Used 1998 Dodge Neon Consumer Reviews
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Sporty looking, decent on gas, and reliable.
I own a black 1998 Dodge Neon Sport Sedan with an automatic transmission. I'm not sure how many owners its had. I bought the car in October of 2011 from a mechanic for $1600. The car has 135,280 miles. I noticed oil was leaking out the gasket seal. So I had my cousin replace the seal. And the leak stopped. My cousin also put new spark plugs in, and he noticed a couple of spark plugs were drowned in oil. I give the car it's routine oil changes every 3 to 5000 miles. I never had any trouble starting it, even in the coldest winter last year, it started fine. The car handles the snow ok. I had to replace a fuel pipe, because it rusted through. In conclusion, I think it's a reliable fun car.
Couple things people dont know
I bought my car at an auction last year. I have driven it every day and had no major problems other than: The 4 cyl has a not so known issue of the valve cover gasket leaking oil into spark plugs. This was found by a mech telling us so I have yet to replace gasket. I take the plug out clean it and it's good to go for a few months longer. Secondly is I have to put oil in it cause the oil pan gasket is bad. BUT knowing those two problems I am ok with it. It is known for bad heads and often blow. I haven't had that issue yet! But the engines are so easy to find it is good to work on.
- Highline SedanMSRP: $4,9951,876 mi away
278,000 miles and still going strong
I bought my Neon new in 1998 and have had only one major issue and that was with the defective head gasket. Other than general maintenance, it has been a great car. I just put a set of 75000 mile tires on it and I talked to my mechanic and he said it should hit 400,000 with no trouble. Have always used Catrol Syntec and I get about 30-35 in town and around 40 on the highway. I have had a few trips (recently) where I hit 45-48 mpg. Other minor issues include the leak around the driver's side tail light and my sunroof motor went out. Could not have spent $17,600 any better way.
Good car
I've had my 1998 Dodge Neon for five months now. So far its been great. I got in a wreck in which I went sideways into a twelve foot ditch. I came out completely fine. The car came out with a dent in the hood, a cracked bumper, and the driver side door was lowered a little bit. I got it fixed and now it is as fun to drive as ever. Even though it is an automatic it still gets great acceleration. It has a big engine sound to it too. It's pretty fast for a 4-cylinder.
Good Bang for the Buck
Purchased new with 1500 rebate. Fun car to drive; great gas mileage and very quick and fun to drive. Replace trunk gasket because it always had a wet trunk. Replaced heat gasket at 65k with Dodge deductible of 150, replaced timing belt at same time for another 350 while it was taken apart. Changed oil every 3k mile and looks great on the inside. Front disk pads replaced at 90k, wow thats some good pads. Replaced headlights because of foggy condition of the lens after 80k miles got them on ebay for 165 and really easy to install. Keep up with the maintence and this car will keep up with the best of them, 125k and still going. I would recommend a Neon to anyone that ask.
Its had its problems...
My 1998 Dodge Neon has had belt issues where the water pump locked up and the timing belt jumped. Then a month later the serpentine belt shredded completely and had to be replaced as well. The car rattles a lot when I drive it, and shakes bad when it idles. My Neon doesn't have much power to it either. Its got bad acceleration, (it doesn't pick up speed quickly). Also my dome light and my shifter light don't work, (I changed the dome light and yes have checked the fuses and light switch, I don't know how to change the shifter light.) Over all, I wish I had a different car, or a better Neon :(
Easy to work on, and great gas mileage
I bought this car for its gas mileage abilities and I have not been let down. I've been getting around 32-34mpg in town and 38-41mpg on the hwy. I drove it from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Bakersfield, California for less than $90.00 with gas at $3.50 a gallon. As a home mechanic I also appreciate how easy the car is to work on. At 150k miles I really went through the engine and replaced the timing belt, water pump, oil pan gasket, power steering pump, valve cover gasket set, thermostat, and it was all really easy to get to with out much trouble at all. I tell friends and family that if I get another car it'll be another Neon!!!
98 Expresso, DOHC
My Neon leaked oil like a sieve from after merely 5000 miles. Head gasket replaced under warranty at 49000 miles, and is ready for another head gasket again, with no warranty this time! I know of 20 year old cars with original headgaskets in their engines. This was to be my daughter's car, but I don't trust it. As far as I'm concerned, the car is really a pile of junk and has turned me off to any potential new vehicle purchase. I can do better buying a used vehicle someplace.
1998 4dr poor man sports car
hi I own a 1998 4dr five speed manual dodge neon its absolutely amazing well one its not your typical neon I have your standard 2.0 DOHC 16v but the difference is its got stage 2 fuel injectors and stage two fuel pump and stage 3 racing clutch and I hollowed out the caddy and cut off the muffler and installed a 200$ exhaust tip on it and it truly sounds amazing no not a car fartin in a tin can sound its fast and furious sound quality but one thing I cant figure out is it gets 48 mpg highway and 39 in town but according to the specs its 41 and 32 my neon is so fast it suprizes me ive never lost to a race best example I can think of how fast she is I smoked a 08 mustang gt and 2014 jeep and and suv mercedezes and 2001 turbo charged five speed Toyota celica ive that's just some examples here is a good one this guy has a 90's model hatch batch civic or accord not sure but we raced one day and he didn't win or loose we stayed neck and neck and after the race we pulled over and talked and he asked how much cash I put under the hood he said he has dumped 3gs so far and I said none I bought the car with 112000 on body and 60,000 on motor for 1400 bucks I used to have all the paper work on all the performance parts installed but 12/08/14 my house burnt to the ground lost everything and even two of my dogs but long story short I can do 0-60 on a good 4.8 secs flat but average is 5.3 to 5.0 secs fastest ive had the car is 135 rev limiter is set at 7500 I cant do 90 in third gear with tac at 6500 rpms yup super high geared oh and one more thing I have a aftermarket racing spoiler on it 700$ bought off a friend for 100$
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Good Car!
This car is an excellent daily commuter. Nothing fancy. It runs good and the air-conditioner is great. The only negative is the headlights which become foggy over time.
The best Cheap car Money can buy
The most fun and bang for the buck of any car on the road. What other car does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds, 1/4 mile in 15.9 seconds and slams the top speed limiter at 130 MPH, and only listed for $13,700... and there was a $1,500 cash rebate to Boot. Looks... well okay... but it was TOPS in its Road Race and Autocross class.
Great Tow Vehicle
This vehicle was purchased to be towed behind our motorhome and used upon arrival at our destinations while travelling. It served us well for six years without a single problem. Just changed out the OEM battery after six and one-half years. No other repairs have been needed.
pretty good!
Great first/second car. It saw me through several trips back/forth from Louisiana to Illinois, including all my belongings! Roomy, fuel efficient, low-maintenance, and affordable!
Good car
All in all a good little car. Fun to drive and king in corners.
Not as bad as its rep
I needed a new car. I wanted a neon. I found a 95 neon with alittle over 100k on the ticker. I never had a problem with it.then my girlfreind wrecked it. I needed a new car, again I wanted a neon. This time I got a 98 with about 50k miles. I have had to replace the head gasket but the key to not having to replace it again is making sure you replace it with the correct gasket. Being that it is 2004 you will be buying one of these babies used and the head gasket has already been replaced. Now my girlfreind needed a new car. Guess what we got, thats right a 95 4door neon. Out of our 3 neons we have only had the one problem.
flee from Daimler/Chrysler
"If you take care of it, it will last you forever." That's what the salesman said. Replaced sunroof 4 times, radio 3 times, head gasket went out @23K mi (they made me pay the coolant change when they changed HG), 8 visits to dealer to fix BAD GROUND under dash, each pwr window motor replaced, each pwr lock switch replaced more than twice.
Never buy a Neon
I bought my Dodge Neon used with 40,000 miles. Now, at 70,000 miles, I cannot wait to get it off my hands. The car is poorly constructed. I've spent way too much of my free time fixing the car. Only 3 months ago I dropped almost a grand on a tune-up. Now, the head gasket is broken and I have engine damage. Why did Dodge continue to make this car when they knew the head gaskets would go with so few miles? It's a very expensive thing to fix. For a little more money, I could have had a reliable car and peace of mind.
Piece of Junk, but still kinda fun
I owned my Neon for almost 3 years, I put 72,000 miles on it. It was OK for the first couple of months, but then the rotors started going bad, the right back speaker never would work, after being replaced 3 times, it was a very plain car with no bells and whistles. It was surprisingly peppy with the 2.0 L 4 cyl automatic, with 132 hp. Not much but I was younger and didn't need much. By the time I got rid of it it's speedometer and all other gauges would quit working from time to time which made the mileage not always work, so it probably had about 1,000 miles more on it than what it said. I would not recommend this car to anyone who drives a lot.
