IllustrationENGINE.HEADGASKET FAILURE MODERATE TO SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE
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 campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView 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
Compare all Neon years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
What owners actually said
116 reportsOIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET OF MY DODGE NEON 1999. I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE ONLY NEON WITH THIS FACTORY PROBLEM; MY FAMILY MEMBERS OWN 3 NEONS ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM
HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS BAD ON MY CAR THAT HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES AND THESE ARE HIGHWAY MILES.TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEONS
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK DUE TO THE OIL SEAL HAVING A CRACK IN IT.*JB *TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUE TO STAY ON. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDS A LIGHT SENSOR BUT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAR SHUTOFF AND SMELLED STRONG WIRE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT THEN SMOKE. DEALER DETERMINED HEADGASKET HAD BLOWN.*AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO LEAK. HAD PART REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
WHLE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, AND SOME FLUIDS STARTED TO LEAK OUT. VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING OIL IS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE.*AK
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.