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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

Steering complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

CHYSLER IS INFORMING ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL, RECALL NUMBER 99V-001. MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE LOW HIGH VIN NUMBERS REPORTED TO POSSIBLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND I AM HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON THATAPPLY TO THIS RECALL AS WELL AS SERVERAL TSB.

NHTSA ODI #10036783

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashFireInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #749709

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #881184

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Steering

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAPPEN 3XS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868296

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Steering

WHEN TURNING CORNERS STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, CANNOT MOVE STEERING WHEEL FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL,WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834844

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.