Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. 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. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TRUNK FULL OF WATER - TRUNK & LIGHT SEALS ARE BAD - WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY FEATURE? LIGHTS HAVE TO WORK AND MOLD IS DEADLY! *TR
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
REAR SEAT AREA AND INSIDE OF TRUNK GETTING SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER DURING RAINSTORM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. CAN'T FIND LEAK.*AK
THE HOOD HOOK RIPPED FROM THE HOOD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB
THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE FRONT BUMPER AND APPEARS TO BE AN ADHERANCE PROBLEM.
RAIN WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE TRUNK GATHERING AROUND THE SPARE TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT RAIN WATER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
WHENEVER IT RAINS REAR BENCH SEAT FLOOR, DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE ,THERE IS A PUDDLE OF WATER. CONSUMER FEELS WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE TRUNK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WATER LEAKS AROUND REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY THROUGH GAPING HOLES UNDERNEATH TRUNK LID. WATER HAS BEEN COLLECTING THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND COLLECTS IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND IN THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS. THE RUG IN THE BACK IS SOAKED AFTER IT RAINS OVERNIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT TH WATER COLLECTS IN THE REAR LIGHT WELL. AND SOMEHOW TRICKLES DOWN. MUST OF HAD GALLONS IN THERE BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. *AK
TRUNK IS LEAKING AROUND TAIL LIGHTS CAUSING SERIOUS WATER DAMAGE. IT HAS LEAKED DOWN THE TRUNK INTO THE CAB, RUINING THE CARPET, PADDING AND FOAM IN THE REAR SEAT. THERE ARE LARGE GAPS BETWEEN THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE SEAL. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK
I KNOW SUBSTANDARD PARTS WERE USED WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ! *AK
WHEN IT RAINS WATER WILL LEAK INTO VEHICLE, INCLUDING TRUNK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
IN THE NEARLY 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED MY NEON, IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES AND STILL THERE IS NO RECALL INFORMAITION AVAILABLE FOR THESE ISSUES. NO SAFETY DEFECT DISCUSSED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK
I NO LONGER HAVE MY CAR, AS OF AUGUST 16, 2000 I RETURNED IT TO THE BANK. THE WARRANTY HAS LONG SINCE EXPIRED AND THE COST TO MAINTAIN THE CAR WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS IT HAS PROVED TO BE MORE THAN I COULD AFFORD, AND MUCH MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. MY MAIN OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEMS I HAD ARE KNOWN SO THAT MAYBE IT WILL PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. GRANTED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS SUCH AS LEAKS AROUND THE DOORS AND TRUNK ARE NOT AS SERIOUS, OTHERS SUCH AS THE STEERING KNUCKLE WEARING OUT AND HAVING TO BE REPLACED, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WHEN I RETURNED MY CAR LAST WEEK , TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I REALIZE THAT I WILL NEVER GET ANY OF THE MONEY BACK I HAVE SPENT ON THE CAR, BUT IF THIS KEEPS EVEN ONE PERSON FROM GETTING HURT OR KILLED IT WILL BE MORE THAN WORTHWHILE. CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND, I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION, AND RETAINED A LAWYER FOR THE LEMON LAW, BUT THE DEALERSHIPS FAILURE TO DOCUMENT EACH TIME MY CAR WAS IN FOR REPAIRS, MADE IT MY WORD AGAINST THEIRS, SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO LEGALLY TO MAKE THEM PAY. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A COPY OF ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS I HAVE, IF IT WILL HELP YOU. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT IN THESE CARS. THEY ARE A DEATH TRAP.
FOR AS MUCH AS I PAY PER MONTH ON THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT CONSTANT PROBLEMS. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE MY ONLY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF MY PROBLEMS ARE COMMON IN THE NEONS. NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
LEAK IN TRUNK. REPLACED CARPET, RESEALED IT THREE TIMES, STILL LEAKS, FLOWING INTO INTERIOR OF CAR 1 1/2 INCH DEEP THROUGH OUT THE CAB. *AK
PROBLEM OF WATER LEAKING INTO BACK SEAT FLOORBOARD/ UNABLE TO LOCATE HOW. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM AS WELL. *AK *ML
VEHICLE BOUGHT, HOWEVER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY WRECKED, THE VEHICLE HAS MANY (NUMEROUS) PROBLEMS DUE TO PRIOR WRECK, DEALER MADE FALSE STATEMENTS AND PRACTICED POSSIBLE FRAUDULENT ACTS. *MJS
THIS CAR HAS GONE DEAD TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WHILE DRIVING.
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.
THE GEAR SHIFT INTERFERES WITH PASSANGER, WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER HAS KNOCKED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. YH
BUMPER COVER & TRUNK LID ASSEMBLY EXPERIENCING FAILURE. *YC
CONSUMER HAS A HEAD INJURY DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRUNK, THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THE TRUNK UP. *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
Data on this page last refreshed .