Suspension complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was driving my 2001 with only 65,000 miles on it and heard a loud bang. I was able to bring it to my mechanic and he said the front end rotted out.its a good thing I was going slow or I could have been severly injured.in addition when it rains the floor boards and trunk well fill with water.this car should not be sold .I just read online about other drivers having had the same problem.
Constant problems with vehicle since time of purchase when it only had 500 miles & was supposed to be "new". It's the worst vehicle I've ever owned. I wouldn't recommend this headache to anyone!
Frame of car was so rusted that the actual engine mounting system broke in half., lost control of steering and movement. My daughter was driving and the car began to shake she lost control of the steering then it stopped moving though the car was still in drive. Car was moving on a city street and turning was nil.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Plymouth Neon. While turning a corner at 5 MPH, the contact heard a scraping noise. Both of the front tires spread apart as if they were separating from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that both ball joints and the cable failed. The cradle, lower ball joints, and the front passenger side drivetrain needed to be replaced. NHTSA campaign id number 99V114000 (suspension: front: control arm: lower arm) was referenced. The current and failure mileages were 118,000.
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.
When accelerating the car pulls to the left, when decelerating vehicle pulls to the right. Steering wheel replaced, it was vibrating due to being out of alignment, rack and pinion and steering rack were also replaced. Excessive shaking while driving, dealer replaced tires, and balanced and rotated tires, however shake still present, dealer stated vehicle had torque pull and could not be aligned, also had bad strut, vehicle continues to pull to the left and right and shakes. Consumer noticed oil around the bolts on the valve cover at only 265 miles, dealer can not find any leaks, front motor mount had a lot of play and was replaced, oil is very dark in color, poor power. Cv joints bad. Dealer lubed and adjusted front windows, they were hard to open and close. Windshield wiper blades failed. Wrong air cleaner vent was installed on vehicle. Emergency brake was stuck on. …
On the engine failures, both the head gasket and the valve cover gasket failed at separate times, resulting in all of the oil running onto the ground. The car was still under warranty, and the dealer repaired both problems. Regarding the brake light problem, the left turn signal often comes on when I apply the brakes. It will go off if I touch the turn signal handle on the steering column. This has gone on ever since I purchased the vehicle. Regarding the wheel problem, the car pulls to the right at highway speeds and the steering/handling has felt loose and wobbly despite having the rack and pinion replaced, a full alignment and having the tires balanced. Also, brake rotors are warped and currently being replaced. And, water leaked into the trunk and soaked items in both the trunk and on the rear floor. This, I think, has been fixed by resealing the rear lights.
Related recalls (1)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front suspension lower control arms May have been inadequately welded between the pivot tube and the arm.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower control arm.
NHTSA investigations
Control arm welds
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Plymouth Neon years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (14), 1995 (12), 2000 (10), 1996 (7) and 1997 (5) model years. Suspension complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Plymouth Neon suspension problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 99V-114 (lower arm, May 6, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Plymouth Neon suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles; 0% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (21 mentions), followed by the rear (5).
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.