1998 Dodge NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
261 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 110 of 261 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 13 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 4.6% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 4.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 110 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 28 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 8 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 110; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 28; Air Bags:Frontal: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 9; Electrical System: 8; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 216 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 70 |
| 2001 | 70 |
| 2002 | 45 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2000: 70; 2001: 70; 2002: 45; 2003: 42; 2004: 16; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014697 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A PART WITHIN THE COMPUTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059389 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550641 · 2000-02-02 (February 2, 2000)
THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT HAVE A COVER OVER IT, IN RAINY WEATHER THE WATER GOES UNDER AND THE BELT SLIPS OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING (LOCK UP) WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE TO RUN INTO MEDIAN WITH INJURIES TO CONSUMER. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725689 · 2000-07-19 (July 19, 2000)
WOW! JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW STEERING WHEEL ON NEONS IS LOCKING MID-TURN (3 I KNOW OF) I HAVE TRADED MINE IN, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED 3X IN A MONTH TO FRIEND WHO WILL BE CONTACTING YOU AND TO AQUAINTENCE, AS WELL. DEALER SAYS "NOTHING IS WRONG" AS IT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN THEY DRIVE IT. (THE STEERING UNLOCKS AS MYSTERIOUSLY AS IT LOCKS)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016402 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
BRAKES HANGING UP GRINDING & SQUEALING. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER HAD TO RETURN CAR FOR BRAKES AGAIN. NOW BRAKES ARE HANGING UP & SQUEALING AGAIN STARTING IN DECEMBER OF 2002. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144103 · 2005-12-01 (December 1, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199315 · 2007-08-11 (August 11, 2007)
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 O…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10701169 · 2015-03-23 (March 23, 2015)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10701169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055505 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
SUN ROOF GLASS CAME OF THE TRACK AND WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE TRACK WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK THE SUNROOF WOULD DRAG AND MAKE KNOCKING NOISES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A BATTERY PROBLEM AND OIL LEAKS WHICH HAD COME FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 46,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073697 · 2004-05-17 (May 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE, THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WITHIN 15-30 SECONDS, BUT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING OFF. THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, BUT DEALERSHIP NOR MANUFACTURER WERE VERY HELPFUL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116981 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 93,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453103 · 2012-03-26 (March 26, 2012)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453103 at NHTSA ↗