1998 Dodge Neon

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR OVERHEATED EVENTHOUGH THERE WERE PLENTY OF COOLANT. THICK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CRUISED TO A STOP. I DID NOT WANT THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEON. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED BEFORE THERE IS ONE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY NICELY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IF THIS WAS DEFECTIVE TO START WITH, THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. BC

• 12/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILURE WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM RESEARCHING THE INTERNET.*AK

• 12/27/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  OIL LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE FROM HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 12/24/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PRESSURE SENSORS IN TURBOR BOOST FAILED. *TT

• 12/23/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT SNAPPED OFF FOUR TIMES FROM 1999 -2002, REPLACED 3 TIMES AT DESERT DODGE IN LAS VEGAS ONCE WITH ALL PULLEYS REPLACED AND ONE TIME AT SPITZER DODGE IN MAYFIELD HTS, OHIO 2 WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NEITHER DODGE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

• 12/19/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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. THIS PRACTICE OF SELLING A PRODUCT WITH KNOWN FLAWS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY REFUSING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY IS, AT BEST, DISHONEST.

• 12/19/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL ONE MINUTE OR MORE AFTER IMPACT, 3 PEOPLE SUSTAINED INJURIES DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

• 12/16/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMCrash

  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. *AK

• 12/15/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 12/15/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE DEALER IS TRYING TO BLAME EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP IN AN EIGHT MONTH OLD ENGINE ON POOR GAS. THEIR PROPOSED A FIX IS RUNNING ENGINE CLEANER THROUGH THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM. IT HARDLY SEEMS PRACTICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE CLEANED EVERY 12,000 MILES ON A MODERN AUTOMOBILE RUNNING ON GASOLINE FROM NATIONAL COMPANIES SUCH AS AMOCO AND SHELL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL CARS NOWADAYS.

• 12/14/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ORIGINAL BATTERY AND REPLACEMENT HAVE BOTH FAILED. *AK

• 12/13/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 19K MILES. *AK

• 12/11/2002· AIR BAGS

  IN APRIL ON 2002 MY AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A CLOCKSPRING FOR IT, I DECLINED TO HAVE IT REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT A COVERED ITEM. IN JUNE 2002 MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, AFTER BRINGING IT IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN I WAS TOLD IN WAS THE CLOCKSPRING, AGAIN I DECLINED REPAIR AS IT WASN'T COVERED. IN SEPT2002 MY HORN WENT AGAIN I WAS TIOLD THAT IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING. STILL NOT COVERED BUT NOW I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. THE PART WAS BACK ODERED DURING THIS TIME A SAFTEY RECALL WAS ISSUSED AND CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS. ON 12-10-2002 I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE CLOCKSPRING WELL NOW MY HORN AND CRUISE WORK BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEED A NEW AIR BAG AGAIN NOT COVERED ITEMED, I DECLINED REPAIR. I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THE AIR BAG AND THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE ARE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY.

• 12/09/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY

  THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, HOWEVER AFTER 2103 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN. PH. THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS LEAKING FLUID AND THE WIPER BLADES WAS REPLACED.*JB

• 12/09/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD CYLINDER GASKET FAILURE LEAVING ONLY ONE QUART OF OIL IN ENGINE ,OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON TO WARN US OF LOW OIL. *AK

• 12/08/2000· STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 30,000, MISSING, HESITATION, NOW LOUD NOISE ON COLD START MAY BE POWER STEERING PUMP? ALSO LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM SUSPENSION. *AK

• 12/05/2005· POWER TRAIN

  WE WERE JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT (A COUPLE OF JERKS AND THEN NO ACCELERATION ABILITY). WE WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US WHEN WE SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED AND HADN'T BRAKED AND HE COULDN'T MOVE TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE OF OTHER TRUCKS IN THAT LANE. OUR 98 GRAND CARAVAN HAS ONLY 79K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, (THOUGH I THINK THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED RATHER THAN REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1000 AND JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS PAST THE YEAR WARRANTY). NOW WE FIND THAT IT WILL BE $3000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DODGE DEALER. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE (ONCE WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY). ALL WORK HAS BEEN OR IS BEING DONE BY THE DODGE DEALER. NOW I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. WHY ISN'T DODGE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF GOUGING THE PUBLIC (NOT TO MENTION PUTTING US IN DANGER)?*JB

• 12/04/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AT FIRST, THE OIL LEAK WAS VERY LITTLE AND AS TIME WENT ON, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOT OF OIL ON THE GROUND. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET DUE TO MANUFACTURERS BAD DESIGN. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM?*AK

• 12/03/1998· SUSPENSION

  WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THERE IS A PARTIAL HANG UP IN THE STEERING, CAUSING A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. OWNER FEELS THAT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL BECAUSE OF SERVICE BULLETIN. *AK *ML

