1999 Plymouth Neon

Routine

Owners filed 62 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine14
000
Air Bags › Frontal6
603
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components3
101
Unknown or Other2
000
Equipment2
000
Electrical System2
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly1
000
Suspension1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jul 2, 201694,000 milesMI

FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPS TO EMPTY. EVEN AFTER A COMPLETE TANK REFILL. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN EITHER THE SENSOR OR DASH GAUGE ITSELF. IT CAN BE "CLEARED" FROM BEING STUCK ON EMPTY BY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTING IT.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 19, 2016173,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH NEON, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED HOT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION KEY WAS TOO HOT AND FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 15, 200940,000 milesLA

HEAD GASKET FAILURE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL CAR - CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED OR AT VERY LEAST REPAIRED BY CHRYSLER. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 6, 200698,700 milesIN

AIR BAG FAILURE. STRUCK A DEER IN FRONT OF CAR. FRONT BUMPER, GRILL, HOOD, DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER, HEADLIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WERE DAMAGED QUITE SEVERELY. DAMAGE IS APPROXIMATELY $4000. SPEED WAS 45 MPH. DEER WAS LARGE BUCK, 12 POINTS. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Jun 22, 2005100,400 milesPA

DT: THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START,.OPENED THE HOOD, LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE WIRING ON THE END GLOWED RED RIGHT ABOVE THE BATTERY. PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS AN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR. ALSO A TRUNK LATCH.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 7, 200586 milesPA

MY NEON HAS 86,000. I HAVE HAD IT FROM NEW. IN NOVEMBER OF 2003, I HAD MY SECOND HEAD GASKET REPLACED. I BELIEVE I AM ON MY WAY TO THE 3RD. I HAVE AN APPT WITH THE DEALER TOMORROW. I HAVE HAD THE EGR VALVE REPLACED AND MY SUNROOF HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE LAST 4. I HAD IT FIXED 4 YEARS AGO ONLY TO HAVE IT MALFUNCTION WITHIN 4 MONTHS. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT UNDER MY WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE LAST DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET FROM FACTORY AND CHRYSLER CHANGED THEM. APPARENTLY NOT SINCE MY HEAD GASKET WENT AGAIN IN LESS THAN 18000 MILES. 3 HEAD GASKETS IN 6 YEARS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 11, 200447,575 milesPA

NOTICE OIL LEAK ON 1999 PLYMOUTH NEON. TOOK CAR TO LAUREL CHRYLSER JOHNSTOWN PA. ON MONDAY JUNE 7. WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. TOLD THEM TO REPAIR IT COST OF $534.00. TOLD CAR WOULD BE DONE ON TUESDAY. IT WASN'T. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON DEALER CALLED TO SAY HE HAD GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEW. GOOD NEWS WAS THE HEAD GASKET WAS DONE. BUT THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING. COST TO REPLACE SEAL $334.00. I ASKED IF CAR WAS TESTED TO SEE IF HEAD GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD MECHANIC LOOK AND SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I ASKED THE DEALER IS THE MECHANIC KNEW ABOUT A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE CAM SENSOR SEAL LEAKING WHICH WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT WHEN THE CAM SEAL LEAKED IT LOOKED LIKE THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. HE SAID THE MECHANIC LOOKED AND HE KNEW IT WAS THE HEAD. CAR ONLY HAS 47,576 MILES. I QUESTION THE DEALER IF THE MECHANIC COULD HAVE MADE A MISTAKE. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS RUDE AND SAID HE DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE MONEY WITH UNNECCESSARY REPAIRS. I ASKED IF THE VEHICKLE WAS TESTED FOR THE PROBLEM. HE SAID NO. 3 OTHER DEALERS TOLD ME ON AN OIL LEAK LIKE THAT THE THEY PUT A DYE IN THE OIL AND THEN TO RUN 1 TO 2 DAYS AND BRING IT BACK. WITH THE DYE THEY CAN SEE WHERE THE OIL IS LEAKING. LAUREL DIDN'T DO THAT. NOW INSTEAD OF THE CAR REPAIRED AFTER $534.00 IT WILL COST ANOTHER $334.00 TO FIX REAR MAIN SEAL. COULD HAVE BEEN THAT ALL ALONG. NO HELP FROM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTOR. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT ALOT OF NEONS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