I Heart It
I have had my Neon since May of 2006. Purchased it with about 89,000 miles on it. Was previously owned by an elderly couple who traded it in for a newer car. I have only had one repair that is not considered a normal repair, (misfire in a cylinder) cost was about $130. I love the car, it is my first car and it is super fun to drive. Other repairs were I had 3 belts replaced (timing, power steering, alternator belts). Other than that, it is a great car. I feel comfortable driving it and I'm 6ft tall. Just wish it had power windows and locks. My only complaint is the fact that you almost feel the road when driving, and the rotors need to be replaced. I love my Neon!
Perfect first time, long time car!
Ive had this car since about 07, when I acquired it from my mom who was the 2nd owner (originally bought from a dealership). Ive been driving it since I was 16 so its been through a lot. Aside from regular maintenance this car has been very low maintenance. Ive had the oil changed about every 5k miles and a few tune-ups but this car has not asked for much more. In terms of repairs this is what Ive had to have done: -brakes a couple times in 7 years -fuel pump twice (wear in the fuel line which was unnoticed) -various parts of the cooling system Still has the original clutch after 13 years! This car lasts forever if you care enough.
Fun but big-time TROUBLE
When I found my Neon R/T, white with blue stripes, I thought I had gone to heaven. And there is no question that it is a fun car to drive when it runs but I have had nothing but trouble since I bought it. I have had the engine rebuilt twice and numerous things replaced, much more than I would expect even for a car that has over 150,000 miles on the odometer (I bought it at 94,000 miles). The trunk and right rear seat area leaks buckets of water in every rain or snow storm. If it wasn't for the consistent 30 mpg I would dump the car ASAP.
shoulda bought a ford
I bought my neon new 4yrs ago. i liked it tell 15000mi when the struts whent bad.from 15000mi to 38000mi I have replace the following; headgasket,1000$ in machine work, head, lifters, rings, pistons, oil pump, timming belt, rotors, fuelpump, ecu, ing. system, inst. cluster, torque converter, and last but not least the wiper motor. the piece still needs a blower motor and window cranks. dodge sold me a piece of crap, they know it and dont care. I HATE DODGE!
Absolutely the worst car I've ever had!
Absolutely the worst car I've ever had, and the worst dealer/factory service I've ever experienced...! Problems too numerous to list here. Quality control, vehicle integrity, and customer satisfaction are NOT Chrysler strong points. Premature failure of the automatic transmission at 8,000 miles. After several repeated repair attempts over 15 months by the servicing dealer, the transmission problem(s) were never corrected. A plea for assistance to DCX Canada was brushed off by a form letter boasting about how qualified their dealer service personnel are to solve technical problems. Not true. Chrysler has yet to learn the meaning of "customer satisfaction".
Great performance and handling
I loved this car. I had it for years. Timing belt broke at about 210,000 miles. Spent about $1300 dollars. Drove it a month and now it is smoking lilke a freight train. I want it fixed. I love the car. I drove a newer neon and the comfort, handling and performance was nowhere near as good as my Neon.
Best car I've owned
Bought the 5speed manual version new in fall of 1997, for my 50 mile commute. Has never quit on me. No repairs, just normal maintenance. The dealer called me in to replace the head gasket early on. Now has 233,000 miles and it just keeps going. I check my gas mileage every fillup, and it's averaged 35mpg. This car has got to rank up there as one of the best automotive values in history.
Great Car
I bought my Neon R/T used with only 4,000 miles on it and have driven it for 3 years now. 70,000 miles and still going strong. I had the head gasket replaced under warranty at 35,000 miles. Other than that, no problems. Everything still works as new. I am impressed with the reliability of the engine and transmission. I have really put a beating on both of them and it's sitll running as strong as ever.
Perfection; Thy Name is Neon!
This car is fantastic! I have an Iceman cold air intake on it and it gets 30/40 mpg easily with a gain in performance. I am over six feet tall, yet it is comfortable to drive on long trips or around town. I have yet to find a car that combines the power (150 plus HP) with the mpg and the room that this little baby offers. I have had zero trouble with it and I will keep it until it dies. I HIGHLY recommend a Neon to anyone who wants a performance car that has all of these pluses and still runs on regular gas.
Reliable, Fun car
This car has been an amazing vehicle. I have had it since new. It had a head gasket leak at 45000 miles, but the dealer took care of it for free. The sunroof broke on it 6 times. Those are the only problems I had with it. I had it in Germany with me, and spent lots of time in the governor (118 mph). I now have 120000 on it, and haven't even had to replace the altenator, or anything else not mandated by the owners manual.
