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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 reports
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/…

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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 · Nov 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ORIGINAL OWNER, 24286 ORIGINAL MILES. NO PREVIOUS MAJOR PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH "AGE" OF VEHICLE AND "DRY ROT". THIS VEHICLE IS USED ON A DAILY BASIS BY A 82 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO STILL HAS LOAN PAYMENTS TO MAKE ON IT. SHE HAS KEPT UP WITH ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND FEELS SHE IS BEING TAKEN ADVA…

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ORIGINAL OWNER, 24286 ORIGINAL MILES. NO PREVIOUS MAJOR PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH "AGE" OF VEHICLE AND "DRY ROT". THIS VEHICLE IS USED ON A DAILY BASIS BY A 82 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO STILL HAS LOAN PAYMENTS TO MAKE ON IT. SHE HAS KEPT UP WITH ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND FEELS SHE IS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. CHECKING THE INTERNET HAS SHOWN NUMEROUS INCEDENCES OF SIMILAR HEAD GASKET COMPLAINTS ON THESE CARS, BUT NO OFFICIAL RECALL TO DATE THAT WE KNOW OF. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS STATED HE IS AWARE OF A CHANGE IN THE TYPE OF GASKET USED, DUE TO CHRYSLER'S BEING AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CAN AN 82 YEAR OLD SENIOR SEEK SATISFACTION THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION? ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. DT

NHTSA ODI #769262

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE IS AN OIL LEAK THAT IS CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE TO GO OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8015308

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

ON TWO SEPARATE OCASSIONS CRUD/SLUDGE DEVELOPED IN FUEL SYSTEM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PERFORM ERRATICALLY. NEW INJECTORS WERE INSTALLED, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014655

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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 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

NHTSA ODI #8014481

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #764528

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEADGASKET IS LEAKING. DEALER STATED GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013197

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #566424

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #8010986

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8009305

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.