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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

Power Train complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior LightingCrash

THIS CAR HAS ENDLESS PROBLEMS. WITH 2 HEAD GASKETS AND 1 VALVE GASKET BLOWN, I WORRY ABOUT WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO MY CAR. I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T BLOW TOO. I WANT CHRYSLER TO DOUBLE MY WARRANTY! *AK

NHTSA ODI #721374

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipment

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WAS TRYING TO COME OUT OF COVER DUE TO WARPING, THE AIRBAG CAME OUT OF POSITION. GEAR SHIFT CAN BE MOVE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN OIL LEAKAGE. PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM DUE TO MI…

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CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WAS TRYING TO COME OUT OF COVER DUE TO WARPING, THE AIRBAG CAME OUT OF POSITION. GEAR SHIFT CAN BE MOVE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN OIL LEAKAGE. PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM DUE TO MISSING DOOR AJAR SWITCH BUMPER. ALL SPEAKERS NEED REPLACING DUE TO NOISE DISTORTION. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN TO MAKE NOISE AS WELL AS FLASHING OF THE INSTRUMENT DASH LIGHTS. *AK.

NHTSA ODI #859224

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

CONSUMER PURCHSASED VEHICLE WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD SEALS TIGHTENED. 1-2 DAYS LATER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON 10-18-99 BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT. CONSUMER FOUND OUT HEAD GASKE…

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CONSUMER PURCHSASED VEHICLE WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD SEALS TIGHTENED. 1-2 DAYS LATER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON 10-18-99 BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT. CONSUMER FOUND OUT HEAD GASKETS WERE CRACKED. CONSUMER HAS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE & DEALER WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECTS. WILL CONTACT THE LEMON LAW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858858

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Power TrainStructureSuspension

AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. REPAIRED ON JULY 29, 1999. REPAIR REQUIRED VALVE EXPANSION, FREON, GASKET, AND RECHARGE. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999, RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE. FRONT END WAS CLEANED AND LUBED BY DEALER. NOISE RETURNED 8 DAYS LATER. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999 DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND CALIPER SLI…

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AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. REPAIRED ON JULY 29, 1999. REPAIR REQUIRED VALVE EXPANSION, FREON, GASKET, AND RECHARGE. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999, RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE. FRONT END WAS CLEANED AND LUBED BY DEALER. NOISE RETURNED 8 DAYS LATER. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999 DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND CALIPER SLIDES DRY AND AGAIN LUBED TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS. COMPLAINED ON SEPTEMBER 12. 1998 OF BACK FIRE OF ENGINE WHEN A/C ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A NEW PROBLEM FELT AFTER 2,035 ,MILES DRIVEN. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 HEADLIGHT BEZEL CAME LOOSE FROM VIBRATION FROM TIE ROD BEING LOOSE. PART OF DASH PANEL REMOVED TO CORRECT LOOSE SWITCHES. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 VEHICLE WAS INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO DOOR TOP WEATHERSTRIPPING TABS FALLING OFF. DEALER HAD TO ORDER PARTS AND HAVE VEHICLE RETURNED AFTER PARTS ARRIVED TO REINSTALL. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 THE FRONT AND REAL WHEEL TOE ADJUSTMENTS, RETIGHTEND NUTS ON TIE ROD AND ALIGNEMENT OF VEHICLE WAS DONE DUE TO VIBRATION. ON MAY 11, 1999, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW BY MYSELF. IT ALSO HAD BLACK FLAKES ON THE DIP STICK. "YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SHOT" WAS THE REPORT FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TRANSMISSION WAS RECONDITIONED, FLUSHED, NEW BAND AND GASKET INSTALLED AT 7136 MILES. VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO REPAIRS ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 TO HAVE BODY WELD REBENTED AND PAINT TOUCHED UP DUE TO DAMAGE FROM LIFT FROM PREVIOUS REPAIR. SEVERAL CALLS TO MR. JOHN BRUNSON ON OCTOBER 23, 1998, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF DAYTON ANDREWS DODGE, ST. PETERSSBURG, FLORIDA, BUT WERE NEVER ANSWERED OR RETURNED. I HAD SEVERAL TALKS WITH MR. MIKE ARMUS, SALESPERSON, WHO STATED HE COULDN'T GET ME ANY STRAIGHT ANSWERS FROM STEVE, SERVICE MANAAGER, REGARDING THE LOOSE FRONT END PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #712536

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND SHFTING TO ANOTHER GEAR, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND SHAKES AND THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE TRANSMSSION. ALSO, FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP, BROKE AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ODI #846107

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 1999
Power Train

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IF THE SHIFT IS HIT OR BUMPED THE VEHICLE WILL THEN GO INTO NEUTRAL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835543

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power TrainStructure

THE GEAR SHIFT INTERFERES WITH PASSANGER, WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER HAS KNOCKED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. YH

NHTSA ODI #609072

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING UP HILLS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET SOME SPEED. ON WET PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL DO LIGHT SHIFTING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP, AND THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE PASSED ALL THE FUEL TESTS…

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WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING UP HILLS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET SOME SPEED. ON WET PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL DO LIGHT SHIFTING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP, AND THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE PASSED ALL THE FUEL TESTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER DID SOME WORK ON THE OIL PAN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829027

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1998
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY. THE BOLT TO THE WHEEL FELL OUT ,CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO BEND. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827349

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1998
Power Train

CAR STARTED TO JERK AND SPEED DROPPED WHILE GOING UP HILL.

NHTSA ODI #539026

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.