Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Dodge Neon, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 55 | 33% |
| Suspension | 20 | 12% |
| Air bags | 11 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 6% |
| Power train | 10 | 6% |
| Visibility | 8 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 3% |
| Steering | 4 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 2% |
| Steering | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
RECENTLY BOUGHT A 99 DODGE NEON. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS WHOLE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTENTIMES THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE THE COLD SODERS ON THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK THROUGH THE COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
ON 5/614, I NOTICED A SHREDDED PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM A BLUE TARP WAS UNDER MY 1999 DODGE NEON. APPARENTLY IT HAD BLOWN UNDER THE CAR BY THE WIND. I PULLED THE PLASTIC PIECE OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR, AND IN SO DOING I HEARD
NHTSA complaint: Structure
4 YEAR OLD CHILD IN CAR RAN TO GET KEYS DIDN'T KNOW WAS IN SWITCH. CHILD TURNED KEY ON DID NOT START. BUMPED SHIFTER RAN OVER BANK IN TO HIGHWAY OVER ANOTHER BANK. CHILD WAS VERY LUCKY HAD MASHED THUMB. CAR WAS NOT FI
NHTSA complaint: Power train
A 20" AREA ON RIGHT-HAND SIDE BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WINDOW WITH MIRROR OBSTRUCTING VIEW FROM DRIVER WHOSE SEAT IS FORWARD BECAUSE OF HEIGHT. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I HAVE A DODGE NEON WHICH KEEPS STALLING IN TRAFFIC. IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. IT IS 1999 MODEL. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAVE A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A SERVICE BULLITEN WAS ISSUED: HTTP://IMG.VILLAGEPHOTOS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I WAS DRIVING AND WHILE TURNING ONTO BUSY INTERSECTION MY 1999 INTREPID ES 2.7 STOPPED. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED REWIRING BUT THEN SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE THEM DISMANTLE MY ENGINE AND RETURN IT TO ME WITHOUT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 Dodge Neon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
| Reliability raw | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 55 of them (33%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.