IllustrationCONSUMER NOTICED A MONTH AGO THAT ENGINE WAS LEAKING. A MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TO CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, AND DEALER STATED THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMER.*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 reportsHEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES ON 10-20-200 BELTS, BRAKE SHOES/PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*JB
I HAD A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT IN MY 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND ONLY GOING 5 MPH. THE OTHER CAR HIT MY LEFT FRONT FENDER. MY STRUT IS BROKEN & VARIOUS OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION, INCLUDING THE AXEL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT. I SEE THERE IS A REAR SUSPENSION DEFECT…
Read full complaint
I HAD A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT IN MY 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND ONLY GOING 5 MPH. THE OTHER CAR HIT MY LEFT FRONT FENDER. MY STRUT IS BROKEN & VARIOUS OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION, INCLUDING THE AXEL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT. I SEE THERE IS A REAR SUSPENSION DEFECT AND AM WONDERING ABOUT THE FRONT.*AK
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
OIL GETTING INTO WATER, PROBLEM IS DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK CONSUEMER STATES HE CALLED AROUND TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO GET A PRICE TO REPAIR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WOULD RANGE ANYWHERE FROM $650.00 TO $1100.00 *JB
HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK
CONSTANT OIL LEAK INTO THE RADIATOR AND OVER HEATING PROBLEMS. *AK
FACTORY INSTALLED HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING A MAJOR OIL LEAK. REQUIRES COSTLY REPLACEMENT WITH NEWLY REDESIGNED MULTI LAYER STEEL GASKET AS SPECIFIED IN CHRYSLER TSB 09-05-98.*AK
ENGINE WOULD SKIP WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS . ALSO, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
HEAD GASKET REPLACED TWICE, SECOND TIME THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS ALSO REPLACED. *AK
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.