IllustrationWHEN ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CLUTCH WENT OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL ACCELERATION. ALSO, CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT 15 THOUSAND MILES. CLUTCH AND THE FLYWHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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.
About this comparison →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
50–25K
525–50K
1350–75K
375–100K
2100–150K
2150K+
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 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 41000 ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART.*AK
I HAD AN OIL LEAK SO I WENT TO GAINESVILLE DODGE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ANE OIL CHANGE. I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REWORKED. LATER THAT AFTERNOON A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF GAINESVILLE DODGE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR AND THE DEALER HAD BEEN REPLACING THE PART UNDER THE GOODWILL POLICY. *AK
GASKET, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, FAILED AND NOW LEAKS 1 QT OF OIL A WEEK. *AK
HEAD GASKET WENT OUT IN VEHICLE AND CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YRS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.CHRYSLER STATED THAT THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN NEONS?TRUNCK WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN WITH OUT SUPPORT.CHRYSLER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL?IT FALLS EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND.TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR SUCH A…
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HEAD GASKET WENT OUT IN VEHICLE AND CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YRS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.CHRYSLER STATED THAT THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN NEONS?TRUNCK WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN WITH OUT SUPPORT.CHRYSLER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL?IT FALLS EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND.TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR SUCH A NEW VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, OR DRIVING THROUGH SEVERAL PUDDLES, CAR BEGINS TO GRIND AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IT SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AS WELL, AS GOING UP A HILL IS A STRUGGLE WITH THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR MISS INCIDENTS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO STIMULATE THE PROBLEM WHEN …
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WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, OR DRIVING THROUGH SEVERAL PUDDLES, CAR BEGINS TO GRIND AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IT SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AS WELL, AS GOING UP A HILL IS A STRUGGLE WITH THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR MISS INCIDENTS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO STIMULATE THE PROBLEM WHEN I REPORTED IT (WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTEE) BUT WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM OR TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND, LESS SERIOUS PROBLEM, SAFETYWISE, IS THE MASSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD. THE CAR REQUIRES 1 TO 2 QUARTS OF OIL AT EVERY GASOLINE FILLUP. THIS COULD CONCEIVABLY, IF WENT UNCHECKED CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK
HAD VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ENGINE OIL LEAK TWICE IN SAME MONTH - STILL LEAKED SAME DAY GOT BACK FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER SECOND TIME. *AK
DRIVING WHILE RAINING, VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISE, SOMETIMES STALLS COMPLETELY OR LOSES STEERING POWER. LOCAL DODGE DEALER INFORMED, CANNOT REPLICATE, STATES OTHER NEONS WITH SAME PROBLEM
WATER HOSE POPPED OFF FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE OVERHEATED 2 BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE HOME. DEALER HAS REPLACED IT TWICE . BUT IT KEPT COMING OFF. DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYMORE. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE02082 · 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.