IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *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 reportsWHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY GO INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. AFTER DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKETS NEDDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. PASSENGER WAS INJURED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. PASSENGER WAS INJURED.CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
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…
Read full complaint
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
THE OWNER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A WELL KNOWN "HEAD GASKET" DEFECT, THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
GOODYEAR, EAGLE GA, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 37000 MILES MOUNTED ON A 1998, DODGE NEON. WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH PASSENGERS REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, AND THEN WENT FLAT. *AK TIRE SIZE P185/65 R14.*SLC
LOSS OF OIL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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.