Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Dodge Neon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
I HAD AN CAR WRECK IN MY 1998 DODGE NEON (BLUE) IN NOVEMBER 24,2002 DUE TO THE BREAKS & THE TIRES & THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT WHEN I WRECK & I GOT STUCK IN MY SEAT BELT OUT THE CAR WRECK & THEN I HAD ANOTHER 1999 DODGE NEON (WHITE) & I HAD CAR PROBLEMS WITH IT TO
1998 DODGE NEON WAS FORCED OFF THE ROADWAY BY A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE THAT TURNED ACROSS 19 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVERS LANE OF TRAVEL. SIDESWIPE CAUSED LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE, VEHICLE BRIEFLY BOTTOMED ONTO PAVEMENT, LEAVING A SHORT DISTANCE GOUGE MARK. THE NEON THEN JUMPED ONTO A CURB AND IMPACTED A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON AT AN ESTIMATED 27-35MPH IMPACT SPEED. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON NELLIS BOULEVARD IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE FRONTAL IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, FEMALE DRIVER HAD SEVERE NECK INJURIES THAT RESULTED IN A STROKE AND PERMANENT DISABILITY. TRW CLAIMS THE SYSTEM PERFORMED EXACTLY AS DESIGNED. THEY CLAIM THEIR 1998 VEAM CRASH SENSING ALGORITHM ASCERTAINED THAT THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE UTILITY POLE IMPACT AND THE DEPOWERED AIRBAG WOULD HAVE CAUSED MORE HARM THAN GOOD. I AM THE EXPERT WITNESS ON THIS CASE FOR THE PLAINTIFF AGAINST TRW. THIS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE SENSING SYSTEM IS AN INDICATION OF WHY THIS SUBJECT VEHICLE AND ITS SIMILAR MODEL YEARS HAS AN EXORBITANTLY HIGH NUMBER OF NON DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AIRBAGS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS DATABASE COMPARED TO ITS PEERS. I AM REPORTING THIS AT THE BEHEST OF DEFENSE COUNSEL, WHO CLAIMS THAT MY FAILURE TO REPORT THIS DEFECT IS ACTUALLY A FAILURE OF ME TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO CONSUMERS. I WOULD BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THIS AND MANY OTHER CASES WITH NHTSA PERSONNEL, AS I BELIEVE THIS DEFENSE COUNSEL CRITIQUE ACTUALLY OPENS UP A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH NHTSA TO PROVIDE MORE IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK ON SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING IN THE FIELD ON SOME SYSTEMS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS MY PROPOSAL WITH NHTSA ON HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COOPERATE ON NARROWING DOWN FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS, BUT SETTING A HIGH PRIORITY ON REAL ISSUES THAT TYPICALLY RESULT IN LAWSUITS BUT ARE NOT NECESSARILY BROUGHT TO NHTSA'S ATTENTION. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 7, 2005. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS FRONT END COLLISION. HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS POINT. *AK
DT: 1998 DODGE NEON, WHEN CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSANGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
1998 DODGE NEON HAVE HAD SEVERAL WRECKS AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *JB
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SEMI-FRONTAL IMPACT AT APPROXIMATELY45-50 MPH. COMPLETE FRONT END (MOSTLY PASSENGER SIDE)MANGLED. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER 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
FRONTAL COLLISION AT 15-20 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 4000.00. *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
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISSION WHILE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED CAR, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. *AK
REAR ENED ANOTHER CAR AT 25 M.P.H AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE DRIVERSIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK THUS CAUSING ME TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM!
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL ONE MINUTE OR MORE AFTER IMPACT, 3 PEOPLE SUSTAINED INJURIES DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
I WAS RECENTLY IN A FRONT OFFSET (PASSENGER SIDE)IMPACT COLLISION IN MY DODGE NEON, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND I WAS THE PASSENGER. HE HAD THE CRUISE SET AT 70 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF US. WE LEFT 102' OF SKID MARKS BEFORE THE POI AND TRAVELLED ANOTHER 22' BEFORE THE POR. I CONTACTED DC ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE BEEN BRUSHED OFF. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY DID AN INVESTIGATION, AND THE RATE OF DECELERATION WAS NOT MET. HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A CRUSHED ALUMINUM CAN ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED, AND I KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING AT LEAST 30 MPH WHEN WE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE ROAD IS A HIGHWAY THAT HAS RECENTLY HAD NEW BLACKTOP LAID, AND IS VERY SLICK. I DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF THIS MATTER HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED. THE SUPPOSED INVESTIGATOR LOOKED AT THE CAR ON SEPT 19, AND THE LETTER THAT I RECEIVED REGARDING THAT IS DATED SEPT 21. TWO DAYS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LONG TIME TO ME FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE "INVESTIGATOR" COULD NOT HAVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON ON THE 19TH AS I WAS AT THE SALVAGE YARD REMOVING THINGS FROM MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER FOR THE MAN WHO TURNED IN FRONT OF US. I AM SORRY TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, JAMIE EASLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A SUBARU LEGACY, AND DRIVER/ PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A CAT CONSUMER STRUCK A TREE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THERE WAS A 4-CAR ACCIDENT, AND CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE 4TH CAR. BOUNCED OFF, AND THE CAR BEHIND CONSUMER'S, HIT IT AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THEN CONSUMER'S CAR HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT THREE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER SAID AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AT 20 TO 25 MPH.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WAS TRYING TO COME OUT OF COVER DUE TO WARPING, THE AIRBAG CAME OUT OF POSITION. GEAR SHIFT CAN BE MOVE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN OIL LEAKAGE. PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM DUE TO MISSING DOOR AJAR SWITCH BUMPER. ALL SPEAKERS NEED REPLACING DUE TO NOISE DISTORTION. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN TO MAKE NOISE AS WELL AS FLASHING OF THE INSTRUMENT DASH LIGHTS. *AK.
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SHOULDER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD ,HITTING STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. *AK
THERE'S A POPPING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION
THE OWNER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BRAKING FROM ABOUT 50MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT BROKE AT THE BUCKLE. DLR HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
VEHICLE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD UNTO A GRASSY SURFACE. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BURSTED OPEN AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO DRIVER'S ARM, FROM WRIST UP TO SHOULDER, AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. *AK
CONSUMER'S BROTHER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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