Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 339 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Dodge Neon. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 339 · page 1 of 14
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
MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT REPLACEMENT,4-5 TIMES,WILL NOT HOLD. EGRVALVE REPLACEMENT ,ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS SAYING IT NEED TO BE REPLACED EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND LIGHT CLEARED. 4-5 TIMES .BOTH ARE NOW ON GOING. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE ONLY FUNCTIONED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,397. ..UPDATED 05/15/12 * BF UPDATED 05/21/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 1998 NEON AND WATER IS COMING THOU THE LIGHTS INTO CAR ON FLOOR I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME DEFECT ON NOT JUST MY YEAR BUT NEWER MODULES THIS IS A MOLD ISSUE AND I LIKE MANY HAVE ALLEGE TO MOLD AND CAN TRIGGER A ASTHMA ATTACK THAT CAN KILL USE I ASKED THE DEALERS TO FIX BUT THEY SAY ITS NOT A RECALL I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR IN ORDER TO STOP THE LEAK SO WHOSE PAYING MY HOSPITAL VISIT WHEN I HAVE MY ASTHMA ATTACK AND I HAVE TO GO ON A VENTILATOR DEATH IS NOT A OPTION WHY CANT THEY FIX IT FOR FREE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND A RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH SQUIRTED BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE NEON. THE SPEEDOMETER ISNT OPERATING NORMALLY AND DOESN'T DISPLAY THE SPEED; HOWEVER, IF YOU TAP ON THE DASHBOARD IT BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE INOPERABLE SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT DOESN'T DISPLAY THE CORRECT SPEED. THE HEAT GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO SHOW THE PROPER TEMPERATURE, DISPLAYED OVER HEATING AND FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE NOISE FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM IS ALSO A DISTRACTION AND A SAFETY RISK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE 1998 DODGE NEON IS NOTORIOUS FOR FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THE PROBLEM IS FIRST NOTICED BY AN OIL LEAK AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THE HEAD GASKETS ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. AFTER THE CAR GETS HOT, IT STALLS AT EVERY INTERSECTION AND EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN OR IS PLACED IN NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHERE TRAFFIC WAS GETTING ON AND OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY AVAILABLE PLACE TO MOVE MY CAR TO. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR RESULT IN ME GETTING INJURED. CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED AN IMPROVED GASKET REPLACEMENT KIT, (WHICH IS COSTLY) BUT REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING A RECALL. MY CAR NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKETS AND I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $900 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY, SO NOW MY CAR SITS PARKED IN THE STREET AND I NOW HAVE TO TAKE THE CITY BUS, WHICH CLOSEST STOP TO MY HOUSE IS 1.5 MILES, OR WALK PLACES WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO WHEN WINTER COMES. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON WEBSITE SUCH AS MYCARSTATS.COM AND MANY FORUMS. MOST OF THE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS HAPPENED ON LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR 1998 DODGE NEON BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, YOU WILL GET OVER 80,000 LISTING OF FORUMS, DISCUSSIONS AND ARTICLES RELATING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
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
COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. LOSS OF ALL DATA REGARDING SPEED VEHICLE IS TRAVELING, AND AT TIMES, ALL INFORMATION FROM THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND FUEL GAUGE. ISSUES WITH NEON SPEEDOMETERS ARE WIDELY PUBLISHED ON THE INTERNET. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR SUCH A WELL DOCUMENTED VEHICLE FAILURE. *JB
WHEN CALLING PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988,ABOUT CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS, FOR MY 1998 DODGE NEON I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR A LENGTHY AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE BEING ANSWERED TO A HORRIBLE PERSONAL. IN ATTEMPTS TO SEE IF IT WAS THE ACTUAL LAMP OR THE OUTSIDE REFLECTOR THAT WAS DAMAGED I WAS GIVEN ABOUT 5 SECONDS INTO MY DESCRIPTION BEFORE BEING TOLD THAT NO IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM THAT I DID NOT HAVE THEIR LAMP IN MY CAR. AMAZING HOW THERE IS SUCH A QUICK ANSWER TO MY DESCRIPTION OF 5 SECONDS. MAYBE THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS FROM THEIR COMPANY BUT I WAS NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO SEE IF MY PART WAS PART OF THAT RECALL BEFORE BEING HUNG UP ON. *NM
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
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
THE PIPE THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE FILLER INTO THE TANK RUSTED. THIS CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK VERY HEAVILY AT TIMES. FUEL PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. *AK THE LOCAL JUNKYARD IMFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FILLER PIPE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THEY SELL THEM AS FAST AS THEY GET THEM. *BF *NM
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT DOOR SPEAKER STARTED TO BURN. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *NM
I PURCHASED A 1998 NEON ESPRESSO IN JUNE OF 2004. ON ABOUT JULY 2004 MY CAR DIED. I HAD IT TOWED AND HAD OVER $1,800 OF ENGINE WORK DONE. AFTER WORK WAS DONE THEY STATED MY REAR SEAL WAS LEAKING AND WANTED OVER $600 TO REPAIR THIS.
THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON THE NEON ARE MADE OF PLASTIC THAT HAS DEGRADED TO A POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE INEFFECTIVE. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT LENS AVAILABLE. YOU HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE $110.00 ASSEMBLY. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OIL WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE DOES NOT CONNECT AT FIRST, HAS TO TRY AT LEAST TWO TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START. DEALER STATED IT COULD BE EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ENGINE.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE. CONSUMER INDICATED THREE YEARS AGO THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $3,000. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM RECURRED, AND WILL COST CONSUMER ABOUT $5,000. *AK
CONSUMER HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRED FOR BLOWING HOT AIR SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HALF PRICE TO THE OWNER. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY THE CONSUMER.*AK
WE HAVE PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE NEON FOR OUR SON WHO IS IN COLLEGE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. THE HEAD GASKET IS GONE AND OIL IS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THE REPAIR FOR THIS WILL BE BETWEEN $700 AND $800. I HAVE MADE CONTACT TO CHRYSLER WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE 36,000/3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I ASKED THEM IF THAT WAS THE BEST THAT THEIR ENGINES COULD DO (HEAD GASKET GOING AT 24,000 MILES). FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND BEEN TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP, CHRYLSER KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM IN 1998 WITH HEAD GASKETS AND RECTIFIED IT DURING THE SAME YEAR BUT NEVER RECALLED THE CARS THERE WERE MANUFACTURED EARLY IN THE PRODUCTION. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE HEAD GASKET ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A RECALL ON THIS PART.*AK
REAR SEAT AREA AND INSIDE OF TRUNK GETTING SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER DURING RAINSTORM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. CAN'T FIND LEAK.*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 .