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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

Suspension complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureSuspension

I HAVE A 98 DODGE NEON. THE CAR GRINDS IN THE FRONT END EVEN WITH NEW BRAKES. I CANT NOT DRIVE THROW WATER OR THE CAR WILL DIE. GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED THE FRONT END WILL BOTTOM OUT. I HAD A FRIEND LOOK AT THE CAR. AND HE SAID IT LOOKED FINE. THE BRAKE SPEC. DIDN'T SEE ANY THING AND I NOTICED I HAD TWO D…

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I HAVE A 98 DODGE NEON. THE CAR GRINDS IN THE FRONT END EVEN WITH NEW BRAKES. I CANT NOT DRIVE THROW WATER OR THE CAR WILL DIE. GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED THE FRONT END WILL BOTTOM OUT. I HAD A FRIEND LOOK AT THE CAR. AND HE SAID IT LOOKED FINE. THE BRAKE SPEC. DIDN'T SEE ANY THING AND I NOTICED I HAD TWO DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE FRONT THEN THE BACK BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END. PLEASE IF YOU FIND OUT ANY THING ON THIS CAR IT WOULD BE MUCH OBLIGED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10144103

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Suspension

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE SHAKES AT ANY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029687

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS GOING 30MPH OVER SLIGHTLY RAISED PAVEMENT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND REAR END STARTED FISHTAILING AS CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, THERE WAS A CRASH SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH, AND REAR END STARTED TO GO LEFT, VEHICLE WENT OVER CURB ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE, WHEEL CAME OFF SPINDLE AND THE AX…

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VEHICLE WAS GOING 30MPH OVER SLIGHTLY RAISED PAVEMENT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND REAR END STARTED FISHTAILING AS CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, THERE WAS A CRASH SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH, AND REAR END STARTED TO GO LEFT, VEHICLE WENT OVER CURB ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE, WHEEL CAME OFF SPINDLE AND THE AXLE BROKE, AND THE WHEEL ON THE RIGHT REAR CAME OFF, CHRYSLER WAS NOT ASSISTING CONSUMER POSSIBLY BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD PAID CONSUMER. REPRESENTATIVE THAT CHRYSLER SENT HAS NOT CONTACTED CONSUMER SINCE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #899640

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Suspension

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING, LOCATED ABOVE REAR TIRE, BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891019

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2001
Suspension

WHEN TURNING, A LOUD POP CAN BE HEARD FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND THE STEERING HAS A CATCH IN IT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785010

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Suspension

VEHICLE RIDES REALLY ROUGH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888362

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 40000 MI. SPRING SLEEVES REPLACED AT 500 MI, FAILED AROUND 3000 MI. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740945

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 30,000, MISSING, HESITATION, NOW LOUD NOISE ON COLD START MAY BE POWER STEERING PUMP? ALSO LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM SUSPENSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737516

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Power TrainStructureSuspension

AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. REPAIRED ON JULY 29, 1999. REPAIR REQUIRED VALVE EXPANSION, FREON, GASKET, AND RECHARGE. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999, RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE. FRONT END WAS CLEANED AND LUBED BY DEALER. NOISE RETURNED 8 DAYS LATER. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999 DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND CALIPER SLI…

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AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. REPAIRED ON JULY 29, 1999. REPAIR REQUIRED VALVE EXPANSION, FREON, GASKET, AND RECHARGE. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999, RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE. FRONT END WAS CLEANED AND LUBED BY DEALER. NOISE RETURNED 8 DAYS LATER. ALSO ON JULY 29, 1999 DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND CALIPER SLIDES DRY AND AGAIN LUBED TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS. COMPLAINED ON SEPTEMBER 12. 1998 OF BACK FIRE OF ENGINE WHEN A/C ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A NEW PROBLEM FELT AFTER 2,035 ,MILES DRIVEN. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 HEADLIGHT BEZEL CAME LOOSE FROM VIBRATION FROM TIE ROD BEING LOOSE. PART OF DASH PANEL REMOVED TO CORRECT LOOSE SWITCHES. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 VEHICLE WAS INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO DOOR TOP WEATHERSTRIPPING TABS FALLING OFF. DEALER HAD TO ORDER PARTS AND HAVE VEHICLE RETURNED AFTER PARTS ARRIVED TO REINSTALL. ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 THE FRONT AND REAL WHEEL TOE ADJUSTMENTS, RETIGHTEND NUTS ON TIE ROD AND ALIGNEMENT OF VEHICLE WAS DONE DUE TO VIBRATION. ON MAY 11, 1999, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW BY MYSELF. IT ALSO HAD BLACK FLAKES ON THE DIP STICK. "YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SHOT" WAS THE REPORT FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TRANSMISSION WAS RECONDITIONED, FLUSHED, NEW BAND AND GASKET INSTALLED AT 7136 MILES. VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO REPAIRS ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 TO HAVE BODY WELD REBENTED AND PAINT TOUCHED UP DUE TO DAMAGE FROM LIFT FROM PREVIOUS REPAIR. SEVERAL CALLS TO MR. JOHN BRUNSON ON OCTOBER 23, 1998, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF DAYTON ANDREWS DODGE, ST. PETERSSBURG, FLORIDA, BUT WERE NEVER ANSWERED OR RETURNED. I HAD SEVERAL TALKS WITH MR. MIKE ARMUS, SALESPERSON, WHO STATED HE COULDN'T GET ME ANY STRAIGHT ANSWERS FROM STEVE, SERVICE MANAAGER, REGARDING THE LOOSE FRONT END PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #712536

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1999
Air BagsSuspensionCrash

THERE'S A POPPING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION

NHTSA ODI #712087

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.