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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2001
Power Train

STARTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS JUNE 2001. CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING! VALVE HEAD REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER STALL AND GEAR SLIP AT STOP SIGN. MAIN GASKET REPLACED. 3 WEEKS LATER ANOTHER STALL AND GEAR SLIP. DEALERSHIP TELL ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. MID OCT. 2001 ENGINE BECAME LOOSE ON FREEWAY. GOT LOCAL ME…

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STARTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS JUNE 2001. CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING! VALVE HEAD REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER STALL AND GEAR SLIP AT STOP SIGN. MAIN GASKET REPLACED. 3 WEEKS LATER ANOTHER STALL AND GEAR SLIP. DEALERSHIP TELL ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. MID OCT. 2001 ENGINE BECAME LOOSE ON FREEWAY. GOT LOCAL MECHANIC TO INSTALL NEW ENGINE MOUNTS. NOV. 13TH SERVICE MGR AT BARWICK MOTORS IN CALIFORNIA DROVE WITH ME. ADMITTED THAT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THAT BARWICK AUTOMOTIVE WOULD GET MY CAR WORKING. ONE HOUR LATER HE PHONED TO SAY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR! THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS. I COULD BE KILLED. WHAT A PILE OF * * * *!*AK

NHTSA ODI #754588

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKET-REPAIRS WILL BE BETWEEN $600-$800. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753933

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER1-1/2 YEARS I MUST AGAIN REPLACE HEAD GASKET, CAN'T MANUFACTURER DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753649

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

INITIALLY, I WENT IN TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW BATTERY SIX MONTHS AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. AMONG THOSE, THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND MOST SURPRISING WAS THE ENGINE OIL LEAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING MOTOR OIL, AND THAT IT WAS IMP…

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INITIALLY, I WENT IN TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW BATTERY SIX MONTHS AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. AMONG THOSE, THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND MOST SURPRISING WAS THE ENGINE OIL LEAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING MOTOR OIL, AND THAT IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT IT BE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS A STUDENT, $670 FOR THE HEAD GASKET WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT TO INVEST. THE ADVISOR AT THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE MODEL OF THE CAR INHERENTLY CONTAINED A POORLY DESIGNED ENGINE, WHICH WAS CAUSE TO THE MATTER. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE WONDERED WHY THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT CONDUCTED A RECALL. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CONSUMER COULD PLACE A COMPLAINT FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL, AND WAS ONLY ADVISED TO CONTACT CHRYSLER (NOT MOSS MOTORS) BY A TELEPHONE FOLLOW-UP FEW WEEKS AFTER. IF INDEED THE ENGINE IS AT FAULT, I STRONGLY URGE A RECALL TO BE MADE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753499

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Air Bags

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATLEY 35 MPH HEARD AN AIR HISSING NOISE . PASSENGER'S AIR BAG HAS PUSHED UPWARD ON ITS COVER, BUT HAS NOT FULLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897870

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2001
Suspension

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE FRONT END AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND UP, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, ONE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785720

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashFireInjury

THIS CAR WAS OWNED BY MY SISTER, WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749709

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2001
Suspension

FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES LOUD NOISES WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC INDICATED REPAIRS WERE DONE ON LOWER CONTROL ARM. NOISE HAD REAPPEARED WHILE GOING REVERSE OR FORWARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893152

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEADGASKETS ON THE NEONS MODEL YEARS 95-99 GO OUT CONTINUOUSLY AND DIAMLER CHRYSLER WILL ON PAY TO FIX THOSE THEY WANT TOO. I FOUND OUT THEY PAY FOR SOME PEOPLE TO FIX THEIR CAR BUT NOT OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WONT TAKE IT TO A DODGE DEALER. I CANT TAKE MY VEHICLE TO ANYWHERE BUT WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE…

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THE HEADGASKETS ON THE NEONS MODEL YEARS 95-99 GO OUT CONTINUOUSLY AND DIAMLER CHRYSLER WILL ON PAY TO FIX THOSE THEY WANT TOO. I FOUND OUT THEY PAY FOR SOME PEOPLE TO FIX THEIR CAR BUT NOT OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WONT TAKE IT TO A DODGE DEALER. I CANT TAKE MY VEHICLE TO ANYWHERE BUT WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF MY WARRANTY. THE AC ALSO CONTINUOUSLY GOES OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747269

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR ONLY 2 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE PROBLEMS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BUT I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER ISN'T DEALING WITH KNOWN ISSUES THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THERE OWN DESIGN FLAWS. I WAS GIVEN THE GOODWILL WARRANTY FOR MY HEAD GASKET BUT WAS REQUIRED …

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I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR ONLY 2 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE PROBLEMS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BUT I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER ISN'T DEALING WITH KNOWN ISSUES THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THERE OWN DESIGN FLAWS. I WAS GIVEN THE GOODWILL WARRANTY FOR MY HEAD GASKET BUT WAS REQUIRED TO COPAY 250 DOLLARS. MY REQUEST TO HAVE MY A/C FIXED WAS DENIED EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DOCUMENTED WARRANTIES FOR OTHER MODELS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD AND I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE TYPES OF PROBLEM AND IT WOULDN'T BE BAD IF CHRYSLER WOULD JUST TAKE SOME OWNERSHIP FOR THERE KNOWN BUT "SECRET" DEFECTS. I JUST WANT MY CAR TO WORK LIKE A NORMAL 2 AND A HALF YEAR OLD CAR AND FOR CHRYSLER TO STOP PUSHING THE PROBLEMS OFF ON THE FACT THAT OUR WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. THE JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745578

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.