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
What owners actually said
167 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW ON 1998 NEON. DID NOT NOTICE UNTIL OIL DUMPED ALL OVER GARAGE FLOOR. LUCKILY REPAIRED FOR FREE, BUT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON NEONS. CHRYSLER SHOULD MAKE REPAIRS FOR FREE UP TO 100,000 MILES BECAUSE IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE ARE 108 POSTS IN THE BAD NEON HEAD GASKET DISCUSSION GROUP ON THE INTERNET.…
Read full complaint
HEAD GASKET BLEW ON 1998 NEON. DID NOT NOTICE UNTIL OIL DUMPED ALL OVER GARAGE FLOOR. LUCKILY REPAIRED FOR FREE, BUT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON NEONS. CHRYSLER SHOULD MAKE REPAIRS FOR FREE UP TO 100,000 MILES BECAUSE IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE ARE 108 POSTS IN THE BAD NEON HEAD GASKET DISCUSSION GROUP ON THE INTERNET. SUPPOSEDLY THERE IS A "SECRET WARRANTY" OUT ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT CHRYSLER APPLIES IT INCONSISTENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN BECAUSE I JUST TRADED IT LAST WEEK, BUT STILL CONCERNED BECAUSE I BOUGHT ANOTHER '98 NEON ON 1/28/01. *AK
NHTSA ODI #740300
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
NOTICED OIL STAIN ON GARAGE FLOOR AND TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC WHO PUT IT ON A LIFT AND DETERMINED VISUALLY THAT THERE EXISTS AN OIL LEAK AT HEAD GASKET. ADVISED ME TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. HIS COMPUTER SEARCH INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH 1998 NEONS AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EX…
Read full complaint
NOTICED OIL STAIN ON GARAGE FLOOR AND TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC WHO PUT IT ON A LIFT AND DETERMINED VISUALLY THAT THERE EXISTS AN OIL LEAK AT HEAD GASKET. ADVISED ME TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. HIS COMPUTER SEARCH INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH 1998 NEONS AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 10/30/2000. I CALLED DEALER AND ARRANGED FOR APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY 01/22/2001 AND HOPE THIS WILL BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. INFORMING YOU FOR THE RECORD OF EXISTING PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #739565
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, LOST FEELING IN STEERING, DEALER FOUND THAT ENGINE MOUNTS WERE LOOSE, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #785840
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND STOPPED ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877815
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, AND TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877812
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline
THIS CAR IS THE WORST. I HAVE LOST MORE WAGES FROM MISSING WORK DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO BE CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY FOR LEMON LAWS IN OUR STATE. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WANTS TO DEAL WITH ME OR MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR REASONS WHY CERTAIN "FIXED" THINGS SEEM TO ALWAYS BE…
Read full complaint
THIS CAR IS THE WORST. I HAVE LOST MORE WAGES FROM MISSING WORK DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO BE CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY FOR LEMON LAWS IN OUR STATE. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WANTS TO DEAL WITH ME OR MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR REASONS WHY CERTAIN "FIXED" THINGS SEEM TO ALWAYS BE BREAKING DOWN? I AM GOING TO GET RID OF IT ASAP. * NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #739041
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts
REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE AND WON'T PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. ALSO, VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE OVERHEATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877341
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 46,000 MILES. DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #876642
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…
Read full complaint
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
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.
1998 Plymouth Neon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration