1998 Dodge NEON: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000246 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
MY WIFE BOUGHT HER 1998 DODGE NEON IN AUGUST OF 2000. WE RECENTLY PASSED 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO LEAK OIL. THE LEAK WAS GRADUAL AT FIRST AND I ASSUMED THAT THE OIL PAN BOLT HAD BEEN PUT IN INCORRECTLY BY THE SERVICEMEN AT THE LUBE SHOP. HOWEVER, ON FURTHER REVIEW, THE CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE A HEAD GASKET LEAK (APPROX. AN $800 REPAIR). FURTHER RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON TO ALL DODGE VEHICLES USING THIS ENGINE. THE DEALER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH DODGE, HAS OFFERED TO COVER THE REPAIR, MINUS A $250…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,218 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000507 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
HEAD GASKET FAILED, WATER LEAKED INTO RADIATOR. HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, HOSES, AND FLUSH RADIATOR. TOTAL REPAIR $1600 CAR HAD 65000 MILES. I NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. DEALER CLAIMS THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002302 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES HIS AUTO HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR MONTHS. HE FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET. HE THINKS THAT THIS IS A BAD MOTOR, BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002957 · 2003-01-19 (January 19, 2003)
1998 DODGE NEON HS 2 DOOR MODEL HAS HAD AN OIL LEAK FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TODAY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SHOP OWNER TOLD ME OF 4 OTHER NEONS HE HAS HAD TO SERVICE FOR THE SAME BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT NEON OWNERS ARE LUCKY IF THEIR CAR HITS 40,000 MILES WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH NEONS AND THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ALSO. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD COST ME 550.00 TO FIX. IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED RIGHT NOW, BUT I FEEL A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004144 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER SNOWY OR RAINY CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A SLIDE. CONSUMER STATES ALMOST RAN INTO A DITCH AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004191 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND DIE OUT.TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004302 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAL OF THE CRANKSHAFT WHICH IS LEAKING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006401 · 2001-03-25 (March 25, 2001)
OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. PER CARMAX SERVICE MECHANIC "GASKET DEFECTIVE". OIL DYE TEST PERFORMED TO VERIFY REPAIR. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****743020
Owner-reported narrative. 20,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006401 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V001000 · Structure:Body
Reported: 1999-01-07 (January 7, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER MAY BE MISSING SPOT WELDS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL CRACKS IN THE BODY, AND REDUCED CRASH PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MISSING WELDS, AND WILL HAVE STRUCTURAL RIVETS INSTALLED IN PLACE OF THE MISSING WELDS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