IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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 reportsCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 40MPH AND VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH AIRBAGS: SIDE DOOR DIDN'T DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AT SEARS FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHECK, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND A TRANSMISSION LEAK. *AK
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, A HOLE WAS UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE WHICH WAS FULL OF OIL.*AK
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
WHILE DRIVING ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITION AT 40 MPH, BOTH AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, AND CAUSED INJURIES TO DRIVER RIGHT SIDE WAIST/HAND, AND UP TO SHOULDER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. TOOK TO DEALER AND REPLACED THE SEAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOOK BACK, AND THEY REPLACED THE CAM. *AK
HEAD GASKET LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING FAILURE. *YC
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HAS BAD VIBRATION AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. DEALER SAYS THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, BUT VEHICLE IS OKAY TO DRIVE. *AK
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,…
Read full complaint
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
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.