1998 Plymouth Neon Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 91about this part
- Share
- 54%of 167 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 62,275miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 91 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Plymouth Neon, 54% of the 167 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 62,275 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10404311, filed 2011-06, 36,000 miles“I bought the car and had great mileage for about 4 months. Now I get less than someone who owns a chevy camero that is 3 years older than my car. I went on a trip to southern illinois and 5 and 1/2 hour drive. I used all the oil in my car. I took it to a dealer and was told that I had blown a head gasket.”
NHTSA complaint #10021470, filed 2003-06, 76,983 miles“These problems were found during a replacement of our third transmission. We are really upset with Plymouth/dodge auto. We had this car for only a year and it has been nothing but trouble. Like I said, 3 transmissions, 1 engine due to head gasket problems. Now, the oil pressure sending unit, vehicle speed sensor, and the rear main oil seal. ----dims 11 ivoq entry after 12/12/01 cut-over to artemis-------769336.”
NHTSA complaint #10008548, filed 2002-11, 71,514 miles“Took my 98 NEON with 42,000 miles into local chrysler dealership for an oil leak. They said that the head gasket needed to be replaced for a total of $1050. It is my opinion that: - the head gasket failure is not due to my own negligence, but an inherent design flaw. - the inferior head gaskets shipped in these cars pose a slight safety risk to consumers because it directly leads to oil leakage. - a large percentage, if not all first generation neons, are affected by this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10082292, filed 2004-07, 42,000 miles“At 53,000 miles the head gasket on my 1998 Plymouth NEON failed. The repair cost approximately $700 and had to be made on an urgent basis by a certified non-dealer repair facility. This vehicle has a known history of this failure and a service bulletin was issued on sept. 8, 1999. The company has declined financial participation in the repair of this vehicle. As a known problem, I believe the company should bear the financial burden of this repair and issue a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10017041, filed 2003-05, 53,200 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10191460Feb 26, 2016Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
Engine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Plymouth Neon
18 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Plymouth Neon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology