IllustrationMileage unknown · Mar 17, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #704576
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
199 reportsNO SUMMARY
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
OIL SEAL FAILURE.
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. YH
WHILE DRIVING AND STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE MISFIRES/BACKFIRES, AND ALSO STALLS OUT. DEALER HAS TRIED TO REPAIR AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
ORGINALLY MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN, REPAIRS WERE MADE. IN ADDITION, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALER INDICATED THAT CAN REMEDY PROBLEM BUT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE DEALER IS TRYING TO BLAME EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP IN AN EIGHT MONTH OLD ENGINE ON POOR GAS. THEIR PROPOSED A FIX IS RUNNING ENGINE CLEANER THROUGH THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM. IT HARDLY SEEMS PRACTICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE CLEANED EVERY 12,000 MILES ON A MODERN AUTOMOBILE RUNNING ON GASOLINE FROM N…
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THE DEALER IS TRYING TO BLAME EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP IN AN EIGHT MONTH OLD ENGINE ON POOR GAS. THEIR PROPOSED A FIX IS RUNNING ENGINE CLEANER THROUGH THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM. IT HARDLY SEEMS PRACTICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE CLEANED EVERY 12,000 MILES ON A MODERN AUTOMOBILE RUNNING ON GASOLINE FROM NATIONAL COMPANIES SUCH AS AMOCO AND SHELL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL CARS NOWADAYS.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING UP HILLS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET SOME SPEED. ON WET PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL DO LIGHT SHIFTING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP, AND THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE PASSED ALL THE FUEL TESTS…
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WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING UP HILLS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET SOME SPEED. ON WET PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL DO LIGHT SHIFTING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP, AND THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE PASSED ALL THE FUEL TESTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER DID SOME WORK ON THE OIL PAN. *AK
TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS.
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.