• 12/02/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/02/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION T ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED . HEAD GASKETS BLEW WHICH CAUSED OIL LEAKAGE ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER5 HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE GASKETS , THE SENSOR AND ENGINE FILTER. *AK

• 12/01/2005· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE

  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

• 11/30/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/29/2001· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  VEHICLE WAS GOING 30MPH OVER SLIGHTLY RAISED PAVEMENT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND REAR END STARTED FISHTAILING AS CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, THERE WAS A CRASH SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH, AND REAR END STARTED TO GO LEFT, VEHICLE WENT OVER CURB ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE, WHEEL CAME OFF SPINDLE AND THE AXLE BROKE, AND THE WHEEL ON THE RIGHT REAR CAME OFF, CHRYSLER WAS NOT ASSISTING CONSUMER POSSIBLY BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD PAID CONSUMER. REPRESENTATIVE THAT CHRYSLER SENT HAS NOT CONTACTED CONSUMER SINCE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED.*AK *SLC

• 11/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER TOOK CAR INTO DEALER FOR A FRONT END PROBLEM. MECHANIC PUT CAR ON THE LIFT AND NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE GASKET. *AK THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED. *SLC

• 11/28/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/25/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS WELL AS OTHER OIL LEAKS ON 98 DODGE NEON. *LA

• 11/25/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN ON CAR THAT HAS ONLY 38000 MILES. *LA

• 11/25/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND 1998 NEON I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. *LA

• 11/23/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY 98 NEON HAS A FAILED HEAD GASKET CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD ONLY ORIGINAL OWNER AND UNDER 70,000 MILES WAS CONSIDERED FOR ASSISTANCE BY CHRYSLER ON REPAIR. I WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK ON MONDAY (I CALLED ON A SATURDAY) TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR MORE ASSISTANCE ON THE MATTER. I WAS ALSO GIVEN A QUOTE FOR REPAIR AND EVEN TOLD BY THE PARTS PERSON THAT THEY KEEP THE GASKET PACKAGE IN STOCK DUE TO THE KNOWN ISSUE. THE QUOTE WAS $124 FOR THE GASKET PACKAGE (PARTS) AND $336 LABOR PLUS TAX. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. JUDY & JEREMY AMBROSE DT

• 11/20/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 30MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TF

• 11/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE HEAD ENGINE GASKET. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER MENTIONED IS ONLY 19000 MILES FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 11/20/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/18/2004· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON THE NEON ARE MADE OF PLASTIC THAT HAS DEGRADED TO A POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE INEFFECTIVE. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT LENS AVAILABLE. YOU HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE $110.00 ASSEMBLY. *AK

• 11/18/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT 40MPH HIT A STOP SIGN AND FELL THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 11/14/2002· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER STATES THAT RAIN WATER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

• 11/13/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES' GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

• 11/13/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  THESE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE INTIMATE WITH THE NEON '95 THROUGH '98. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

• 11/12/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE DRIVER NOTICED OIL ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT. *AK *SCC *JB

• 11/12/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DEALER CAN'T GET ME IN FOR 6 DAYS B/C HE SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG, EVEN THOUGH A GARAGE TOLD ME. IF IT BLOWS IN THAT TIME, I SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR ALL ADDITIONAL COSTS, IE. BLOWN ENGINE THERE'S A TSB OUT ON THIS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I ALSO NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. DT

• 11/10/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET - 98 NEON. DT

• 11/05/2015· AIR BAGS,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  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

• 11/05/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 11/01/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FRONT MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. *ET

• 10/29/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE LOSING VISABILITY. THEY ARE CLOUDED UP. EITHER WRONG OR CHEAP GRADE PLASTICS USED FOR OPTICAL USE. I HAVE SEEN EVERY 99 AND BEFORE DODGE NEON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY UNSAFE WHEN YOU LOSE VISIBILTY AT NIGHT. DT

• 10/29/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN BUT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS PEELING ALL OVER. DT

• 10/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKET AT 62,000 MILES. PAINT IS FOGGING UP ON THE BACK FOR NO REASON. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS COMPLAINING OS SIMILIAR NATURE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN GOING OUT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH THE HEAD GASKET. THIS IS A SERIOUSLY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.*AK

• 10/28/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY NOTICED AN OIL LEAK ON FLOOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED IT WAS ENGINE HEAD GASKETS THAT CAUSED THE LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NEW VEHICLES HAVE CORRECTED, BUT DIFFERENT TYPE/STYLE OF HEAD GASKETS. HEAD GASKETS ARE YET TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

• 10/25/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THERE IS AN OIL LEAK AT THE HEAD GASKETS, CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OUT.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTEED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED ENGINEHEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 10/24/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BAD HEAD GASKET /AND CAR LOSING OIL , I WAS EVENTUALLY PUTTING 2 QUARTS IN A WEEK. REPAIR MAN SAID THIS WAS HIS 25TH DODGE , NEON WITH THIS PROBLEM. HE CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL.*AK