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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
167Owner complaints

Model-year median: 151

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Plymouth Neon

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 167 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 91 reports
  • Air Bags: 18 reports
  • Suspension: 14 reports
  • Power Train: 12 reports
  • Structure: 10 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
481
1995308
1996161
1997167
199862
1999141
200049
2001
Compare all Neon years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
91Air Bags
18Suspension
14Power Train
12Structure
10
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Vehicle Speed Control
9Electrical System
7Visibility
7Steering
5Unknown Or Other
5Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Equipment
3Seat Belts
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Fuel System, Diesel
1Fuel System, Other
1

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

91 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

WHILE DRIIVNG THE VEHICLE A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WOULD ALSO GET A VIBRATION WHEN USING THE GAS/ BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER FOUND THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS AND SHOCKS WERE LO0SE. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF LUBRICATION ON THE BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSED THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORR…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIIVNG THE VEHICLE A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WOULD ALSO GET A VIBRATION WHEN USING THE GAS/ BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER FOUND THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS AND SHOCKS WERE LO0SE. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF LUBRICATION ON THE BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSED THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823201

Recall campaigns

1

99V001000 · 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 ↗

Defect 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.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.