Equipment
Filed May 18, 2004AR

I BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL AND PUT A NEW OIL SENDING UNIT IN. NOW I AM TOLD IT IS THE HEAD GASKET FOR WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT $800 TO FIX.MY 1999 NEON ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT!THIS CAR OF MINE IS STILL LEAKING OIL AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE ANY WHERE WITH MY SON, IN FEAR THAT I WILL BE STRANDED SOME WHERE AND NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO! I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS....WHY AREN'T THE DEALERSHIPS RECALLING THESE CARS TO FIX RIGHT. I THINK THIS IS WRONG AND MAKES THEM LOOK BAD WHY DON'T THEY REDEEM THEIR REPUTTAION AND FIX THE PROBLEM IN THESE NEON.I AM A VERY UNHAPPY NEON OWNER!!!*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 200446,000 milesOH

HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL. *PH CAM SHAFT SENSOR SEAL ALSO LEAKS OIL. THE OIL LEAKED ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ON TO THE GROUND. CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 1, 200444,000 milesOH

OIL LEAKED FROM CAMSHAFT AND HEAD GASKETS. *AK THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 1996. CHRYSLER CHANGED THE PART TWO TIMES, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS. THE CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING OIL REGULARLY. *SC *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 3, 2004TN

HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, COST MORE TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAN THE CAR IS WORTH, HAVE ALSO HAD BRAKES REPLACED TWICE AND ALSO NEW ROTORS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200452,000 milesMI

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A 60,000 MILE CHECK-UP AND WAS ASTOUNDED TO LEARN THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AT ONLY 57,000. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT NOTHING WAS LEAKING THAT WOULD HURT THE ENGINE, BUT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF SOON. IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE HAD A CAR I'VE NEVER HAD A LEAKING HEAD GASKET AND AT 57,000, TOO. MY LAST CAR, ALSO A PLYMOUTH, HAD OVER 127,000 MILES ON IT AND I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. I DO NOT MISUSE MY VEHICLE, I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3 TO 6,000 MILES AND DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP IT TROUBLE FREE.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200439,000 milesCA

THE HIGH PRESSURE A/C HOSE VIBRATED AND CAUSED A HOLE. THE CAR IS ONLY 3,000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP INDCIATED THAT IT WENT OUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY CAUSED THE PROBLEM THE INSIST THAT I PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEY SAID IT WON'T GO OUT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WILL INSTALL IT PROPERLY. THEY WANTED $370.00 TO REPAIR IT. I CAN'T AFFORD THE COST AT THE MOMENT SO I JUST PICKED UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP TODAY.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200463,000 milesMD

THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 24304 MILES ON 6/21/00 AND NOW HAS WENT BAD AGAIN AT 63000 9/15/03 AND CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR IT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 26, 2003WI

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET ON MY 1999 PLYMOUTH NEON. ALSO HAS AFFECTED OTHER CHRYSLER MODELS CHECK TSB NO. 09-05-98 FOR MORE DETAILS. CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. IT COST ME $586.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED THROUGH NEARBY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED QUITE A FEW OF THESE. IF SO WHY IN WORLD HAVE THEY NOT WARNED PEOPLE OF THESE VEHICLES THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN TO THEM BEFORE IT RESULTS IN MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. A SERVICE BULLETIN SHOULD BE SENT TO THESE OWNERS STATING THAT IF THEY FIND ANY OIL LEAKING PROBLEMS IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE PAYING ALL OR PART OF THE REPAIR COSTS FOR THIS DEFECT. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2003CA

MAJOR OIL LEAK WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE DAMAGE. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2003MD

HEAD GASKET REPLACED 24,304 MILES 6/21/00, HEAD GASKET HAS WENT BAD AGAIN AT 63,000 MILES 9/15/03 AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. *JB

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Sep 11, 2003FL

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Sep 11, 2003PA

CONSUMER STATED THAT MIDDLE SEAT BELT PLASTIC CAP BROKE OFF, AND SHE COULD NOT TIGHTEN THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT JUST SLIDES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 30, 200390,000 milesMI

I'VE JUST RECENTLY HAD TO PUT $900.00 INTO A "HEAD GASKET" REPLACEMENT ON A 1999 PLYMOUTH NEON. THE DEALER AGENT HAD STATED THAT IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CHRYSLER AND UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER A SERVICE CONTRACT, CHRYSLER IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT FOR THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKETS ON NEONS AT 30,000 MILES AND HIGHER. WITH AS MANY VEHICLES I'VE OWNED IN MY LIFE, I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A HEAD GASKET. EVEN AT 200,000 MILES.

20 of 62 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200149311Fatalities reported
2000141653Fatalities reported
1999 — this page62020Routine
1998167141Fatalities reported
1997161120Routine
19963082110Above average
19954816294Fatalities reported
19943000Routine

Compare every Neon year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.