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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

Visibility complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

THIS CAR IS THE WORST. I HAVE LOST MORE WAGES FROM MISSING WORK DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO BE CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY FOR LEMON LAWS IN OUR STATE. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WANTS TO DEAL WITH ME OR MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR REASONS WHY CERTAIN "FIXED" THINGS SEEM TO ALWAYS BE…

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THIS CAR IS THE WORST. I HAVE LOST MORE WAGES FROM MISSING WORK DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO BE CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY FOR LEMON LAWS IN OUR STATE. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WANTS TO DEAL WITH ME OR MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR REASONS WHY CERTAIN "FIXED" THINGS SEEM TO ALWAYS BE BREAKING DOWN? I AM GOING TO GET RID OF IT ASAP. * NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739041

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2000
Visibility

SUN ROOF GOES OFF TRACK. WHEN IT RAINS IT LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK. CONTACTED DEALER AT LEAST TEN TIMES. DEALER NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR SUN ROOF APPROPRIATELY. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857244

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1. SUN ROOF LEAKING; 2. SPARK PLUGS FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN A YEAR; 3. OXYGEN SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS ; 4. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE; 5. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN BOLT,…

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VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1. SUN ROOF LEAKING; 2. SPARK PLUGS FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN A YEAR; 3. OXYGEN SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS ; 4. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE; 5. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN BOLT, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, WHICH RESULTS IN INTERMITTENT STALLING. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #841390

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 1999
StructureSuspensionVisibility

DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT ALLOW DOOR TO CLOSE WHEN UP. SQUEALING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN TRUNK FAILS TO WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS ALSO UNEVEN. THE HOOD, LIGHTS & BUMPERS HAVE GAPS (LARGE GAPS ON ONE SIDE, SMALL GAPS ON OTHER SIDE). VEHICLE RUSTING UNDER HOOD. TOOK TO BODY SHOP & INFORMED VE…

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DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT ALLOW DOOR TO CLOSE WHEN UP. SQUEALING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN TRUNK FAILS TO WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS ALSO UNEVEN. THE HOOD, LIGHTS & BUMPERS HAVE GAPS (LARGE GAPS ON ONE SIDE, SMALL GAPS ON OTHER SIDE). VEHICLE RUSTING UNDER HOOD. TOOK TO BODY SHOP & INFORMED VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO BEING SOLD BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842107

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1999
Visibility

THE SUNROOF HAS NOT FUNCTIONED FOR SIX TIMES AFTER 2 DEALERS WORKED ON IT. THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WAS VERY RUDE THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT BACK, AND THE SERVICE MANGER SAID THAT HE DIDN'T CARE, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE SECOND DEALER THAT WORKED ON IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707649

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

SUNROOF CONTROL UNIT OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA ODI #609237

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1998
Visibility

FRONT DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS SEAL BROKE AND LET AIR AND WIND INSIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533851

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.