IllustrationREPAIR WAS MADE PROMPTLY AT COST $105.60.. ASUMMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEM.. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH HEADGASKETS ACCORDING TO NHTS A THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT 3 SERVICE ORDERS WERE ISSUED POSSIBLY BY CHRYSLER. *AK
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
What owners actually said
339 reportsOIL LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE FROM HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
AT FIRST, THE OIL LEAK WAS VERY LITTLE AND AS TIME WENT ON, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOT OF OIL ON THE GROUND. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET DUE TO MANUFACTURERS BAD DESIGN. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM?*AK
VEHICLE WAS GOING 30MPH OVER SLIGHTLY RAISED PAVEMENT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND REAR END STARTED FISHTAILING AS CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, THERE WAS A CRASH SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH, AND REAR END STARTED TO GO LEFT, VEHICLE WENT OVER CURB ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE, WHEEL CAME OFF SPINDLE AND THE AX…
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VEHICLE WAS GOING 30MPH OVER SLIGHTLY RAISED PAVEMENT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND REAR END STARTED FISHTAILING AS CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, THERE WAS A CRASH SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH, AND REAR END STARTED TO GO LEFT, VEHICLE WENT OVER CURB ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE, WHEEL CAME OFF SPINDLE AND THE AXLE BROKE, AND THE WHEEL ON THE RIGHT REAR CAME OFF, CHRYSLER WAS NOT ASSISTING CONSUMER POSSIBLY BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD PAID CONSUMER. REPRESENTATIVE THAT CHRYSLER SENT HAS NOT CONTACTED CONSUMER SINCE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED.*AK *SLC
THESE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE INTIMATE WITH THE NEON '95 THROUGH '98. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK
BAD HEAD GASKET /AND CAR LOSING OIL , I WAS EVENTUALLY PUTTING 2 QUARTS IN A WEEK. REPAIR MAN SAID THIS WAS HIS 25TH DODGE , NEON WITH THIS PROBLEM. HE CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL.*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…
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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
HEADGASKET LEAKING OIL. *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
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING, THEN, LOST POWER(, ENGINE STALLED . VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.*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.