Most common 1998 Dodge Neon problems
Share of the 339 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Neon complaints by model year
Best Neon years: 2005, 2004, 1999. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
1998 Dodge Neon recalls (1)
Structure › Body
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear suspension crossmember May be missing spot welds.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for any missing welds, and will have structural rivets installed in place of the missing welds.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Dodge Neon:
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
What 1998 Dodge Neon owners say
Engine & cooling all 199 →
While driving to work one morning I checked my temperature gauge and realized my temp was extremely hot. Then there was a cloud of smoke rolling from under my hood. Being 50 miles from home and knowing this area too well I was very happy to see a county sheriff pull up behind me and offer me a ride to work. My car stayed on the side of the highway for 12 hours until I could get some one trust to come and tow it the 50 miles back home. The car sat for a while until I could save the money to bet it repaired. It was not easy to continue to pay a monthly loan payment on a car that was not drivable. Finally when we got the money I called a local and cheap mechanic to see what the problem was. A blown head gasket that in return caused oil to contaminate the radiator. It was only after speaking to my cousin who is a claims adjustor for a national extended warranty co. …
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 deductible and a $105 fee for a coolant flush/oil change that they say is necessary when dealing with a head gasket repair. So, in review, Dodge's product is faulty and they know it. Nevertheless they will not assume full responsibility for a flawed design that they conceived. …
Air bags all 34 →
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
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.
Body & structure all 22 →
I no longer have my car, as of August 16, 2000 I returned it to the bank. The warranty has long since expired and the cost to maintain the car with all of the problems it has proved to be more than I could afford, and much more than the car was worth. My main objective here is to make sure the problems I had are known so that maybe it will prevent someone from being seriously hurt or killed. Granted some of the problems such as leaks around the doors and trunk are not as serious, others such as the steering knuckle wearing out and having to be replaced, which needed to be replaced again when I returned my car last week , transmission problems, and throttle body problems that cause the car to stall, which could lead to an accident. …
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.
1998 Dodge Neon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 37 / 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Dodge Neon a good car?
Based on 339 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Neon rates avoid: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Neon at the same age. It is one of the Neon years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Dodge Neon?
The engine & cooling — 199 complaints, 59% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (34) and body & structure (22).
How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Neon have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Dodge Neon, the most recent from January 7, 1999 (body). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Neon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000. See the full Dodge Neon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Neon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 41% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.