IllustrationAIRBAG TO DEPLOY
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 reportsHEAD GASKET FAILURE AT MINIMAL MILEAGE. FUEL PUMP SQUEALS LOUDLY. *CB
I OWN A 1998 NEON THAT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WITHIN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF OWNING IT BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK WHICH THEY "FIXED A GASKET" THEN IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND NOW AGAIN NOVEMBER 2003 I NEED ANOTHER HEAD GASKET. *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
I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAD GREAT MILEAGE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. NOW I GET LESS THAN SOMEONE WHO OWNS A CHEVY CAMERO THAT IS 3 YEARS OLDER THAN MY CAR. I WENT ON A TRIP TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND 5 AND 1/2 HOUR DRIVE. I USED ALL THE OIL IN MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. *JB
AT 53,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON FAILED. THE REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $700 AND HAD TO BE MADE ON AN URGENT BASIS BY A CERTIFIED NON-DEALER REPAIR FACILITY. THIS VEHICLE HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF THIS FAILURE AND A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ON SEPT. 8, 1999. THE COMPANY HAS DECLINED FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION…
Read full complaint
AT 53,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON FAILED. THE REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $700 AND HAD TO BE MADE ON AN URGENT BASIS BY A CERTIFIED NON-DEALER REPAIR FACILITY. THIS VEHICLE HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF THIS FAILURE AND A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ON SEPT. 8, 1999. THE COMPANY HAS DECLINED FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION IN THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE. AS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THIS REPAIR AND ISSUE A RECALL.*JB
BOUGHT 1998 NEON WITH 76,000 MILES. LEAKS 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY DEALER WITHOUT CHARGE. *JB
THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL. *JB
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.