1999 Dodge Neon

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 116 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
60,000 milesMedian miles at failure

30 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine39
000
Air Bags › Frontal7
707
Engine and Engine Cooling6
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission5
000
Suspension4
101
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline4
010
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly3
000
Air Bags3
202
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System2
001
Vehicle Speed Control2
100

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 2, 2018GA

RECENTLY BOUGHT A 99 DODGE NEON. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS WHOLE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTENTIMES THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE THE COLD SODERS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE TO BLAME, AND ARE BAD ON MOST CHRYSLER VEHICLES FROM THIS ERROR. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 8, 2018102,000 milesWV

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK THROUGH THE COLUMN.

Structure
Filed May 7, 2014235,500 milesMA

ON 5/614, I NOTICED A SHREDDED PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM A BLUE TARP WAS UNDER MY 1999 DODGE NEON. APPARENTLY IT HAD BLOWN UNDER THE CAR BY THE WIND. I PULLED THE PLASTIC PIECE OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR, AND IN SO DOING I HEARD A DISTINCT "TWANG" NOISE. CURIOUS, I KNELT DOWN AND PEERED UNDER THE CAR AND WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE ONE OF THE METAL STRAPS THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK UP WAS BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION. ONE SECTION WAS HANGING DOWN SEVERAL INCHES, BUT NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE GROUND. THERE ARE TWO STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE, THE SECOND STRAP IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED BUT STILL APPEARS TO BE INTACT WITH NO APPARENT VISIBLE RUST-THROUGH. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF BOTH STRAPS LET GO THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THE TANK UP WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE TANK DROPPING TO THE ROAD WITH THE END RESULT BEING AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. IF IT WASN'T FOR A WIND BLOWN, 3 FOOT LONG PIECE OF SHREDDED PLASTIC GETTING SNAGGED ON MY FUEL TANK STRAP, I MOST LIKELY WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THERE TO BE A PROBLEM. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS HASN'T ALREADY HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

Structure › Frame and Members1 injured
Filed Jan 20, 2010CA

A 20" AREA ON RIGHT-HAND SIDE BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WINDOW WITH MIRROR OBSTRUCTING VIEW FROM DRIVER WHOSE SEAT IS FORWARD BECAUSE OF HEIGHT. *TR

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed May 15, 2008CA

I HAVE A DODGE NEON WHICH KEEPS STALLING IN TRAFFIC. IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. IT IS 1999 MODEL. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Aug 22, 2006134,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINE INTO THE FUEL RAIL HAD DEVELOPED SEVERAL PIN HOLE LEAKS. GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING OUT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 10, 200543,950 milesWI

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

Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft Device
Filed Dec 14, 200413,000 milesNY

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

SteeringCrash
Filed Nov 7, 200461,390 milesNY

1999 DODGE NEON SPORT - STEERING LOCKS UP UNDER VEHICLE MOTION, SEEMS TO PULL CAR TO THE SIDE. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE MOST RECENT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON A CLEAR, DRY DAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55 MPH+), A LANE CHANGE FROM THE RIGHT TO PASSING LANE WAS ATTEMPTED. AS THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR, THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME UNLOCKED, CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. NOW THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING HARD LEFT, CORRECTION ATTEMPT BACK TO THE RIGHT CAUSED VEHICLE TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY, CROSSING 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, LEAVING THE ROADWAY, PASSING BETWEEN 2 METAL LIGHT POLES, AND STOPPING IN A DITCH. NO INJURIES, COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS, OR MAJOR VEHICLE DAMAGE OCCURRED. VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM DITCH BY A TOW-TRUCK AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. CHECK OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM REVEALS FULL FLUID LEVEL, BELTS SEEM TIGHT, NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS SEEN. WILL HAVE VEHICLE EVALUATED BY MECHANIC ASAP. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2004CA

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

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Aug 12, 200456,407 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING/POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND HAD BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES REPLACED. *AK THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUE FOR THIS FAILURE (RECALL 99V-114). THE CONSUMER CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Jul 16, 200459,990 milesMI

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE NEON. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2002 AT BRUCE CAMPBELL DODGE IN REDFORD, MICHIGAN. MY SUNROOF WENT OUT IN SEPTEMBER 2002. AFTER ARGUING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH (OR THE WIRES). I HAVE THE POWERTRAIN EXTENDED WARRANTY (ADDED CARE). THE NEXT OCCURENCE (MAY, 2004) WAS WHEN I KEPT HEARING NOISE IN MY DRIVER WHEEL AREA. I TOOK MY CARE TO BRUCE CAMPBELL TO CHECK 3 TIMES, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE 3RD TIME, I TOOK IT TO BIRMINGHAM CHRYSLER AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE CYLINDER WAS CRACKED. I WAS GRATEFUL THAT MY WARRANTY COVERED THAT PROBLEM (I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS). I STILL HAVE A TREMBLE IN MY STEERING WHEEL WHEN I REACH THE SPEEDS OF 50 TO 70 MPH. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW WHEELS, RIMS, AND HAVE HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED IN MAY, 2004, BUT I STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TREMBLING. I'M TOLD THAT THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THAT WAY. I'VE HAD A '93 PLYMOUTH COLT THAT DROVE BETTER. MY 3RD OCCURENCE IS NOW MY SUNROOF HAS WENT OUT AGAIN. I JUST SPENT $70.00 AT BIRMINGHAM CHRYSLER TO DIAGNOSIS THAT THE WIRE ARE BROKEN AND IT'LL COST MY AROUND $1,000 TO FIX IT. MY WARRANTY COVERS SUNROOFS FOR SWITCH PROBLEMS, BUT NOT WIRING. I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BE SPENDING ON REPAIRS WHEN I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS OF PAYING CAR NOTES. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS BECAUSE OF THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HAD 3 CHRYSLER CARS AND NO BREAK FROM REPAIR SHOPS. I NEED SUGGESTIONS. *AK THANK YOU.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 3, 200454,035 milesOH

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 13, 200468,180 milesTX

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

Suspension
Filed Jun 3, 2004OH

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED. *MR THE CONSUMER ENTERED A PARKING LOT AREA AT A LOW ACCEPTABLE SPEED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ENTIRE FRONT AXLE AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY FELL. THE AXLE DISENGAGED FROM THE DRIVE UNIT, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WAS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO NORMAL POSITION. *SC *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Apr 8, 20042,800 milesGA

WHEN IT RAINS MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WITH GO OUT ON ME. I HAVE HAD ALL BRAKES AND BELTS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR WHEN IT IS RAINING. VERY UNSAFE!!!*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Mar 18, 200482,000 milesMS

DODGE NEON 1999 4DR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD AND BURNT UP IS THERE A REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS . *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2004WA

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

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Feb 25, 200460,000 milesVA

BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAD A GLAZE, ALMOST OPAQUE, CAUSING EXTREMELY REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING THE NIGHT, AND OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Feb 24, 2004IL

WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH SUN ROOF OPENED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. SUN ROOF HINGES BROKE OFF, CAUSING SUN ROOF TO BLOW OUT.*AK

20 of 116 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200595420Routine
200494530Routine
20032025201Fatalities reported
2002173630Routine
20011461015Fatalities reported
20003371162Fatalities reported
1999 — this page116445Fatalities reported
1998339630Above average
19973906120Above average
1996611750Above average
1995976115515Fatalities reported
19949000Routine
19933000Routine

Compare every Neon year →

Reading this record

5 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.