IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH HAD A COLLISON AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *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
What owners actually said
167 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A U-TURN IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE, AND DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
IN A REAR END COLLSION THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS BROKE, CAUSING BOTH TO FALL BACKWARDS, WHICH MAY CAUSE INJURIES TO OCCUPANT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER STATED THATS THE WAY THE SEAT WERE DESIGNE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
PAGE 159 OF THE 1998 OWNER'S MANUAL (MAINTENANCE SECTION) STATES TO USE D0T 2 BRAKE FLUID, INSTEAD OF DOT 3. WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO BE THE CORRECT BRAKE FLUID TO BE USED. *AK
TRUNK FAILS WHEN OPEN CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER WHEN IT FELL ON CONSUMERS HEAD.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT 20-25 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRUNK SPRING FAILS TO KEEP TRUNK LID CLOSED, LID HAS REPEATEDLY COME DOWN HARD, CAUSING BUMPS AND BRUISES. QCAW
FRONT END MAKES A RATTLING AND CLUNKING NOISE DURING TURNS OR ON ROUGH ROADS.
WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO THE AXLE SHAFT MALFUNCTIONING. IT WAS REPLACED, BUT DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
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.