AI Damage1998 Eagle Talon: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Eagle Talon filed 17 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 17
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 24% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 18% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 5 Child seat 6% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (18% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 2 complaints (12% of all).
- Child seat: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 17 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The dealer failed to remove paper and plastic covers on discs causing over heating and almost fire at front brakes plus brake failure. The vehicle accelerated when the driver was trying to slow down, and crashed.
There were no warnings prior to the smoke he saw coming from underneath the hood. He drove the vehicle home where he has done the necessary repairs.
On aug.24 2005 purchased an eagle talon(1998)the day we bought it the car wouldn't start. The sales rep messed with some wires and it started. We got it home the following day it wouldn't start. Our mechanic had to replace some of the wiring. The next thing that went was the clutch cables.
Also, the vehicle leaked oil. Consumer stated the problem stemmed from recall campaign 98v069002 concerning transfer case.
Foia request for certified copies of information/documents rec'd or fwd to chrylser or consumers re: 1998 eagle talon defective cruise control system cable fix, stuck throttle issues. (nar)
Vehicle door handle broke off. The passenger door handle had broken off when a family member tried to get in the vehicle. Several days later the driver side door handle had broken off as well. The consumer requested reimbursement for the defective part(s).
Head gasket was leaking oil, contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything. Consumer is concerned of a fire starting.
The car exhibits a condition when the steering wheel shakes back and forth as well as having a pulsating pedal when the brakes were applied. At the first occurance, 3 months after purchasing the car, I had the rotors turned and installed new front brake pads (the rotors were not worn, just severely warped).
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,820 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Talon has 59 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 17, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Eagle Talon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine and cooling, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 17. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (18%), oil leak or consumption (12%), steering or power steering problems (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Eagle Talon?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Eagle Talon from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.