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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

Visibility complaints

16 reports
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46,124 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

SUN ROOF GLASS CAME OF THE TRACK AND WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE TRACK WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK THE SUNROOF WOULD DRAG AND MAKE KNOCKING NOISES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A BATTERY PROBLEM AND OIL LEAKS WHICH HAD COME FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055505

40,000 miles · Jun 25, 2003
Visibility

AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE LARGE SUNROOF GLASS TO THE VEHICLE VIBRATE OUT CAUSING AT ANY SPEED FOR THE GLASS TO FLAP VIGOROUSLY OF THE TOP OF YOU VEHICLE. NOT ONLY CAUSING POTENTIAL HARM TO PEOPLE BEHIND YOU BUT ALSO DAMAGE TO YOURSELF AND THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023784

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

AFTER DRIVING MY NEON FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I AM FINDING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE SUN ROOF HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED. THE LAST ITEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS ARRIVED. FROM WHAT I AM LEARNING, CHRYSLER IS AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR …

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AFTER DRIVING MY NEON FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I AM FINDING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE SUN ROOF HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED. THE LAST ITEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS ARRIVED. FROM WHAT I AM LEARNING, CHRYSLER IS AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. THE COST IN THE REPAIR IS SOMETHING THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO BEAR. INSTEAD WILL CONTINUE TO PASS IT ON TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I OWN TWO OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS THAT ARE MUCH NEWER AND THEY TOO ARE TROUBLESOME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016491

39,640 miles · Dec 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER AFTER 2103 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN. PH. THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS LEAKING FLUID AND THE WIPER BLADES WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8023994

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

HEAD GASTKET IS BLOWN, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID "THERE'S OIL AND COOLANT EVERYWHERE". THIS CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES! I'VE CONTACTED 7 REPAIR SHOPS, AVERAGE COST TO FIX IS $700. THREE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON, THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET. ONE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE DOES THE…

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HEAD GASTKET IS BLOWN, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID "THERE'S OIL AND COOLANT EVERYWHERE". THIS CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES! I'VE CONTACTED 7 REPAIR SHOPS, AVERAGE COST TO FIX IS $700. THREE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON, THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET. ONE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE DOES THESE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM--I ALONE HAVE FOUND NEARLY 100 REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING. AS FOR THE SUNROOF...IT BROKE AND WAS REPAIRED IN AUGUST 2000. NOW, JUST OVER A YEAR LATER (NO MORE WARRANTY) THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN TSB'S ISSUED ON BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS. A RECALL IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759985

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2002
Visibility

SUNROOF MOTOR, GUIDES, AND CABLES MALFUNCTIONED (WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE). REPLACED AT 55,000MI AND COVERED BY CHRYSLER ON 01/23/01. ON 01/18/02 DEALER DIAGNOSED SUNROOF COOMPONENTS NEEDING REPLACED (MOTOR, GUIDES, AND CABLES). CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR/12,000 MIL…

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SUNROOF MOTOR, GUIDES, AND CABLES MALFUNCTIONED (WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE). REPLACED AT 55,000MI AND COVERED BY CHRYSLER ON 01/23/01. ON 01/18/02 DEALER DIAGNOSED SUNROOF COOMPONENTS NEEDING REPLACED (MOTOR, GUIDES, AND CABLES). CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR/12,000 MILES. ALSO, HEAD GASKET FIRST WENT AT 30,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACED AGAIN AT 55,000 MILES. AND AGAIN NEEDS REPLACED AT 80,000. FIRST REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY CUSTOMERS EXTENDED 5YR/75,000 MI WARRENTY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #757254

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineVisibility

I PURCHASED THIS DODGE NEON USED WITH 23,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. FIRST THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. WE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKING AND OVERHEATING. THE AIR-CONDITIONING HAS STARTED TO WORK ONLY OCCASSIONALLY. THE SEALS ON THE WINDOWS ARE VERY POOR AND IT ALWAYS SOU…

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I PURCHASED THIS DODGE NEON USED WITH 23,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. FIRST THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. WE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKING AND OVERHEATING. THE AIR-CONDITIONING HAS STARTED TO WORK ONLY OCCASSIONALLY. THE SEALS ON THE WINDOWS ARE VERY POOR AND IT ALWAYS SOUNDS LIKE THE WINDOW NEEDS TO BE ROLLED UP. THE TRUNK DIDN'T HAVE ANY SEAL TO PROTECT AGAINST THE RAIN AND MY INTERIOR WAS FLOODED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WINTER, OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS. I ACTUALLY HAD TO REMOVE THE BACK SEAT AND ALL INTERIOR CARPET FOR THE RAINY SEASON. NOW THE WATER PUMP AND MY HEAD GASKET HAVE GIVEN OUT. I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON MY MANY SERVICE VISITS, BUT ALWAYS HELD OUT HOPE UNTIL NOW THAT IS. THESE REPAIRS WILL COST ME WELL OVER $1,000. AND THE CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. VERY BIG MISTAKE I MADE PURCHASING THE DODGE NEON, NOT ONLY IS IT ALWAYS IN NEED OF REPAIR, BUT THEY HAVE THE ABSOLUTE WORSE DEALER CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. I STOPPED GOING TO DODGE FOR SERVICE AFTER MY FIRST COUPLE OF ENCOUNTERS WITH THEM.

NHTSA ODI #750116

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT BRAND NEW AND EVER SINCE I GOT IT IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT HEADACHE. I HAD HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AS WELL AS OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE NEONS. I FIND IT VERY ODD AND SUSPICIOUS THAT THESE CARS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THEIR POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEMS. I MYSELF, DO NOT INTEND TO LET THIS GO AFT…

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THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT BRAND NEW AND EVER SINCE I GOT IT IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT HEADACHE. I HAD HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AS WELL AS OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE NEONS. I FIND IT VERY ODD AND SUSPICIOUS THAT THESE CARS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THEIR POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEMS. I MYSELF, DO NOT INTEND TO LET THIS GO AFTER THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I HAVE INVESTED IN THIS CAR. I WILL BE A CONSTANT THORN IN THE SIDE TO CHRYSLER IF THEY DO NOT GET THESE CARS OFF THE STREETS WHERE THEY ARE ENDANGERING THE DRIVERS AS WELL AS OTHER TRAVELING IN OTHER CARS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745376

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

MY NEON HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR SPARK PLUGS, ENGINE MISFIRES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGERED, BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY BUT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP-NEED NO REPLACEMENT, SUNROOF REPAIRED TWICE; IT FELL OFF TRACK AND WOULDN'T SHUT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, RECENTLY THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING; WINDOWS LEAK AIR, OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED REPAIR, …

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MY NEON HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR SPARK PLUGS, ENGINE MISFIRES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGERED, BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY BUT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP-NEED NO REPLACEMENT, SUNROOF REPAIRED TWICE; IT FELL OFF TRACK AND WOULDN'T SHUT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, RECENTLY THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING; WINDOWS LEAK AIR, OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED REPAIR, WARRANTY HAS PAID FOR ITSELF PLUS MORE.....I AM WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #740076

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Visibility

SUN ROOF HAD CLOSED UP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING BECAUSE TRACK OF SUN ROOF WAS OKAY. THEN, SUN ROOF JUST STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT DESIGN DOESN'T SUPPORT WINDOW BECAUSE OF HEAVY GLASS. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DIDN'T FIX VEHICLE. TRACKS OF THE T…

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SUN ROOF HAD CLOSED UP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING BECAUSE TRACK OF SUN ROOF WAS OKAY. THEN, SUN ROOF JUST STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT DESIGN DOESN'T SUPPORT WINDOW BECAUSE OF HEAVY GLASS. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DIDN'T FIX VEHICLE. TRACKS OF THE THE SUN ROOF WERE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867829

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.