1999 Plymouth NEON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 53 complaints (30.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 7.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 6; 2001: 9; 2002: 11; 2003: 13; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10017599 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCONNECTED THE BRAKE LINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020881 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744321 · 2001-04-20 (April 20, 2001)
WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING 1.5 MI TO GET A SUNDAY PAPER, WITH THE IGNITION OFF, THE ENGIINE BURST INTO FLAMES. I USED TWO ABC EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT THE FIR E OUT BUT IT QUICKLY DROPPED BELOW THE ENGINE AND HEADED FOR THE GAS TANK. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE DEPT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. POLICE ALSO ARRIVED AND MADE OUT A REPORT. I WAS TOLD BY MY INSURANCE AGENT THAT I HAD "ONE OF THOSE NEONS" THAT ALLEGEDLY RAN THE FUEL LINE ALONG OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CONNECTED IN LOCATIONS BY PLASTIC CONNECTORS, ONE WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 763248 · 2002-06-19 (June 19, 2002)
I BOUGHT MY NEON NEW. IN THREE YEARS THE HEAD GASKET WENT AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND GAS TANK. DEALER SAYS BAD BATCH OF GAS HAS RUSTED OUT INSIDE OF GAS TANK AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS ALSO DAMAGED. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT TO ME THIS SOUNDS VERY EXTREME. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD BE TO ME . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. SINCERLY, ROBERT LIPLES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126173 · 2005-06-22 (June 22, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 100,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882315 · 2016-07-02 (July 2, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005763 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING & I HEARD A "CLUNK" & A "BOOM" & THEN THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT - THERE'S A HOLE IN THE GEAR BOX WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHOT THE PARK GEAR RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX - HE SAID IT HAD TO BE A DEFECT. [THERE'S ONLY 16,000 MILES ON THE CAR] I CALLED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS [& WAS TREATED EXTREMELY RUDELY BY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, MIGHT I ADD.] & THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THEY TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011268 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB A MAJOR OIL LEAK OCCURRED AT 52K MILES, DID NOT RUN PROPERLY, AND MADE NOISE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE 3 PLY HEAD GASKET SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE FROM THE BEGINNING. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 867771 · 2000-08-14 (August 14, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE THAT IS ABOUT A 1/4 OR 1/2 DEPTH OF THE WHEEL OR 4 TO 6 INCHES OFF THE GROUND, STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. IF VEHICLE WAS IN A TURNING POSITION, IT WOULD STAY TURNED/ OR IF VEHICLE WAS GOING A STRAIGHT DIRECTION, VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN. WHEN THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP IT WOULD STAY IN THAT POSITION FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OR REMDY FOR POWER STEERING. DEFECT ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 867771 at NHTSA ↗