IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SHOULDER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD ,HITTING STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. *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
Air Bags complaints
34 reportsTHERE'S A POPPING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION
THE OWNER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BRAKING FROM ABOUT 50MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT BROKE AT THE BUCKLE. DLR HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
VEHICLE 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'S BROTHER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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
WHILE 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
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
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *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.