IllustrationTRUNK FULL OF WATER - TRUNK & LIGHT SEALS ARE BAD - WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY FEATURE? LIGHTS HAVE TO WORK AND MOLD IS DEADLY! *TR
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
Structure complaints
22 reportsI HAVE A 98 DODGE NEON. THE CAR GRINDS IN THE FRONT END EVEN WITH NEW BRAKES. I CANT NOT DRIVE THROW WATER OR THE CAR WILL DIE. GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED THE FRONT END WILL BOTTOM OUT. I HAD A FRIEND LOOK AT THE CAR. AND HE SAID IT LOOKED FINE. THE BRAKE SPEC. DIDN'T SEE ANY THING AND I NOTICED I HAD TWO D…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 98 DODGE NEON. THE CAR GRINDS IN THE FRONT END EVEN WITH NEW BRAKES. I CANT NOT DRIVE THROW WATER OR THE CAR WILL DIE. GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED THE FRONT END WILL BOTTOM OUT. I HAD A FRIEND LOOK AT THE CAR. AND HE SAID IT LOOKED FINE. THE BRAKE SPEC. DIDN'T SEE ANY THING AND I NOTICED I HAD TWO DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE FRONT THEN THE BACK BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END. PLEASE IF YOU FIND OUT ANY THING ON THIS CAR IT WOULD BE MUCH OBLIGED. *NM
REAR SEAT AREA AND INSIDE OF TRUNK GETTING SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER DURING RAINSTORM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. CAN'T FIND LEAK.*AK
THE HOOD HOOK RIPPED FROM THE HOOD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB
THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE FRONT BUMPER AND APPEARS TO BE AN ADHERANCE PROBLEM.
RAIN WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE TRUNK GATHERING AROUND THE SPARE TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT RAIN WATER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
WHENEVER IT RAINS REAR BENCH SEAT FLOOR, DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE ,THERE IS A PUDDLE OF WATER. CONSUMER FEELS WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE TRUNK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WATER LEAKS AROUND REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY THROUGH GAPING HOLES UNDERNEATH TRUNK LID. WATER HAS BEEN COLLECTING THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND COLLECTS IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND IN THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS. THE RUG IN THE BACK IS SOAKED AFTER IT RAINS OVERNIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT TH WATER COLLECTS IN THE REAR LIGHT WELL. AN…
Read full complaint
WATER LEAKS AROUND REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY THROUGH GAPING HOLES UNDERNEATH TRUNK LID. WATER HAS BEEN COLLECTING THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND COLLECTS IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND IN THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS. THE RUG IN THE BACK IS SOAKED AFTER IT RAINS OVERNIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT TH WATER COLLECTS IN THE REAR LIGHT WELL. AND SOMEHOW TRICKLES DOWN. MUST OF HAD GALLONS IN THERE BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. *AK
TRUNK IS LEAKING AROUND TAIL LIGHTS CAUSING SERIOUS WATER DAMAGE. IT HAS LEAKED DOWN THE TRUNK INTO THE CAB, RUINING THE CARPET, PADDING AND FOAM IN THE REAR SEAT. THERE ARE LARGE GAPS BETWEEN THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE SEAL. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK
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.