Years have passed
I have driven this car for 5 years and it has been wonderful. It performs better than cars costing twice as much. The only minor complaints are: head gasket went out (replaced by dealer) and that it is a bit buzzy on high speed interstate driving. Otherwise, I would recommend this car to anyone!
I Keep Giving it One More Chance
This car is fun to drive, very sporty, great gas mileage (29-30). However, we had 22 service visits in first 3 years, 20 of which were for Service Engine Light! They never really knew why, but kept replacing things. After 50K miles, it mostly stopped. AC died at 50,300; after all our trouble, they did a courtesy adjustment. Sun roof has issues. One bad thing...slow- speed (20 MPH) front end collision (fender bender) completely crushed hood/fender/radiator/AC condenser! Too much damage to bother fixing, so sad to see it go.
Best first car!
I've had my neon for about a year now. I had it given to me from my parents at 98,000 miles and it now has 101,000 so you can guess that I am happy with it. I love the gas mileage and the dependability, I am not to fond of the power though. Getting on the freeway is not very fun. Overall I am just happy that I got a car that doesn't need to be in the shop every few months.
DONT BUY NEONS
This car was good for the first year I had it. In the past 2 years it has been nothing but a headache. I wouldn't recommend this car to any one. Has a low resale value. In the past 2 years I have put at least $3000 of work into it. The a/c no longer works and now needs to be replaced.
Surprise, surprise!!
This car was bought as a simple commuting vehicle. I soon discovered how much fun it is to drive. The 5 speed trans and DOHC engine were more than sufficient. However, a polished and ported head, racing cams, headers, bigger throttle body and exhaust make for a truly exciting driving experience. A body kit is being added so looks match performance.
Not that shabby
Although I did have to have a few things replaced in the car like everyone else, I was fortunate that it was under warrenty. I recently was in a wreck and the car kept me from being seriously injured. I have a neon rental car now! This one drives even better than the first and is making me think that I might try a newer neon again. I have been informed by reliable mechanics that the newer neons do not have the same problems as the others.
Neon R/T
This is one of the best cars for the money. Even after 7 years, it can't be matched on a performance for the dollar and reliability basis. I drove the heck out of it for 132,000 miles without even so much as a wimper. No only did I teach two teenage daughters on the car, we autocrossed it hard for 5 years! What other car could be had for $13,000, 7.5 sec 0-60; 15.9 1/4 mile and 130mph top end and gets 37+ MPG? To top it off it's big enough to haul anything except a sheet of plywood. All I can say is wow!
Dodge Neon: Good Car at a Good Price
I have owned my used 1998 Dodge Neon Sport(highline) since I bought it in Feb. of 2002, and have been happy with it since. I bought the car as a replacement for my 1992 Geo Tracker that was totaled in a side impact crash in Dec. 2001. So far, I have been very happy with my Dodge Neon. It runs good, it is comfortable, gets fairly good gas mileage, and is fun to drive. It also looks good (big plus to me and one of the reasons that I bought a US car insted of a import) and has a great accelartion great handling, and a great stereo!
VTEC Killer
I puchased the car new in May 98. Was'nt sure about the stripes until it arrived. Had them painted on later. Performance/price ratio is unbeatable by any mfgr. Excellent ride for performance oriented suspension. Changed to composite head gasket due to oil leak at rear of engine. Use Mobil 1 5/30 with no oil consumption since initial 1 qt in 1st 1k miles. 28/36 MPG. I have surprised many a Honda VTEC or Mustang GT owner. Body fit & finish excellent. Braking system excellent. Considering adding 03 SRT-4 to my collection.
I got the best one!
My car is probably the best Neon ever made. I have driven it pretty much into the ground, but it's still going. I had NO problems until well over the 100K mark, but it's now starting to show its age at 183K miles. Until about a year ago, the only problem was a battery that quit at 116K.
I am scared to drive my car
I bought this car new and have had nothing but problems with it. It has 34,000 miles on it and I already had it break down on me SEVERAL times. The transmission was replaced before the car even hit 30,000 miles. I am scared to drive my car most of the time because I am scared of what may happen.
