IllustrationPASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG CRACKED. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED SHE WAS AFRAID IT WILL HARM HER DAUGHTER.*AK THE HEAT FROM THE SUN WARPED THE DASH BOARD. *TC
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
Structure complaints
10 reportsI HAVE A 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. THE ROOF OF MY CAR BEGAN PEELING OVER A YEAR AGO, AND HAS RAPIDLY SPREAD AND NOW HAS RUST DEVELOPING. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER NEONS IN MY AREA WITH SIMILAR PEELING PROBLEMS. I HAVE CONTACTED CRYSLER AND THE REFUSE TO HELP SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE PAINT IS 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES. I THINK THAT …
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I HAVE A 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. THE ROOF OF MY CAR BEGAN PEELING OVER A YEAR AGO, AND HAS RAPIDLY SPREAD AND NOW HAS RUST DEVELOPING. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER NEONS IN MY AREA WITH SIMILAR PEELING PROBLEMS. I HAVE CONTACTED CRYSLER AND THE REFUSE TO HELP SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE PAINT IS 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES. I THINK THAT IS RIDICULOUS. PAINT ON A CAR SHOULD LAST MUCH, MUCH LONGER THAN 3 YEARS.*AK
MY CAR LEAKS WATER. MY TRUNK LEAKS AND THE REAR FLOOR LEAKS ON BOTH SIDES. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE ENGINE AT 36000 MILES.*AK
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.
WHEN IT RAINED THE FLOOR IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAME WET. *NLM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION 0F 30-40 MPH AND FRONT STRUCTURE WAS DAMAGED, POORLY DESIGNED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATIOM CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
TRUNK LID WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT ALLOW DOOR TO CLOSE WHEN UP. SQUEALING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN TRUNK FAILS TO WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS ALSO UNEVEN. THE HOOD, LIGHTS & BUMPERS HAVE GAPS (LARGE GAPS ON ONE SIDE, SMALL GAPS ON OTHER SIDE). VEHICLE RUSTING UNDER HOOD. TOOK TO BODY SHOP & INFORMED VE…
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DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT ALLOW DOOR TO CLOSE WHEN UP. SQUEALING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN TRUNK FAILS TO WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS ALSO UNEVEN. THE HOOD, LIGHTS & BUMPERS HAVE GAPS (LARGE GAPS ON ONE SIDE, SMALL GAPS ON OTHER SIDE). VEHICLE RUSTING UNDER HOOD. TOOK TO BODY SHOP & INFORMED VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO BEING SOLD BY DEALER. *AK
TRUNK FAILS WHEN OPEN CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER WHEN IT FELL ON CONSUMERS HEAD.
TRUNK SPRING FAILS TO KEEP TRUNK LID CLOSED, LID HAS REPEATEDLY COME DOWN HARD, CAUSING BUMPS AND BRUISES. QCAW
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.