IllustrationGOODYEAR, EAGLE GA, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 37000 MILES MOUNTED ON A 1998, DODGE NEON. WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH PASSENGERS REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, AND THEN WENT FLAT. *AK TIRE SIZE P185/65 R14.*SLC
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
Tires complaints
4 reportsAT ONLY 19000 MILES THE CAR HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SPLIT DOWN THE SIDE IN SEVERAL PLACES,BOTH DRIVE BELTS BROKE CAUSING DEAD CELLS IN THE BATTERY,NOW TEMP GAUGE GOES TO RED WHEN IN TRAFFIC WITH A/C WORKING.DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND BELTS BUT CANT FIND THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. WHAT A PIECE OF…
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AT ONLY 19000 MILES THE CAR HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SPLIT DOWN THE SIDE IN SEVERAL PLACES,BOTH DRIVE BELTS BROKE CAUSING DEAD CELLS IN THE BATTERY,NOW TEMP GAUGE GOES TO RED WHEN IN TRAFFIC WITH A/C WORKING.DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND BELTS BUT CANT FIND THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK!!!! *AK
HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FLAT TIRES (NO NAILS) ON THE FRONT TIRES ONLY AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD. YESTERDAY, THE RIGHT FRONT EXPLODED AT 65 MPH. THE TREAD TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM BOTH SIDE WALLS AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD (THE SAME POINT THAT ALL PUNCTURES HAVE OCCURED). IT ROLLED OVER AND STAYED UNDER THE RIM WHICH MADE STOPPING EXTREM…
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HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FLAT TIRES (NO NAILS) ON THE FRONT TIRES ONLY AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD. YESTERDAY, THE RIGHT FRONT EXPLODED AT 65 MPH. THE TREAD TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM BOTH SIDE WALLS AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD (THE SAME POINT THAT ALL PUNCTURES HAVE OCCURED). IT ROLLED OVER AND STAYED UNDER THE RIM WHICH MADE STOPPING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. A SLIGHT TOUCH OF THE BREAK CAUSED THE CAR TO TURN SIDEWAYS. TOOK 150 YARDS TO STOP. CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE RIM AND INNER PANEL. I HAVE RACED CARS OFF AND ON FOR YEARS AND ALMOST LOST THIS ONE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT ADEQUATELY RE-ENFORCED AT THE JOINT OF THE SIDEWALL AND TREAD. ALL FLATS AND FAILURES ON THE DRIVE WHEELS. THE TIRES WERE JUST ROTATED AND THE TIRE THAT FAILED CAME FROM THE BACK AND NEVER HAD A FLAT. ALSO, THE R/T HAS RACING SUSPENSION AND WILL LET YOU KNOW IF A TIRE IS LOW. IT HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE PULL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OTHER THAN 2 SECONDS OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A MAJOR EXHAUST LEAK. NO VIBRATION, NO PULL, JUST NOISE. THEN A LARGE BANG. I HAVE TALKED TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHRYSLER FRONT WHEEL DRIVER CARS AND BOTH HAVE REPLACED THEIR TIRES DUE TO NUMEROUS FLATS. AM GOING OUT ON THE WEB TO SEE IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 )
CONSUMER FEELS SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. 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.