1999 Plymouth Neon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine oil leaks traced to the head gasket, frequently recurring and often appearing at fairly low mileage. Complaints also describe airbags that did not deploy in collisions and a mix of electrical faults such as fuel gauge and wiring problems. Reports in the sample come from both early-in-life and higher-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Head gasket oil leak

   • 17 complaints (27%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2009

   Owners describe noticing oil pooling under the car, a burning oil smell, or the oil light coming on with the level low, and being told by the dealer or mechanic that the head gasket was leaking. Many report the repair was done more than once, and some say the dealer stated the part used from the factory was a known problem. Complaints also mention oil reaching the exhaust or being told oil was entering the engine. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints under 60,000 miles and several describing repeat failures within a few years.

   What to check: Inspect for oil seepage at the head gasket area and on the ground under the car, and ask for service records showing whether and how often the head gasket has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Head gasket leaking on driver side of car. My mechanic told me the repair would cost over $800.00, and stated that a recall was made by Plymouth on my Plymouth NEON. He suggested I contact the dealership. I contacted the service department of jack powell chrysler Plymouth dodge, escondido, ca where I purchased the car new in sept 1999, and told them about my head gasket oil leak. They asked me for my VIN number. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10018398, filed 2003-05, 73,197 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070013, filed 2004-01, 52,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a crash

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 98,700 mi at 8.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2006

   Complaints describe frontal, side and rear impacts in which neither airbag deployed, including collisions at moderate speed with substantial body damage. One owner reported a head injury from hitting the interior above the windshield. Several note that the manufacturer or dealer was not contacted. Reported in crashes at various vehicle ages and mileages, mostly at impact speeds of roughly 30 to 55 mph.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been serviced or scanned for stored fault codes, and confirm the airbag warning lamp behaves normally on start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10175311, filed 2006-12, 98,700 miles

   “Vehicle was involved in a t-bone collision of 31 MPH with a 1991 ford, explorer; both air bags did not deploy, both driver and passenger have received minor injuries, and vehicle was a total loss. Manufacturer was notified. Provide any further details on this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #891395, filed 2001-06
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake noise, vibration and pulling

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 1.3 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2004

   Complaints describe grinding noises when braking that dealers reportedly acknowledged as common on this model and addressed by cleaning the linings. Others report serious vibration through the car when braking, long stopping distances, or the brakes failing entirely on a nearly new vehicle. Reported at low mileage on new vehicles as well as on older, higher-mileage cars.

   What to check: Test the brakes from speed on a clear road for vibration or pulling, inspect pad and rotor condition, and ask whether the brake fluid has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The consumer has experienced a problem with brakes. Upn applying the brakes vehicle skidded, went up on two wheels, and spun over 4 lanes, causing the consumer to run into a concrete divider. As a result, the consumer was hospitalized. The manufacturer has yet to be contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #832044, filed 1998-12

   “When applying brakes, consumer hears a grinding noise; have taken vehicle to dealership several times & dealership acknowledges this is a problem with neons. Vehicles brakes linings need to be cleaned several times a year in an attempt to prevent this noise.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020881, filed 2003-06
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Fuel gauge and wiring electrical faults

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 100,400 mi at 17.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2016

   Owners report the fuel gauge dropping to empty even after a full refill, sometimes clearing after a restart, which points to a sender or dash gauge fault. Other complaints describe wiring damage near the battery with a glowing conductor and a no-start condition, and a speedometer and odometer reading about 5 mph off. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with some at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the fuel gauge against a known fill level, look over the wiring and battery connections for chafing or heat damage, and compare the speedometer reading against a GPS.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10126173, filed 2005-06, 100,400 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10882315, filed 2016-07, 94,000 miles

Buying note. The head gasket oil leak is the most frequently reported problem, so service records and a careful leak inspection matter more than mileage alone. Also have the brakes and airbag system checked, since complaints describe both braking vibration and non-deploying airbags.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 46 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.