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1999 Dodge Neon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Neon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

30 reports with mileage · 86 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

55 reports
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43,950 miles · Feb 10, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 44,000 MILES. ENGINE NOW LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL, SO BADLY THAT I AM ADDING 1-2 QUARTS 3 TIMES A WEEK. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE HEAD GASKET AND ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR RANGE FROM 700-1200.00. HOW CAN SUCH A LARGE COMPANY SCAM SO MANY INNOCENT CONSUMERS AND NOTHING BE DONE????…

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I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 44,000 MILES. ENGINE NOW LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL, SO BADLY THAT I AM ADDING 1-2 QUARTS 3 TIMES A WEEK. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE HEAD GASKET AND ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR RANGE FROM 700-1200.00. HOW CAN SUCH A LARGE COMPANY SCAM SO MANY INNOCENT CONSUMERS AND NOTHING BE DONE???????*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110290

13,000 miles · Dec 14, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH RAIN OR THROUGH A PUDDLE THE STEERING GOES OUT AND LOCKS UP. WHEN THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO TURN LEFT VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO RIGHT. ALSO, THERE IS AN OIL LEAK. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED FROM WHERE THE LEAK ORIGINATED. THE VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT 2 QUARTS PER DAY. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTME…

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WHEN DRIVING THROUGH RAIN OR THROUGH A PUDDLE THE STEERING GOES OUT AND LOCKS UP. WHEN THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO TURN LEFT VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO RIGHT. ALSO, THERE IS AN OIL LEAK. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED FROM WHERE THE LEAK ORIGINATED. THE VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT 2 QUARTS PER DAY. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ARE COVERED WITH OIL, BUT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETECT THE OIL LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103789

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE NEON. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE TO WHERE I WAS PUTTING IN A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. ESTIMATES TO HAVE IT FIXED WERE VERY EXPENSIVE. I FINALLY DECIDED TO HAVE IT FIXED TWO WEEKS AGO BECAUSE I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR. THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A GASKET PROBLEM AND IT …

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I HAVE A 1999 DODGE NEON. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE TO WHERE I WAS PUTTING IN A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. ESTIMATES TO HAVE IT FIXED WERE VERY EXPENSIVE. I FINALLY DECIDED TO HAVE IT FIXED TWO WEEKS AGO BECAUSE I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR. THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A GASKET PROBLEM AND IT COST ME ALMOST $1000.00 TO REPLACE IT. MY CAR IS ONLY FOR YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT, THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN A CAR OF THIS AGE. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER NEON OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS PART. DODGE/ CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093791

54,035 miles · Jul 3, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN THE LAST 21/2 YEARS I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OIL LEAKS ALL PERTAINING TO A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND NOW I HAVE A HESITATION WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF. MY RPM GAUGE NEVER GOES BELOW 6. I HAVE DUMPED SEVERAL BOTTLES OF GAS TREATMENT IN THE CAR ON THE ADVICE OF A TECHNICIAN BUT THAT DOES NOT WORK. IT IS ALM…

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IN THE LAST 21/2 YEARS I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OIL LEAKS ALL PERTAINING TO A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND NOW I HAVE A HESITATION WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF. MY RPM GAUGE NEVER GOES BELOW 6. I HAVE DUMPED SEVERAL BOTTLES OF GAS TREATMENT IN THE CAR ON THE ADVICE OF A TECHNICIAN BUT THAT DOES NOT WORK. IT IS ALMOST LIKE A KINK IN A RUBBERBAND. WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS THGE RPM GAUGE GOES TO 8 AND STAYS THERE UNTIL YOU EASE UP ON THE GAS. THEN THE CAR SHOTTS FORWARD AND THE RPM GAUGE GOES TO 6. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER 1999 4-CYLINDER CARS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10079241

68,180 miles · Jun 13, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON AN INTERSTATE FROM WORK WHEN THERE WAS A POP FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC IN THE MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $700 TO REPAIR. I WAS…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME ON AN INTERSTATE FROM WORK WHEN THERE WAS A POP FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC IN THE MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $700 TO REPAIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS UNCOMMON FOR A HEAD GASKET TO FAIL AT 68,000 MILES AND THAT ALL THE ENGINE'S FLUIDS WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND HAVE NOTICED THAT NOW IT CONSUMES AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES(3,000 MI). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075296

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MAJOR OIL LEAK. HAD TO REPLACE VAVLE COVER AND MAIN SEAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10060466

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ON MY 1999 DOGE NEON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN AND TOOK THE CAR TO TUFFY AUTO CENTER WHERE HE DIAG THE CAR AND REPORTED TO ME IT WAS THE CAM SENSOR AND THAT HE WOULD ORDER ANOTHER ONE, THE SENSOR ARRIVED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO IN THIS ONE AND …

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ON MY 1999 DOGE NEON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN AND TOOK THE CAR TO TUFFY AUTO CENTER WHERE HE DIAG THE CAR AND REPORTED TO ME IT WAS THE CAM SENSOR AND THAT HE WOULD ORDER ANOTHER ONE, THE SENSOR ARRIVED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO IN THIS ONE AND COULDN'T BECAUSE THE CAM SENSOR HE HAD WAS FLUSH AND THE ONE HE REMOVED WAS RECESSED. HE CALLED AROUND TO FIND THIS RECESSED CAM SENSOR AND COULD NOT LOCATE ONE , BUT DID FIND OUT THAT THE COMMON PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAM ITSELF BACK OUT OF THE ENGINE AND DAMAGES THE SENSOR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND NEEDS TO BE BACKED DOWN INTO THE ENGINE AND WILL IN 40K OR LESS MILES DO IT AGAIN THIS IS AN ENGINE DEFECT THAT IS COSTLY AND ME $150 TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR REEMBURSTMENT AND RECALL FOR REPAIR THIS IS STATED AS COMMON AMONG MECHANICS, WHAT CAN BE DONE???