Reliable and efficient commuter vehicle
Bought 5/1/2006 with 25k miles (yes, 25k). Had to get A/C compressor replaced (normal for age) and replaced a malfunctioning EGR valve. I was aware of the issues before purchase. I bought the car for $4,300 and I considered it a decent deal despite the fact that it's a Neon. I've put on 14k miles since purchase without issue. The oil is relatively clean after 3k miles (mixed hwy/city). The shifter isn't the most confidence-inspiring one around, but I've driven much worse. I averaged 28-32 mpg between May and November, but once the weather got colder my mpg dropped to 25-28 (also let my car heat up for 10 mins in mornings). Significant interior noise and rattling.
Al Court's Evaluation
The Neon has plenty of pep. I find no fault with the appearance. My major concern is the space between the steering wheel and the driver's knees when there is no tilt wheel. I have Parkinson's and it takes 5 minutes for me to extract myself from the car.
very safe car!
I think this is a GREAT car, I was in a accident where i was hit in the rear really hard, and the persons car went up under my car and just scratched my rear I feel so safe in this car,I lost my other car in an accident, this was my second car, i really like it allot. Nice design, my husband has a sound system in it and it sounds great! It good on gas,handles well. I recommend it.
OK car, but not built to last
It is an OK car but mine leakes water from the roof around the front windshield and under the glove box. One of my doors doesn't close all the way so the door ajar light is always on. I have had a crack in my oil tank and had to have my transmission replaced. My air also doesn't work. It was good when I first got it but now it is falling apart.
98 Highline-Loved it & its xtra warranty
I'm finally getting ready to trade in my 98 Neon Highline. I liked it more than I thought I would. Never thought I'd buy Dodge after my parents' Caravan fiasco, but was short on money. Salesman did not have what I like to call "Hey Little Lady Syndrome". I was smart & got the extended warranty. thru 100K miles - definitely worth it. Never had a problem until about 99,975, when my head gasket, A/C, rear main seal?, and another oil seal went. The service staff at a nearby dealership took care of it without any "Hey Little Lady Syndrome". They even invited me into the garage to show me what was wrong so I didn't think they were scamming me.
Fun to drive
I bought the car to comute to work ($4200/63K miles). I've done zero maintance in the two years I've driven it (no oil changes). It has never broke down. I wash it twice a year whether it needs it or not. It's been the cheepest car I've owned.
Neon's Rock
Dependability and good mileage. This car is rock solid. It has some road noise but what small car doesn't. 4.5 years now with nothing but gas and oil changes. Except for a bit of wind noise on the drivers side, frameless window, this car is the ultimate for price vs. performance. Unless you need a truck or have a three kids, I highly recommend this vehicle. Biggest complaints: All I see on the road is bumpers and headlights (hard to get away from that in a small car). Summary: Not a luxery vehicle but great return on investment:)
My first car won me over
I've had my 98 almost 5 years. As much as I've heard about the Neon back then, I was reluctant. Before buying I did a lot of research and drove at least 3 from each year. Now I've driven them all. I couldn't afford a new 2000 then, but I was aiming for a 98 because I noticed a huge difference in price. Once I drove mine, I was hooked. The head gasket was replaced before I bought it, so no issue there. Tranny died this year but the warranty covered it. EGR valve went in 2002. Other than that, only VERY minimal maintenance. I'm considering a new car because of age and trade-in value. If the new Neons are still out in a year or 2, I'm likely to buy a Neon again. I love my baby. I will cry when I trade her in.
dawn
runs good looks good
Best $5K I ever spent
I purchased the car used for about $4K. I knew it had an oil leak when purchased. I had to change the head gasket and drive shaft seal, and also decided to change the water pump. Another $1K invested. The head gasket was known design defect that was fixed, and I've had no leaks since. The car now has 160K miles on it and still runs great. No problems. It's fun to drive. It has a good interior and great head room for persons under 6 ft. I'm getting 36 mpg (70- 75 mph) in warmer months with good Mobil gas...generic gas about 3 mpg less. Best $5K I have ever invested. An excellent basic commuter car.
Great Car For Price
Have the Sport Coupe with manual tranny, bought new in 1998 for $13 grand. As of this post have 71,000 miles on it. Getting 32 mpg overall, 36 on interstate. Great performance and handling. It's a fun car to drive! Needs premium gas to get max performance but I "mix" 89 octane with premium to lower gas cost. In 10 years the only major problem was the water pump died. Cost was $600 to repair which was high but couldn't shop around for lower price at time. For the low price and great performance it can't be beat in its segment of the market. I also have a 2003 Neon (only made as 4 door)with manual, but it only gets 26 mpg avg. and ain't as quick or the looker of the coupe.