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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 →

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentUnknown Or Other

I AM IN THE PROCESS OF COMPILING ALL INFORMATION ON THE REPAIRS WE HAVE DONE ON THE NEON. I HAVE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE ALL THE FACTS, FROM THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRED TO THE RECENT $900+ REPAIR OF THE COMPUTER AND THE TWO-WEEK-OLD PROBLEM WITH THE SHEETS OF PEELING PAINT. THE UNBELIEVABLE PAINT P…

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I AM IN THE PROCESS OF COMPILING ALL INFORMATION ON THE REPAIRS WE HAVE DONE ON THE NEON. I HAVE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE ALL THE FACTS, FROM THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRED TO THE RECENT $900+ REPAIR OF THE COMPUTER AND THE TWO-WEEK-OLD PROBLEM WITH THE SHEETS OF PEELING PAINT. THE UNBELIEVABLE PAINT PEELING IS INEXCUSABLE AND WAS ALSO THE LAST STRAW. I WILL BE FILING A LENGTHY COMPLAINT SHORTLY

NHTSA ODI #10070564

46,463 miles · Jan 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REPAIR OF SEVERE OIL LEAK AT ENGINE REAR. DODGE DEALER ADVISES THAT IT WAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) ON 1998 NEON WITH APPROXIMATELY 46,463 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. COULD NOT REACH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-922-1997 (STAYS BUSY); DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK EVEN THOUGH CAUSE OF PROB…

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BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REPAIR OF SEVERE OIL LEAK AT ENGINE REAR. DODGE DEALER ADVISES THAT IT WAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) ON 1998 NEON WITH APPROXIMATELY 46,463 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. COULD NOT REACH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-922-1997 (STAYS BUSY); DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK EVEN THOUGH CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS APPARENTLY A DESIGN/LATENT DEFECT IN THE ALUMINUM HEAD. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW 5/21/98. INTERNET REVEALS NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR DIDN'T BREAK DOWN AND CAUSE INJURIES, FATALIITES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. A MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS. IT COST ME $636.94 TO "REPAIR" SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANT BECAUSE OF APPARENT DESIGN/LATENT DEFECT (DAMAGE ALLEGEDLY REQUIRED PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF NEW CYLINDER HEAD TO PROPERLY REPAIR (AT MY EXPENSE) AND I TOLD THEM "NO WAY"; ITS THEIR PROBLEM, NOT MINE).*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052788

50,000 miles · Jan 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND THE HEAD BOLTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053620

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR OVERHEATED EVENTHOUGH THERE WERE PLENTY OF COOLANT. THICK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CRUISED TO A STOP. I DID NOT WANT THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GE…

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CAR OVERHEATED EVENTHOUGH THERE WERE PLENTY OF COOLANT. THICK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CRUISED TO A STOP. I DID NOT WANT THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED BEFORE THERE IS ONE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY NICELY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IF THIS WAS DEFECTIVE TO START WITH, THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. BC

NHTSA ODI #10051355

26,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS WELL AS OTHER OIL LEAKS ON 98 DODGE NEON. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047562

38,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN ON CAR THAT HAS ONLY 38000 MILES. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047525

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND 1998 NEON I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047522

60,000 miles · Nov 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE DRIVER NOTICED OIL ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044327

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044547

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MECHANIC FOUND THAT CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL, AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044180

Official recalls

1

99V001000 · 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

1

PE02082 · 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.