Tl* the contact owns a 1998 plymouth neon. The contact stated that the speedometer failed and would not display the speed being traveled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the speedometer circuit board resistor was replaced. The failure recurred. The failure and current mileage was 74,000. Updated 11/15/13
The worst 1998 Plymouth Neon problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine93
- Airbags18
- Suspension14
- Transmission13
- Body10
- Acceleration9
- Brakes9
- Visibility7
- Electrical6
- Fuel system6
- Steering5
- Lights4
- Seat belts3
- Locks2
- Seats2
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Plymouth Neon
No deployment 8Overheating 6Grinding brakes 5Engine failure 5
Recalls 1
Structure: body
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear suspension crossmember may be missing spot welds.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 99V001000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1998 Plymouth Neon
Defect investigations
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. 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.
PE02082
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Plymouth Neon 51
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
- Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty
- Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs
- Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts
- Use of Aftermarket Parts
- Valve Body
- Flash programming failure recovery
- Subject regarding outside rearview mirror glass replacement
- Subject regarding airbag / clock spring service for various models including 2002 model year jeep liberty
- Subject regarding generic scan tool (GST), publication no
1998 Plymouth Neon fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21-25 | 30-37 | 24-29 |
What 1998 Plymouth Neon owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Car has 36,000 miles on it and oil started running out underneath the car. Took car to dealer and the head gasket was blown. This is a known problem and chrysler has yet to correct it. Upon further investigation I have found that I will have this problem again since it is a defect from the manufacturer. I was told from mechanic that several other cars the heads are also affected by this problem.
The strut on the driver side rear rattles. It rubs when I make right turns. I have only changed the struts in the rear and a wheel bearing on the driver side rear and it is still doing it.
S10 appropriate handling control re defective new chrysler vehicle fwd to potus re how corporations are allowed to operate in the USA. *nj within a week of the consumers mother purchasing the vehicle, he heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The dealer told the consumers mother there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that was just the way the vehicle sounded. The consumer stated the vehicle has 54,000 miles and with such low mileage, the vehicles engine rod is about to fail. The problem with the motor was that the oil pressure sender mounted on the rear of the motor leaked. The leak was normally small and only leaked when the vehicle was in motion. However, over time, the leaking caused excessive heat to the motor which caused wear and tear on the head gaskets, pistons and rods.
S10 appropriate handling control re defective new chrysler vehicle fwd to potus re how corporations are allowed to operate in the USA. *nj within a week of the consumers mother purchasing the vehicle, he heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The dealer told the consumers mother there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that was just the way the vehicle sounded. The consumer stated the vehicle has 54,000 miles and with such low mileage, the vehicles engine rod is about to fail. The problem with the motor was that the oil pressure sender mounted on the rear of the motor leaked. The leak was normally small and only leaked when the vehicle was in motion. However, over time, the leaking caused excessive heat to the motor which caused wear and tear on the head gaskets, pistons and rods.
Reports on defective parts made by chrysler with regard to 1998 plymouth neon engine overheating as a result of a manufacturing defect in the radiator fan relay, coolant reservoir and/or the coolant cap.
Blown head gasket.
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.
I have a 1998 plymouth neon. I am angry with the way these cars were built from chrysler. It is unacceptable that my headlights continue to get foggier and foggier. I take normal care of my car to include keeping it clean and mechanically sound. I have a real safety issue with these lights becoming so cloudy. It is almost as though I have dim lights due to this clouding of the headlight lenses. I insist that a recall should be instated in order to fix this problem for each and every neon from 1998 for sure. This is a problem when driving and either the fog lights have to be on or your brights just to make sure you don't hit anything or anyone. Why should we have to replace something with our own money when it was a quite obvious problem on chrysler's end? Please let me know what I should do.
Car continously overheats. Have replace the radiator cap and the thermostat.
Compare the 1998 Plymouth Neon
Other model years
Questions about the 1998 Plymouth Neon
Is the 1998 Plymouth Neon reliable?
Owners have filed 166 complaints about the 1998 Plymouth Neon, 3.4 times a typical Neon model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Plymouth Neon?
Engine and cooling, with 93 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles. Next is airbags (18).
How many recalls does the 1998 Plymouth Neon have?
1 recall, covering structure.
What year does the Plymouth Neon have bad engine?
The Plymouth Neon model years with the most engine complaints are 1996 (167 complaints), 1995 (144 complaints) and 1997 (103 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Plymouth Neon get?
Official estimates for the 1998 Plymouth Neon range from 24 to 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21-25 city and 30-37 highway.
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