IllustrationNO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG IN COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURY. *YC
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
What owners actually said
167 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY
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
SEAT LATCH FAILED DURING VEHICLE COLLISION CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE THEREFOR CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVERS NECK.
SUNROOF CONTROL UNIT OUT OF ORDER. YH
FRONT WHEEL ROTORS FAILED.MGM
OIL PAN LEAK. *YC
THE TROTTLE SOMETIMES STICKS AFTER CRUIDING ALONG AND COMING TO A STOP. AT TIMES THE ENGINE SPEED IS GREAT ENOUGH SO WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE ENGINE WHEN THE THROTTLE IS STUCK AND FOUND NO CABLES BINDING, BUT THE THR…
Read full complaint
THE TROTTLE SOMETIMES STICKS AFTER CRUIDING ALONG AND COMING TO A STOP. AT TIMES THE ENGINE SPEED IS GREAT ENOUGH SO WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE ENGINE WHEN THE THROTTLE IS STUCK AND FOUND NO CABLES BINDING, BUT THE THROTTLE PLATE WAS NOT AT IDLE. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE RUNNING. LOCAL FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *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.