1998 Dodge Neon complaints

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, MY COUSIN IS A CLAIMS ADJUSTER FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUP. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO CHRYSLER AND REMIND THEM OF THE OTHERS THAT THEY HAVE REIMBURSED FOR THESE DAMAGES AND IT WORKED. CHRYSLER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, ALL THOUGH IT WAS NOT EASY. I GOT THE RUN AROUND AND AN EAR FULL OF LIES. BUT, IN THE END THEY PAID. DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. THEY HAVE TO FIX IT.*AK

1998, NEON SPORT HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK ON DRIVER'S SIDE (NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT DODGE IS VERY AWARE OF BUT REFUSE STO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE LARGE SUNROOF GLASS TO THE VEHICLE VIBRATE OUT CAUSING AT ANY SPEED FOR THE GLASS TO FLAP VIGOROUSLY OF THE TOP OF YOU VEHICLE. NOT ONLY CAUSING POTENTIAL HARM TO PEOPLE BEHIND YOU BUT ALSO DAMAGE TO YOURSELF AND THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY. *NLM

TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND HEAD GASKETS. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH. ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK

NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK

THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE FRONT BUMPER AND APPEARS TO BE AN ADHERANCE PROBLEM.

RAIN WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE TRUNK GATHERING AROUND THE SPARE TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE. *NLM

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 NEON IS NO GOOD AND HAS LEAKED OIL INTO MY COOLING SYSTEM. IT WILL COST ME OVER A $1000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT ON MY CAR WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN 1998. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT. THANK YOU. MARY ANNE CORDALIS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

AFTER DRIVING MY NEON FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I AM FINDING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE SUN ROOF HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED. THE LAST ITEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM HAS ARRIVED. FROM WHAT I AM LEARNING, CHRYSLER IS AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. THE COST IN THE REPAIR IS SOMETHING THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO BEAR. INSTEAD WILL CONTINUE TO PASS IT ON TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I OWN TWO OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS THAT ARE MUCH NEWER AND THEY TOO ARE TROUBLESOME. *JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 60,000+ MILES ON CAR GOT IT USED AND HAVE ONLY HAD FOR 1 YEAR 6 MONTHS. ACTUALLY PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2003. OIL DRAINING FROM AROUND OIL FILTER. HAD REPLACED FILTER AND OIL STILL DRAINING AROUND FILTER AREA. TOOK SHOP A WHILE TO FIND PROBLEM BUT, THEN SAID THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPAIRED. APRIL WAS WHEN IT GOT INTO A SHOP, BUT CAR HAD SAT FROM JANUARY UNTIL APRIL. *JB

BRAKES HANGING UP GRINDING & SQUEALING. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER HAD TO RETURN CAR FOR BRAKES AGAIN. NOW BRAKES ARE HANGING UP & SQUEALING AGAIN STARTING IN DECEMBER OF 2002. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET SEAL AND THE RIGHT REAR OIL SEAL LEAKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN MANY DODGE NEONS. *MR *SCC *NLM

THE HEAD GASKET CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. * MR ENGINE OIL LEAKED AT THE REAR CORNER OF THE CYLINDER HEAD BECAUSE THE PASSAGE SEAL FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FACTORY GASKET WITH A CHRYSLER NEWLY DEVELOPED MULTI-LAYER STEAL CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. SCC *JB

THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A PART WITHIN THE COMPUTER. *JB

OUR 1998 DODGE NEON HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE LAST 2 TIMES HAVE BEEN WITH IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *JB

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. DID I REALIZED THAT I COULD GET "ASSISTANCE" THROUGH CHRYSLER TO FIX MY CAR. I HAD TO FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO GET THEM TO AGREE THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. FINALLY EIGHT MONTHS LATER MY CAR IS IN THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRED AT ONLY 50% OF THE COST AT MY EXPENSE. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM, CONTACT THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION OFFICE IN MICHIGAN AND TELL THEM YOU WANT A DISTRICT REP TO COME TO YOUR DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH "ASSISTANCE" THEY WILL PROVIDE YOU. DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. THEY WILL PAY FOR PARTIAL REPAIRS. *NLM

