Most common 1998 Plymouth Neon problems
Share of the 167 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Plymouth Neon complaints by model year
Best Neon years: 2001, 1999, 2000. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1998 Plymouth Neon recalls (1)
Structure › Body
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear suspension crossmember May be missing spot welds.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for any missing welds, and will have structural rivets installed in place of the missing welds.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Plymouth Neon:
Safety belt cinching latch plate
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.
What 1998 Plymouth Neon owners say
Engine & cooling all 91 →
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.
Purchased car 5/2000 with 10,000 miles. Oil leak on garage floor, took to mechanic who said car had blown head gasket & these cars are notorious for this problem. Dealer contacted, who refused to repair under warranty even though it is only 1 month past the 3 yr date & well under the 36,000 miles. Think mfg. Should be held accountable for quality issue. Found several reports of same problem on your website. Need help. Single parent & no money to repair at my expense. Mr **** dims ii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/2002 cut-over artemis****740626
Air bags
A 1990 Chevy impala turned left in front of my son while he was driving my car, he was going 30 MPH he hit the other car in the b pillar, both side doors with the front of my car. Neither air bag was deployed on my car. The passenger door would not open due to the fender being jammed back into the door. The bumper is dangling about 4-5 inches from where it should be. The passenger and driver injured their knees on the dash when they slid forward from the impact. The seat belts held.
While accelerating from a stop, heading east, another vehicle driving approximately 45 MPH, heading north, crashed into front of consumer's car. Both frontal air bags failed to deploy during this crash, and there were no injuries to report. Vehicle has not been examined to determine a cause for problem with air bags. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Suspension
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.
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.
1998 Plymouth Neon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 37 / 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Plymouth Neon a good car?
Based on 167 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Neon rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Neon at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Plymouth Neon?
The engine & cooling — 91 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (18) and suspension (14).
How many recalls does the 1998 Plymouth Neon have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Plymouth Neon, the most recent from January 7, 1999 (body). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Plymouth Neon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 1999 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1996. See the full Plymouth Neon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Plymouth Neon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.