR BRAKES. AFTER CONSTENTLY BEING SENT AWAY BY THE DEALER, WE EVENTUALLY TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS: BLOWN HEAD GASKET, REPLACE THE BRAKES (AGAIN), CALIPERS DRIFTING TO ONE SIDE, ETC. MY …
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ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WE TOOK VEHICAL TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS FINE JUST REPLACE YOUR BRAKES. AFTER CONSTENTLY BEING SENT AWAY BY THE DEALER, WE EVENTUALLY TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS: BLOWN HEAD GASKET, REPLACE THE BRAKES (AGAIN), CALIPERS DRIFTING TO ONE SIDE, ETC. MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD STILL BE HONORED SINCE THE PROBLEMS COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED A LONG TIME AGO.*AK
THIS CAR WAS OWNED BY MY SISTER, WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS CAR. *AK
HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES ON 10-20-200 BELTS, BRAKE SHOES/PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*JB
POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER A WATER PUDDLE. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKAGES DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WHEN APPYING BRAKES PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR, AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE COVERED…
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POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER A WATER PUDDLE. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKAGES DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WHEN APPYING BRAKES PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR, AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE COVERED UNDER A RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
FRONT WHEEL ROTORS FAILED.MGM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY HAD TO APPLY BRAKES. BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO HIT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
OWNER HAS NON ABS BRAKES. WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN A ROUTINE STOP, BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. .DEALER NOTED PROBLEM WAS DRIVER ERROR. *AK
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.