RoadVitals

1998 Dodge Neon Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Dec 9, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 339 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 17 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.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Dec 9, 2002

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER AFTER 2103 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN. PH. THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS LEAKING FLUID AND THE WIPER BLADES WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
8023994
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Mileage
39,640 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 20, 2002

GEARS WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SECOND GEAR WAS GRINDING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8004258
Transmission
Filed Jan 31, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY GO INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003309
Transmission
Filed Apr 24, 2001

TRANSMISSION FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE REPAIRED BY FARRIS CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH IN JEFFERSON CITY TN. *AK

NHTSA ID
744448
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 13, 2001

HEAD GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET FAILURES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. CURRENTLY, A TRANSMISSION REAR GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED, CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO DO REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP EARLIER. *YH

NHTSA ID
882914
Incident
Jan 15, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 22, 2001

SPRAG GEAR BROKE, VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING OWNERS MANUAL. A GOOD TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 56000. THIS CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN HARD. AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR TRANNY TO FAIL.*AK

NHTSA ID
741318
Incident
Feb 19, 2001
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 9, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
739078
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Heating & air conditioningEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Apr 12, 2000
Crash reported

THIS CAR HAS ENDLESS PROBLEMS. WITH 2 HEAD GASKETS AND 1 VALVE GASKET BLOWN, I WORRY ABOUT WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO MY CAR. I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T BLOW TOO. I WANT CHRYSLER TO DOUBLE MY WARRANTY! *AK

NHTSA ID
721374
Incident
Jan 14, 1999
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Mar 27, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID
859224
Incident
Mar 27, 2000
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 20, 2000

CONSUMER PURCHSASED VEHICLE WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD SEALS TIGHTENED. 1-2 DAYS LATER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON 10-18-99 BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT. CONSUMER FOUND OUT HEAD GASKETS WERE CRACKED. CONSUMER HAS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE & DEALER WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECTS. WILL CONTACT THE LEMON LAW. *AK

NHTSA ID
858858
Incident
Oct 15, 1998
Body & structureSuspensionTransmission
Filed Sep 30, 1999

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.

NHTSA ID
712536
Incident
May 30, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 30, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND SHFTING TO ANOTHER GEAR, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND SHAKES AND THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE TRANSMSSION. ALSO, FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP, BROKE AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID
846107
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Transmission
Filed Mar 8, 1999

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IF THE SHIFT IS HIT OR BUMPED THE VEHICLE WILL THEN GO INTO NEUTRAL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
835543
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

THE GEAR SHIFT INTERFERES WITH PASSANGER, WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER HAS KNOCKED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. YH

NHTSA ID
609072
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 15, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING UP HILLS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET SOME SPEED. ON WET PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND WHEN DRIVING IT WILL DO LIGHT SHIFTING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP, AND THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE PASSED ALL THE FUEL TESTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER DID SOME WORK ON THE OIL PAN. *AK

NHTSA ID
829027
Incident
May 28, 1998
Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 1998

CAR STARTED TO JERK AND SPEED DROPPED WHILE GOING UP HILL.

NHTSA ID
539026
Incident
Aug 4, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Jul 21, 1998

TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE ENGAGING INTO REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA ID
538020

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .