IllustrationWHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. FIRST THREE TIMES AND THE LAST TIME TWO WEEKS AGO, STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND AND DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *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 reportsWHILE CONSUMER STOPPED, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE IN FRONT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL DUE TO ALUMINUM ENGINE WHICH COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER *AK
FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AT ABOUT 40 TO 45MPH AND ROLLED OVER. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE/SHAKE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65-70MPH). THIS HAPPENS WHEN TRAVELING AT LOWER SPEEDS ALSO. TOOK TO DEALER APPROXIMATELY 10-12 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. THEY WORKED ON IT AT LEAST 8 TIMES. HAD THE TIRES ROTATED. WILL BE GOING TO ARBITRATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 44,000 MILES. NO EXTENDED WARRENTY. $950.00 TO FIX
HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 44,000, TWO EXHUAST VALVES NOT SEATED. NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK
HAVE BEEN IN FOR SERVICE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT , BECAUSE OF MULTIPLICITY OF MISFIRES , 4 TIMES IN 10 MONTHS. PRESENTLY TRYING TO GET SERVICE COPIES BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE FIRST TWO SERVICES FOR MY RECORDS. I WONDER IF I WILL ACTUALLY RECEIVE THEM? ON THE THIRD VISIT THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED MY THAT CHRYSLER WAS COMING OUT…
Read full complaint
HAVE BEEN IN FOR SERVICE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT , BECAUSE OF MULTIPLICITY OF MISFIRES , 4 TIMES IN 10 MONTHS. PRESENTLY TRYING TO GET SERVICE COPIES BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE FIRST TWO SERVICES FOR MY RECORDS. I WONDER IF I WILL ACTUALLY RECEIVE THEM? ON THE THIRD VISIT THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED MY THAT CHRYSLER WAS COMING OUT WITH A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. HAVE NOT TALKED TO OTHER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS FOR COMFORMATION OF THIS , NOR HAVE I ASKED CHRYSLER . I REALLY NEED HELP IN THIS MATTER. I REALLY DO WANT A REFUND FOR THIS DODGE NEON SPORT COUPE W/DOHC MOTOR. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED.
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.