1998 Dodge Neon problems
NHTSA has received 451 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Neon, and 46% of them involve engine. After that come air bags (8%) and body & structure (5%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 451 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 46% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 56 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 61 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 57,000 miles 50 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 50 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 57,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 48,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 56 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 61 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Dodge Neon with enough data (346 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle was forced off the road unto a grassy surface. Air bags deployed, bursted open and caught on fire, causing second degree burns to driver's arm, from wrist up to shoulder, and minor cuts and bruises.
Another vehicle crossed the yellow line and hit consumer's vehicle head-on, causing the driver's side seat to fall back due to the latch breaking. Seat came down on the child, and the child ended up in the back of the truck. Vehicle was pushed 30 feet back, and the child was in the center.
Vehicle was rearended. Upon impact, driver's seatback collapsed, resulting in minor injuries. Vehicle was totalled.
Dt: 1998 dodge neon, when consumer was involved in accident the front driver's side and the front passanger side air bags did not deploy.
While driving the left front door speaker started to burn. Consumer put the fire out and called the manufacturer.