IllustrationBAD HEAD GASKETS DUE TO FLAWED DESIGN. *JB
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 reportsBLOWN HEAD GASKET DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. *PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER SAYS THE OIL PAN GASKET IS DEFFECTIVE. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, MY COUSIN IS A CLAIMS ADJUSTER FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUP. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO CHRYSLER AND REMIND THEM OF THE OTHERS THAT THEY HAVE REIMBURSED FOR THESE DAMAGES AND IT WORKED. CHRYSLER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, ALL THOUGH IT WAS NOT EASY. I GOT THE RUN AROUND AND AN EAR FULL OF…
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HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, MY COUSIN IS A CLAIMS ADJUSTER FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUP. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO CHRYSLER AND REMIND THEM OF THE OTHERS THAT THEY HAVE REIMBURSED FOR THESE DAMAGES AND IT WORKED. CHRYSLER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, ALL THOUGH IT WAS NOT EASY. I GOT THE RUN AROUND AND AN EAR FULL OF LIES. BUT, IN THE END THEY PAID. DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. THEY HAVE TO FIX IT.*AK
1998, NEON SPORT HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK ON DRIVER'S SIDE (NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT DODGE IS VERY AWARE OF BUT REFUSE STO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK
TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND HEAD GASKETS. *NLM
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH. ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK
NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 NEON IS NO GOOD AND HAS LEAKED OIL INTO MY COOLING SYSTEM. IT WILL COST ME OVER A $1000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT ON MY CAR WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN 1998. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT. THANK YOU. MARY ANNE CORDALIS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
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.