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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
116Owner complaints

Model-year median: 173

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1999 Dodge Neon

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 116 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 55 reports
  • Electrical System: 13 reports
  • Air Bags: 12 reports
  • Power Train: 9 reports
  • Visibility: 9 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    611
    1996    390
    1997    339
    1998    116
    1999    337
    2000    146
    2001    173
    2002
    Compare all Neon years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Engine And Engine Cooling
    55    Electrical System
    13    Air Bags
    12    Power Train
    9    Visibility
    9
    All reported categories
    Steering
    6    Suspension
    6    Seat Belts
    5    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    5    Equipment
    4    Fuel System, Gasoline
    4    Structure
    3    Tires
    3    Unknown Or Other
    3    Exterior Lighting
    2    Vehicle Speed Control
    2    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Seats
    1

    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

    Steering complaints

    6 reports
    Clear category filter
    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    61,390 miles · Nov 7, 2004
    SteeringCrash

    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 LEF…

    Read full complaint

    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

    NHTSA ODI #10098400

    2,800 miles · Apr 8, 2004
    EquipmentSteering

    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

    NHTSA ODI #10065784

    Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2001
    SteeringCrashInjury

    CAR WENT THROUGH PUDDLE, DRIVER LOST POWER STEERING, SPUN OUT HITTING TWO OTHER VEHICLES. CAR WAS TOTALLED,AS WAS ONE OF THE OTHER VEHICLES. HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER WHO SAID "THAT OFTEN HAPPENS WITH DODGE VEHICLES."*AK

    NHTSA ODI #739021

    Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2000
    Steering

    I WAS STOPED AT A STOP SIGN. PULLED OUT ON TO ANOTHER STREET. HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS ANOTHER CAR. WENT TO SWERVE BACK MY CAR DIDN,T COME BACK. CLIPED CURB AND HAD TO PULL IN TO PARKING LOT. CHECKED CAR ON PASSAGER SIDE. FOUND A FLAT TIRE AND BROKEN SPINDLE. PART OF THE SPINDLE LOOKED FUNNY. LIKE IT HAD BEEN ALREADY BROKE…

    Read full complaint

    I WAS STOPED AT A STOP SIGN. PULLED OUT ON TO ANOTHER STREET. HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS ANOTHER CAR. WENT TO SWERVE BACK MY CAR DIDN,T COME BACK. CLIPED CURB AND HAD TO PULL IN TO PARKING LOT. CHECKED CAR ON PASSAGER SIDE. FOUND A FLAT TIRE AND BROKEN SPINDLE. PART OF THE SPINDLE LOOKED FUNNY. LIKE IT HAD BEEN ALREADY BROKE. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THIER TECHNIONS LOOKED AT IT. THEY CALLED ME BACK SAID THAT IT BROKE WHEN I CLIP CURVE. AND I DON,T THINK SO. I THINK THE METEL WAS DEFICTIVE. CAN'T SEE A SPINDLE BREAKING AT 10MI. AN HOUR. WHEN THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR.

    NHTSA ODI #728422

    Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000
    SteeringCrash

    DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #720738

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.