The 1998 Plymouth Neon carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering body. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Head gasket failure with oil leak.” Plymouth ended in 2001, and everything with the badge is a Chrysler or Dodge underneath. The Voyager is a Caravan, the Neon is a Dodge Neon, the Laser is an Eagle Talon and a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Parts are shared and easy to find. Two things decide whether one of these lasts. First, the four-speed automatic in the minivans and Neons requires Chrysler ATF+4 fluid specifically. Generic Dexron will make it shudder and then fail, and this is the most common way these transmissions die. Second, several engines here use a rubber timing belt, including the 3.0 liter Mitsubishi V6 in the minivans, the 2.0 in the Neon, and the turbocharged four in the Laser. On the Laser's engine a snapped belt bends valves. If you cannot document the last belt, treat it as due.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Campaign #99V001000 · Jul 1, 1999
Issue: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MISSING WELDS, AND WILL HAVE STRUCTURAL RIVETS INSTALLED IN PLACE OF THE MISSING WELDS.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Plymouth Neon.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
60 NHTSA complaints · 1999-04 → 2011-06
“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”
“HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THE NEW HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON THE GASKET”
“AT 53,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON FAILED”
POWER TRAIN
5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-01 → 2002-11
“TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEARS AND CLUNKING INTO REVERSE”
“CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING! VALVE HEAD REPLACED”
“CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND LURCHING, DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED, BUT CONDITION REOCCURS”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5 NHTSA complaints · 1999-09 → 2001-12
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND THE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN SHAKING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD FRACTURED”
“DEALER SAYS THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, BUT VEHICLE IS OKAY TO DRIVE”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6 NHTSA complaints · 1999-01 → 2002-04
“INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS VEHICLE WILL REV UP AND WILL SURGE FORWARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE”
“AT TIMES THE ENGINE SPEED IS GREAT ENOUGH SO WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO STOP”
“WHILE COMING TO A STOP WITH BRAKES APPLIED VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD”
AIR BAGS
15 NHTSA complaints · 1998-07 → 2006-02
“WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, HEADING EAST, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HEADING NORTH, CRASHED INTO FRONT OF CONSUMER'S CAR”
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT 20-25 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED”
“MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A 45 MPH FRONT CRASH”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5 NHTSA complaints · 1998-07 → 2001-01
“WHEN DRIVING OR UPON MAKING A STOP VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER”
“WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN”
“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING”
STEERING
3 NHTSA complaints · 1999-02 → 2001-02
“WHEN TURNING CORNERS STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, CANNOT MOVE STEERING WHEEL FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL,WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT”
“WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH”
“POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER A WATER PUDDLE”
Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 1, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Chrysler specified 3,000 miles under the severe schedule, which is where an engine of this age belongs. Change at least once a year even if the car barely moves. Nothing in this lineup has an oil life monitor, so the interval is on you.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Use Chrysler ATF+4 and nothing else. The 41TE transaxle, still often called the Ultradrive, is sensitive to fluid friction characteristics in a way most automatics are not. Drain and fill every 30,000 miles. If a shop offers to top it off with universal fluid, decline.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Applies to the 3.0 V6 in the Voyager and Acclaim, the 2.0 in the Neon, and the turbo four in the Laser and Colt. Replace every 90,000 miles or 7 years, whichever comes first, and change the water pump and tensioner at the same time. The Laser's 4G63 is an interference engine, so a failed belt is engine damage rather than a tow. The 3.3 and 3.8 V6 use a chain instead and are not on this schedule.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$935–$1175
Shop
~$655–$825
DIY
Pro only
On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.
Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check the DOT date code on the sidewall. On a car this old, tires almost always age out before the tread runs out.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors, hoses, and hard lines at every service. Rear drums on the Neon, Sundance, and Acclaim seize on cars that sit, and rusted steel lines are a real concern anywhere road salt is used.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace every 2 years. On a twenty-five-year-old car this is what keeps the master cylinder and the ABS unit from becoming the repair bill.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Copper plugs run 30,000 miles, platinum closer to 100,000. Replace the plug wires at the same time on anything with a distributorless coil pack. After this many years the wires break down before the plugs do.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Replace every 30,000 miles. Simple on every model in the lineup.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
This is the accessory belt, not the timing belt. Replace the belt and tensioner together once either is cracked, glazed, or noisy.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Every 3 to 5 years. Most of this era uses conventional green coolant rather than a long-life formula, so do not stretch it on the assumption that modern intervals apply. The 2.0 Neon engine has a known head gasket history, and clean coolant with a correct pressure cap is the cheapest defense.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test the battery and alternator once a year. Corroded ground straps are common at this age and produce electrical faults that look far worse than they are.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
214 crashes 1990–2024
How the 214 occupant deaths break down
150
driver deaths
64
passenger deaths
214
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1997 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
21
complaints mentioning a crash
4
complaints mentioning a fire
Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Plymouth Neon reflects Plymouth's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.