← New search

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

What owners actually said

339 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, THIS IS A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES USED IN THESE CARS THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED SERVERAL TSBS ON IT. NONE OF THE FAILURES TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAVE TO DATE CAUSED ANYTHING WORSE THAN OVERHEATING DUE TO OIL/COOLANT LOSS, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE IF LEFT UNREPAIRED FOR ANY …

Read full complaint

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, THIS IS A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES USED IN THESE CARS THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED SERVERAL TSBS ON IT. NONE OF THE FAILURES TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAVE TO DATE CAUSED ANYTHING WORSE THAN OVERHEATING DUE TO OIL/COOLANT LOSS, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE IF LEFT UNREPAIRED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #704796

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #782033

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #704576

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 1999
Power Train

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IF THE SHIFT IS HIT OR BUMPED THE VEHICLE WILL THEN GO INTO NEUTRAL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835543

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT RELEASE. TO STOP THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT THE KEY OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #835462

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR, WHEN IT BECAME STUCK IN THE SNOW. SHE WAS NOT ROCKING THE CAR, ONLY SITTING IN IT WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME WITH A SHOVEL, AND NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND WENT AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED IN FLAMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, AN…

Read full complaint

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR, WHEN IT BECAME STUCK IN THE SNOW. SHE WAS NOT ROCKING THE CAR, ONLY SITTING IN IT WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME WITH A SHOVEL, AND NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND WENT AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED IN FLAMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I HAVE FOUND A COUPLE OF SITES ON THE WEB THAT MENTION RECALLS DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING, BUT WE WERE NEVER CONTACTED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702955

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingCrash

VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHEN STOPPED ON ONE OCCASION, THEN STALLED OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE UNABLE TO STOP. BRAKES WENT OUT AND FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834316

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power TrainStructure

THE GEAR SHIFT INTERFERES WITH PASSANGER, WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER HAS KNOCKED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. YH

NHTSA ODI #609072

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL SEAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #607689

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606760

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.