Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Dodge Neon problems
Owners filed 351 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Neon with NHTSA between Feb 1998 and Nov 2015. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (204).
Complaints
351
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
44
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
46
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling204
- Air bags35
- Structure22
- Power train21
- Electrical system21
- Visibility17
- Suspension14
- Steering13
- Vehicle speed control11
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Equipment10
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Exterior lighting7
- Seat belts7
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
14
68
70
70
47
42
19
8
2
2
2
1
1
0
2
0
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1999 | 68 |
| 2000 | 70 |
| 2001 | 70 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
204 reports3 crashes
“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.”
Air bags
35 reports31 crashes1 fire
“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”
Structure
22 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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”
Power train
21 reports1 crash
“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”
Electrical system
21 reports1 crash2 fires
“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”
Visibility
17 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.