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL, THE DEALER REPLACED IT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND DIE OUT.TS

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAL OF THE CRANKSHAFT WHICH IS LEAKING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

1998 DODGE NEON HS 2 DOOR MODEL HAS HAD AN OIL LEAK FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TODAY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SHOP OWNER TOLD ME OF 4 OTHER NEONS HE HAS HAD TO SERVICE FOR THE SAME BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT NEON OWNERS ARE LUCKY IF THEIR CAR HITS 40,000 MILES WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH NEONS AND THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ALSO. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD COST ME 550.00 TO FIX. IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED RIGHT NOW, BUT I FEEL A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER SNOWY OR RAINY CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A SLIDE. CONSUMER STATES ALMOST RAN INTO A DITCH AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

OIL LEAKING IN DRIVEWAY, TOOK FOR INSPECTION IMMEDIATELY (SAME DAY IT WAS NOTICED ON A NEW DRIVEWAY). INSPECTOR NOTES HEAD GASKET LEAK THIS MOTOR SHOULD BE ON A RECALL LIST WITH AS MANY AS THEY HAVE SEEN ON THIS MODEL. SCC ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770859****

CONSUMER STATES HIS AUTO HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR MONTHS. HE FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET. HE THINKS THAT THIS IS A BAD MOTOR, BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. TS

HEAD GASKET FAILED, WATER LEAKED INTO RADIATOR. HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, HOSES, AND FLUSH RADIATOR. TOTAL REPAIR $1600 CAR HAD 65000 MILES. I NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. DEALER CLAIMS THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. TS

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET - 98 NEON. DT

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

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

I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL I REACHED 80,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED A QT. OIL LOSS AT MY OIL CHANGE (EVERY 3000 MILES). I CALLED MY FATHER WHOM IS A AUTO MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES WHERE. HE ADVISED ME TO INSPECT THE DRIVES SIDE, AFTER OUTBOARD PORTION ON MY ENGINE WHERE THE HEAD AND BLOCK BOLT TOGETHER, FOR AND OIL LEAK. THIS IS WHERE MY MOTHERS 1996 NEON IS LEAKING OIL FROM. AND SURE ENOUGH, THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFED. I WAS TOLD FOR $900.00 AND SOME ODD DOLLARDS MY CAR COULD BE REPAIRED. DT

1998 DODGE NEON. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768023

I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ON 8/22/2002 AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IT MAY NOT BE A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT COULD LEAVE A MOTORIST STRANDED. THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE HEADGASKET BUT WILL NOT RECALL THIS PRODUCT DEFECT DESPITE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*AK

MY CAR OVERHEATED SO I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT ANY FURTHER BECAUSE IF IT GETS EMPTY IT COULD BLOW MY ENGINE ALSO COULD GET SO HOT AND CAUSE A FIRE.*AK

A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ON 9/08/1998 ON THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER OR THE DODGE. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW CHRYSLER VEHICLES BEFORE (1993 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER). THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROBLEM WILL DETERMINE, IF I PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN.*AK

OIL LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

GASKET RIPPED AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK OUT. GASKET WAS REPACED. ON JULY 27TH, RIPPED AGAIN AND CAUSED MOTOR TO SEIZE UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHENEVER IT RAINS REAR BENCH SEAT FLOOR, DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE ,THERE IS A PUDDLE OF WATER. CONSUMER FEELS WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE TRUNK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE, WHEN INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER PERFORMED REPAIR FOR WARRANTIE COST PLUS OIL CHANGE CHARGE. WANTED TO REPORT AS HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THERE WILL BE A RECALL ORDERED*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED LACK OF POWER, MECHANIC DETERMINED HEADGASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

MAJOR OIL LEAK AT HEADGASKET. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES FAULTY ORIGINAL PART ON ALL DODGE NEONS, BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBLITY. RECALL OR COMPENSATION BY CHRYSLER SHOULD BE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, MECHANIC STATES THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. NLM *YD

THE CONSUMER STATES THE OIL IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES ALTHOUGH IT IS A SLOW PROCESS MORE PROBLEM ARE DEVELOPING. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. NLM