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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

18 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

87,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

I OWN A 1998 DODGE NEON WITH 89,700 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO VALLEY SMOG AND REPAIR IN VAN NUYS, CA. I TOOK IT THERE TO GET MY 90,000 MILE WORK DONE ON IT. AS THEY WERE PULLING IT INTO THE GARAGE THEY NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL OIL LEAK. WHEN THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE RACK, THEY SAW OIL ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I WAS CALLE…

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I OWN A 1998 DODGE NEON WITH 89,700 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO VALLEY SMOG AND REPAIR IN VAN NUYS, CA. I TOOK IT THERE TO GET MY 90,000 MILE WORK DONE ON IT. AS THEY WERE PULLING IT INTO THE GARAGE THEY NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL OIL LEAK. WHEN THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE RACK, THEY SAW OIL ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS DRIVING ON IT ANY MORE WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO EXPIRE. I TOLD THEM TO PROCEED WITH THE WORK, WHICH ENDED UP COSTING ME JUST OVER $1100. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WITH FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT CHRYSLER HAD SECRETLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES AND WOULD REIMBURSE THE OWNER OF THE CAR IF ANY WORK WAS DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF MY CAR AND THE FACT THAT THE WORK WAS DONE AT A NON DODGE GARAGE, I WOULD NOT BE REIMBURED MY $1100. AS I ALREADY EXPLAINED, MY CAR WAS NOT 5 YEARS OLD YET AND HAD NOT REACHED 100,000 MILES. THE MAN THAT I SPOKE WITH, A GUY NAMED MIKE, MADE IT SEEM LIKE I SHOULD HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR, LEAKING OIL, TO DODGE TO PAY DOUBLE THE MONEY AND STILL NOT HAVE ANY RECOURSE FOR THE SITUATION. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME IN FINDING OUT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SECRET WARRANTY AND ALSO I'D LIKE SOME HELP IN GETTING MY MONEY BACK. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10070409

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2002
Unknown Or Other

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN BUT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS PEELING ALL OVER. DT

NHTSA ODI #769019

90,000 miles · Oct 2, 2002
Unknown Or Other

1998 DODGE NEON. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768023

NHTSA ODI #10006979

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

OIL LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE FROM HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8001101

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

OIL LIGHT FLICKERED AND CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS DOWN 3 QUARTS OF OIL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET. IN JANUARY IT WAS STILL LEAKING IN SAME SPOT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #884548

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

AFTER NUMEROUS OIL CHANGES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT SUDDENLY STARTED FLASHING WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY AND CAR LURCHED, THEN SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AT DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN. I'M CONVINCED THIS IS RELATED TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE HEAD GASKET IN THE ENGINE, SINCE THEY ALL SEEM TO HA…

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AFTER NUMEROUS OIL CHANGES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT SUDDENLY STARTED FLASHING WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY AND CAR LURCHED, THEN SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AT DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN. I'M CONVINCED THIS IS RELATED TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE HEAD GASKET IN THE ENGINE, SINCE THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE OIL LEAKS IN COMMON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740460

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

MY NEON HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR SPARK PLUGS, ENGINE MISFIRES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGERED, BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY BUT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP-NEED NO REPLACEMENT, SUNROOF REPAIRED TWICE; IT FELL OFF TRACK AND WOULDN'T SHUT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, RECENTLY THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING; WINDOWS LEAK AIR, OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED REPAIR, …

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MY NEON HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR SPARK PLUGS, ENGINE MISFIRES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGERED, BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY BUT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP-NEED NO REPLACEMENT, SUNROOF REPAIRED TWICE; IT FELL OFF TRACK AND WOULDN'T SHUT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, RECENTLY THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING; WINDOWS LEAK AIR, OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED REPAIR, WARRANTY HAS PAID FOR ITSELF PLUS MORE.....I AM WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #740076

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737009

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2000
Unknown Or Other

I PURCHASED THIS CAR EXACTLY 1 WEEK BEFORE MY "ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, SO I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS THAT MAY APPLY TO THIS CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #723120

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.