Most common 1999 Plymouth Neon problems
Share of the 62 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Plymouth Neon complaints by model year
Best Neon years: 2001, 1999, 2000. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Plymouth Neon:
Safety belt cinching latch plate
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.
What 1999 Plymouth Neon owners say
Engine & cooling all 31 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Plymouth Neon, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge indicated hot. The contact attempted to shut off the vehicle, but the ignition key was too hot and failed to remove from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the repairs were unknown. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 173,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Notice oil leak on 1999 Plymouth Neon. Took car to laurel chrylser johnstown pa. On Monday June 7. Was notified that the head gasket was bad. Told them to repair it cost of $534.00. Told car would be done on Tuesday. It wasn't. Wednesday afternoon dealer called to say he had good news and bad new. Good news was the head gasket was done. But the rear main seal was leaking. Cost to replace seal $334.00. I asked if car was tested to see if head gasket was the problem. Was told mechanic look and said it was the head gasket. I asked the dealer is the mechanic knew about a service bulletin about the cam sensor seal leaking which was a known problem that when the cam seal leaked it looked like the head gasket was leaking. He said the mechanic looked and he knew it was the head. Car only has 47,576 miles. I question the dealer if the mechanic could have made a mistake. …
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Plymouth Neon, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge indicated hot. The contact attempted to shut off the vehicle, but the ignition key was too hot and failed to remove from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the repairs were unknown. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 173,000. The VIN was unavailable.
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.
Air bags
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.
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.
1999 Plymouth Neon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 36 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Plymouth Neon a good car?
Based on 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Neon rates better than average: 62% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Neon at the same age. It is one of the best Neon years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Plymouth Neon?
The engine & cooling — 31 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (8) and air bags (6).
How many recalls does the 1999 Plymouth Neon have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Plymouth Neon. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Plymouth Neon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 1999 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1996. See the full Plymouth Neon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Plymouth Neon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 41% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.