IllustrationWHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL STICKS DUE TO THROTTLE CABLE CORD CHAFING WHICH CAUSED ACCLERATOR NOT TO MOVE UNLESS DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE GAS PEDAL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*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 reportsDASH GAUGES FAILED DUE TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE: HEAD GASKET FAILED AND REPLACED BY DEALER WITH MLS GASKET: FUEL PUMP FAILED REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY
WENT IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND THEY NOTICED A OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
ON THE MORNING OF 06/27/00,WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AS I ACCELERATED TO 70 FROM 65, THE DONUT ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD (FLANGE GASKET) GAVE OUT. THE CAR BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE A LAWNMOWER. I TOKE IT TO MIDAS. THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK WITH DODGE FOR FEDERAL REPAIRS FOR EXHAUST. DODGE SAID NO, IT WASN'T COVERED, ONLY CATYLITIC CONVERTE…
Read full complaint
ON THE MORNING OF 06/27/00,WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AS I ACCELERATED TO 70 FROM 65, THE DONUT ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD (FLANGE GASKET) GAVE OUT. THE CAR BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE A LAWNMOWER. I TOKE IT TO MIDAS. THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK WITH DODGE FOR FEDERAL REPAIRS FOR EXHAUST. DODGE SAID NO, IT WASN'T COVERED, ONLY CATYLITIC CONVERTERS AND BRAIN OF ELECT. I DIDN'T BELEIVE THE REP. HE PROVED NO PROOF. THE BRAKE SYSTEM, HAD THE ROTORS RESURFACED AND PADS REPLACED AT 36244. IS THIS NORMAL? THE DRUMS HAD TO BE RECERFACED ALSO.
CHRYSLER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET AND HAS "SECRET WARRANTY" WHICH CHRYSLER HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UP TO 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET DEALERS TO HONOR THIS WARRANTY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THERE WAS A 4-CAR ACCIDENT, AND CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE 4TH CAR. BOUNCED OFF, AND THE CAR BEHIND CONSUMER'S, HIT IT AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THEN CONSUMER'S CAR HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT THREE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER SAID AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AT 20 TO 25 MPH.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING AROUND 48,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED BY MYSELF AT 54,000 MILES. *AK
DEALERSHIP STATED THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL NEONS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART. MENTIONED THAT EVEN IF YOU DID NOT HAVE A WARRANTY THEY WOULD STILL FIX IT BUT IT IS NOT PUBLISHED ANY WHERE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE CHECK UP, AND DEALER DID NOT SEE AN OIL LEAK, BUT WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, HE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. *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.