Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Dodge Neon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My daughter was driving the car, when it became stuck in the snow. She was not rocking the car, only sitting in it waiting for someone to come with a shovel, and noticed flames shooting out from under the hood. She got out of the car, and went and called for help. The car was totally consumed in flames in a matter of minutes, and was a total loss. I feel there was a problem with the engine. I have found a couple of sites on the web that mention recalls due to engine overheating, but we were never contacted to bring the car in for service.
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
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.
Complete speedometer failure while vehicle is being driven. Loss of all data regarding speed vehicle is traveling, and at times, all information from the engine temperature gauge and fuel gauge. Issues with Neon speedometers are widely published on the internet. I am shocked to see that there has never been a recall for such a well documented vehicle failure.
Sun roof glass came of the track and will not open or close. The track was replaced three times. 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.
Consumer was approx. 60mph in the slow lane when a 18 wheeler crossed over the line and side swiped vehicle. Consumer was not able to give warning to driver due to the horn would not operating properly.
Being that this is a new car I did not expect that the head gasket would go. Upon talking to service repair advisors at my local dealer they informed me that this has been common for the neons. They have seen defective gaskets, but the Chrysler corp. Has not yet notified or sent out a recall notice for this. My car also experienced several elecrtical anomolies as I was told. The check engine light came on repeatedly and no codes were found that signified a problem so the service man just kept reseting the light. This of course was not acceptable for me, so I had them replace the sending unit to the light(computer control unit). Unfortunetly the problem persists(4 attempts at repairs have been made). I have found no resolve for my problem, thus I contact you. Hoping for any advice or help this May provide.
The date that I put down earlier, is the first time the engine check light came on. It happened again on 7/29/98, mileage 3,549; again on 10/22/98, mileage 8,234; 11/12/99, mileage 27,421; and again on 1/10/00, mileage 31,000. Everytime this happens, my car looses power! I am on the highway all the time and this is a very big problem. Also, when this happens my rear defroster does not work properly and my radio sounds funny. This car has been in numerous times and they cannot seem to fix it. My warrenty will be up very soon and I am still having the same problem. The car is starting again to loose power, but it will run like this for quite awhile before the light comes on! This is very obviously a manufacuturer defect and they do not want to take responsbility for it!
This car was brought brand new and ever since I got it it has been a constant headache. I had had numerous problems with this car as well as other owners of Dodge neons. I find it very odd and suspicious that these cars have not been recalled to fix their potentially deadly problems. I myself, do not intend to let this go after the thousands of dollars I have invested in this car. I will be a constant thorn in the side to Chrysler if they do not get these cars off the streets where they are endangering the drivers as well as other traveling in other cars. No safety defec tlisted in summary.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Neon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Dodge Neon?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Dodge Neon, 6% of the model year's 339 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Neon electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Dodge Neon, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Neon electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 5 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.