NHTSA ODI #10054636

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED THIS DODGE NEON VEHICLE FROM DODGE DEALER ST. MTN GA IN AUG 1999-WHO TRANSOUTH MORTGAGE CORP WAS THE 2ND LENDER 6533 FLYING CLOUD DR EDEN PRAIRIE MN 55344 AND BOUGHT THE ACCOUNT BEFORE I COULD MAKE MY FIRST PAYMENT. PLUS DODGE LIED ON THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AND SAID I PAID DOWN SO MUCH MONEY WHEN I DIDNT AND I HAD ONL…

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I PURCHASED THIS DODGE NEON VEHICLE FROM DODGE DEALER ST. MTN GA IN AUG 1999-WHO TRANSOUTH MORTGAGE CORP WAS THE 2ND LENDER 6533 FLYING CLOUD DR EDEN PRAIRIE MN 55344 AND BOUGHT THE ACCOUNT BEFORE I COULD MAKE MY FIRST PAYMENT. PLUS DODGE LIED ON THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AND SAID I PAID DOWN SO MUCH MONEY WHEN I DIDNT AND I HAD ONLY A TRADE IN A, FORD ESORT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANICS WHO SAID THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD, LIKE THE CAR HAD SAT IN A CANEL. I ASK THEM TO COME GET THE CAR AND THEY REFUSED. THEY TOLD ME THE BANK WILL CONTACT ME TO APPROVE THE LOAN WE NEVER SPOKE. WE KEPT MISSING EACH OTHER CALL. THEN WHEN I MOVED TO FL 2001 THEY WANTED TO PICK UP THE CAR THEN WHICH THEY DID BY 3/02. IN TURN THEY SOLD THE CAR FOR WHAT I DONT KNOW. THE DEFICIENCY IS 11,703.42 AFTER I PAID 360 PER MTH OVER 9K. AND NOW THEY SENT IT TO COLLECTIONS AGENCY WHICH I SENT DISPUTE LETTERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10054507

90,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD CAR REPAIRED FOR A CRACKED HEAD GASKET AND CRACKED RADIATOR. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T THERE A RECALL ON CRACKED GASKETS I WAS TOLD FOR THE 98 DODGE NEON. GOT NEW BRAKE PADS. THEY SQUEAL LOUD AND IT TAKES A LOT FOR CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HAD TO GET A NEW THERMOSTAT ON MY CAR BECAUSE IT KEPT RUNNING HOT. IF THEY …

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HAD CAR REPAIRED FOR A CRACKED HEAD GASKET AND CRACKED RADIATOR. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T THERE A RECALL ON CRACKED GASKETS I WAS TOLD FOR THE 98 DODGE NEON. GOT NEW BRAKE PADS. THEY SQUEAL LOUD AND IT TAKES A LOT FOR CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HAD TO GET A NEW THERMOSTAT ON MY CAR BECAUSE IT KEPT RUNNING HOT. IF THEY REPLACED MY RADIATOR IN JAN 2003 WHY IS MY THERMOSTAT OUT. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INDUCTOR REPLACED ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS.

NHTSA ODI #10071031

24,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentUnknown Or Other

SINCE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY 1999 DODGE NEON I STARTED HAVING DIFFICULITES WITH IT.RANGING FROM LIGHTS COMMING ON AND OFF INSIDE AND ROUGH IDLE.THENTHEN WHEN THE WIRING ISSUE WAS PRESENTED FOR LEFT TURN SIGNAL POPPING ON AND OFF AT WILL,AND THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.STEERING WHELL…

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SINCE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY 1999 DODGE NEON I STARTED HAVING DIFFICULITES WITH IT.RANGING FROM LIGHTS COMMING ON AND OFF INSIDE AND ROUGH IDLE.THENTHEN WHEN THE WIRING ISSUE WAS PRESENTED FOR LEFT TURN SIGNAL POPPING ON AND OFF AT WILL,AND THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.STEERING WHELL LOCKING UP AND NO CONTROL OVER THE FUNCTIONS AT ALL THEN CAR WOULD NOT START.I KEPT TAKING IT IN AND ADDRESSING TO CRYSLER THAT THE MAIN ENGINE FUSE BY THE FIREWALL WAS BLOWING AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND UPON INITIAL INSPECTION THEY FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS WARDED FROM THE HEAT OF THE FUSE BLOWING AND REPLACED FUSE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY FOR IT ONLY TO HAPPEN 3 MORE TIMES!AT THIS POINT THEY DOUBLE FUSED THE LINES AND NOW THE CHK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REGISTER MY CAR NOW WITH THAT LIGHT ON AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT FAILED SMOG!! NOW IAM STUCK WITH FINANCING ON A CAR THAT HAS TREMENDEOUS TROUBLE THAT EVERYONE CLAIMS DOESNT EXIST.PLEASE HELP!!!

NHTSA ODI #10070663

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.