← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10036783

71,514 miles · Nov 5, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THESE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND DURING A REPLACEMENT OF OUR THIRD TRANSMISSION. WE ARE REALLY UPSET WITH PLYMOUTH/DODGE AUTO. WE HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY A YEAR AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. LIKE I SAID, 3 TRANSMISSIONS, 1 ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. NOW, THE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR, AND THE REAR MA…

Read full complaint

THESE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND DURING A REPLACEMENT OF OUR THIRD TRANSMISSION. WE ARE REALLY UPSET WITH PLYMOUTH/DODGE AUTO. WE HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY A YEAR AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. LIKE I SAID, 3 TRANSMISSIONS, 1 ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. NOW, THE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR, AND THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. ----DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY AFTER 12/12/01 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-------769336. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10008548

61,550 miles · Nov 5, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

WHEN BRAKE IS PUSHED THE TURN LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULDN'T BRIGHTEN. THIS WAS (08/13/01). IN 10/10/01 WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD IN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL, DIDN'T HAVE A REVERSE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED. IN 03/12/02, FOUND OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVE AND RADIATOR, REPLACED ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. IN 04/…

Read full complaint

WHEN BRAKE IS PUSHED THE TURN LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULDN'T BRIGHTEN. THIS WAS (08/13/01). IN 10/10/01 WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD IN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL, DIDN'T HAVE A REVERSE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED. IN 03/12/02, FOUND OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVE AND RADIATOR, REPLACED ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. IN 04/15/02, TRANSMISSION DOING THE SAME THING BACK ON 10/10/01 , TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED AGAIN. IN 10/31/02, TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME, DUE TO SHIFTING HARD, AND SAME PROBLEM AS 10/10/01 AND 04/18/02. ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEED SENSOR WENT OUT SO THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER WORKING. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING AND REPLACED THE OIL SENDING UNIT. ***DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 121/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------769334. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10008546

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL GETS STIFF WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS TROUBLE ACCELERATEING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8008470

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE COMING TO A STOP WITH BRAKES APPLIED VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008179

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

RPMS WOULD REMAIN OPEN EVEN WHEN ACCELERTION HAVS DECREASED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #6900600

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS VEHICLE WILL REV UP AND WILL SURGE FORWARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #886311

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

FRONT WHEEL ROTORS FAILED.MGM

NHTSA ODI #607651

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #702555

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA 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.