IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1998 Dodge Neon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 45 of 339 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 199 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports3 fire reports32 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
199 reportsHEAD GASKET FAILED AT 32,450 MILES. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS HAPPENING TO ALL OF THE NEONS. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL THEN. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CREATING A OIL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS HAS YET TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION T ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED . HEAD GASKETS BLEW WHICH CAUSED OIL LEAKAGE ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER5 HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE GASKETS , THE SENSOR AND ENGINE FILTER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. *ET
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY NOTICED AN OIL LEAK ON FLOOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED IT WAS ENGINE HEAD GASKETS THAT CAUSED THE LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NEW VEHICLES HAVE CORRECTED, BUT DIFFERENT TYPE/STYLE OF HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS ARE YET TO BE REPAIRED. *A…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY NOTICED AN OIL LEAK ON FLOOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED IT WAS ENGINE HEAD GASKETS THAT CAUSED THE LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NEW VEHICLES HAVE CORRECTED, BUT DIFFERENT TYPE/STYLE OF HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS ARE YET TO BE REPAIRED. *AK
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATATION DURING STARTING / IDELING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT THE ENGINE VALVES WERE MISFIRING. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SEEKING HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN MODERN CARS. MY CAR IS ONLY A YEAR OLD. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS FOUND THIS MALFUNCTION AS SURPRISING! THE DEALER PROBABLY WILL NEVER OWN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ALL PERCUSSION TO INSURE SATISFACTION. I WOULDN'T EVEN MIND IF THEY WOULD …
Read full complaint
THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN MODERN CARS. MY CAR IS ONLY A YEAR OLD. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS FOUND THIS MALFUNCTION AS SURPRISING! THE DEALER PROBABLY WILL NEVER OWN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ALL PERCUSSION TO INSURE SATISFACTION. I WOULDN'T EVEN MIND IF THEY WOULD AGREE TO RELEASING ME FROM ANY OBLIGATIONS. THEY CAN HAVE THE CAR BACK!
Official recalls
199V001000 · Structure:body
Jan 7, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER MAY BE MISSING SPOT WELDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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.