IllustrationLET WINDOW DOWN AS A RESULT MOISTURE GOT INTO THE CAR FROM RAIN . ALSO, HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *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 reportsVEHICLE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD UNTO A GRASSY SURFACE. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BURSTED OPEN AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO DRIVER'S ARM, FROM WRIST UP TO SHOULDER, AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. *AK
CONSUMER FEELS SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. NLM
DRIVING AT APPROX. 50MPH AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER TOOKJ VEHICLE TO DEALSHIP ON THREE OCASSIONS, DEALDER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, SECOND TIME DEALER ADDED SOME TRANSMISSION FLUED, AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHUTDOWN, VEHICLE WILL GO TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON JUN. 16, 1999. --…
Read full complaint
DRIVING AT APPROX. 50MPH AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER TOOKJ VEHICLE TO DEALSHIP ON THREE OCASSIONS, DEALDER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, SECOND TIME DEALER ADDED SOME TRANSMISSION FLUED, AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHUTDOWN, VEHICLE WILL GO TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON JUN. 16, 1999. --- CRESTWOOD DODGE --
CONSUMER'S BROTHER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AT TIME OF PURCHASE VEHICLE HAD SPOT ON THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACID WASHED MORE THAN THREE TIMES, WHEN THE GLASS IS DRY YOU CANNOT SEE SPOTS, DURING RAINY DAYS CONSUMER CANNOT SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD.
ORIGINAL MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT 22,000 MILES BECAUSE A BEARING SPUN AND RUINED THE BLOCK. THEN AGAIN, THIS TIME, THE SAME THING IN THE SAME CYLINDER(#2 OR #3, I FORGET) HAPPENED AGAIN. ENGEIN OIL IS CHECKED EVERY 3 DAYS, AND OIL IS CHANGED EVERY 3500 MILES.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HAD FRONTAL IMPACT. REAR ENDED A TRUCK, AND BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SHE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE FRONT FIRST, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
WAS REAR 1ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR; DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE ON IMPACT. I HAD TO BE IMMOBILIZED WITH NECK BRACE AND BACK BOARD BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN SEAT. ENDED UP WITH ONLY SPRAINS AND STRAINS, BUT VERY DISTURBED BY THE FAILURE OF THE EQUIPMENT. *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.