IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 30MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TF
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT RAIN WATER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES' GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
DEALER CAN'T GET ME IN FOR 6 DAYS B/C HE SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG, EVEN THOUGH A GARAGE TOLD ME. IF IT BLOWS IN THAT TIME, I SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR ALL ADDITIONAL COSTS, IE. BLOWN ENGINE THERE'S A TSB OUT ON THIS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I ALSO NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. DT
DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET - 98 NEON. DT
BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE LOSING VISABILITY. THEY ARE CLOUDED UP. EITHER WRONG OR CHEAP GRADE PLASTICS USED FOR OPTICAL USE. I HAVE SEEN EVERY 99 AND BEFORE DODGE NEON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY UNSAFE WHEN YOU LOSE VISIBILTY AT NIGHT. DT
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN BUT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS PEELING ALL OVER. DT
I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL I REACHED 80,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED A QT. OIL LOSS AT MY OIL CHANGE (EVERY 3000 MILES). I CALLED MY FATHER WHOM IS A AUTO MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES WHERE. HE ADVISED ME TO INSPECT THE DRIVES SIDE…
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I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL I REACHED 80,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED A QT. OIL LOSS AT MY OIL CHANGE (EVERY 3000 MILES). I CALLED MY FATHER WHOM IS A AUTO MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES WHERE. HE ADVISED ME TO INSPECT THE DRIVES SIDE, AFTER OUTBOARD PORTION ON MY ENGINE WHERE THE HEAD AND BLOCK BOLT TOGETHER, FOR AND OIL LEAK. THIS IS WHERE MY MOTHERS 1996 NEON IS LEAKING OIL FROM. AND SURE ENOUGH, THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFED. I WAS TOLD FOR $900.00 AND SOME ODD DOLLARDS MY CAR COULD BE REPAIRED. DT
1998 DODGE NEON. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768023
I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ON 8/22/2002 AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IT MAY NOT BE A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT COULD LEAVE A MOTORIST STRANDED. THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE HEADGASKET BUT WILL NOT RECALL THIS PRODUCT DEFECT DESPITE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS. …
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I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ON 8/22/2002 AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IT MAY NOT BE A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT COULD LEAVE A MOTORIST STRANDED. THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE HEADGASKET BUT WILL NOT RECALL THIS PRODUCT DEFECT DESPITE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*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.