IllustrationTHERE IS AN OIL LEAK THAT IS CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE TO GO OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *SCC
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
91 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE HEAD BEING WARPED AND PITTED DUE TO THE TYPE OF HEAD USE ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER WAS UNA…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE HEAD BEING WARPED AND PITTED DUE TO THE TYPE OF HEAD USE ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE RESURFACE IT. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILIY. *SCC
I RECENTLY HAVE LEARNED THAT THE HEADGASKET IS A PROBLEM THAT COMES WITH ALL NEONS AND I WAS WONDERING WHY IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED IF IT IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND BECAUSE A BROKEN HEAD GASKET CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO OVERHEAT, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD.*AK
HEADGASKET IS LEAKING. DEALER STATED GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAKS. PUDDLES OF WATER CAN BE FOUND IN VEHICLE. THE CARPETING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET, REAR MAIN SEAL, VALVE ROCKER. *SCC
HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT AND THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING AT ALL.*AK CONSUMER HAS LEARNED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE 30,000 - 35,000 AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE GASKETS. …
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HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT AND THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING AT ALL.*AK CONSUMER HAS LEARNED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE 30,000 - 35,000 AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE GASKETS. *TT
ENGINE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER , DEALER NOTED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
MY CAR HAS A BAD OIL LEAK AND IN LEAKING INTO MY RADIATOR SYSTEM. A CRACK IN THE HEAD GASKET. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM
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.