IllustrationVEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MECHANIC FOUND THAT CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL, AND MUST BE REPLACED. *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 reportsBAD HEAD GASKETS DUE TO FLAWED DESIGN. *JB
1998 DODGE NEON HAVE HAD SEVERAL WRECKS AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *JB
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN TRAFFIC, THERE WAS NO COLLISION TO REPORT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD HER TO UNPLUG THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. *PH
THE HOOD HOOK RIPPED FROM THE HOOD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SEMI-FRONTAL IMPACT AT APPROXIMATELY45-50 MPH. COMPLETE FRONT END (MOSTLY PASSENGER SIDE)MANGLED. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE SHAKES AT ANY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER SAYS THE OIL PAN GASKET IS DEFFECTIVE. *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.