IllustrationTHE OIL IS LEAKING HEAD GASKET NOT WORKING. HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. MECHANICS AND DEALERS SAY THEY FIX TOO MANY. NEON ENGINE LINE NEEDS RECALL. TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND OIL SPILLING FROM MILLIONS OF VEHICLES. *AK
1997 Plymouth Breeze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Plymouth Breeze do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 117.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Breeze years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
Limited mileage data: 26 of 155 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
83 reportsTHE A/C DOES NOT WORK, IT WAS FILLED TWICE WITH FREON BUT STILL DOES NOT WORK. NLM
FEBRUARY 2000, 60,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. STARTED LEAKING OIL AT ABOUT 55,000, KEPT PUTTING OIL IN IT AND FIXED THE SEALS. DIDNT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM, THEY ADMITTED A PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE OF CAR. THEY WANTED $800.00 TO FIX IT. AFTER COMPLAINING ENOUGH WE PAID ONLY 300.00. …
Read full complaint
FEBRUARY 2000, 60,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. STARTED LEAKING OIL AT ABOUT 55,000, KEPT PUTTING OIL IN IT AND FIXED THE SEALS. DIDNT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM, THEY ADMITTED A PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE OF CAR. THEY WANTED $800.00 TO FIX IT. AFTER COMPLAINING ENOUGH WE PAID ONLY 300.00. NOW JUNE OF 2001. 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS, AND 30,000 MILES LATER, IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. STARTED THREE WEEKS AGO, AND NOW IT IS LEAKING A LOT JUST LIKE BEFORE. I WILL BE CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING. AND I WILL BE THROWING A FIT TILL ITS PAID FOR THEN IM GETTING RID OF THE CAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD DISHING OUT THIS TYPE OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CRYSLERS FAULT THAT THEY ARE HIDING BEHIND. PLEASE HELP. *AK
MECHANIC SAIDTHAT CAR WAS TAKEN TO SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL FOR THIS PART DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF REPLACEMENTS THAT HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST ON ORIGINAL HEAD GASKETS.*AK
OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. *AK
MY 97 PLYMOUTH BREEZE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE HEAD GASKET, THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $250. CHRYSLER NOTES THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. CHRYSLER KNEW THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED U…
Read full complaint
MY 97 PLYMOUTH BREEZE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE HEAD GASKET, THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $250. CHRYSLER NOTES THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. CHRYSLER KNEW THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND PARTS CAN GO BAD, BUT NOT WITH THIS FREQUENT OCCURANCE AND CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NOT ONLY COULD POSSIBLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO CAR FAILURE ON A HIGHWAY, BUT IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE WITH MOTOR OIL POLLUTING ROADS AND DRIVEWAYS, THEN BEING WASHED INTO THE DRAINS. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF OIL BEING LEAKED INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT.*AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. $900.00 TO REPAIR. NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS TO ALL CARS. BUT I DOUBT IT HAPPENS TO "ALL CARS" WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES! *AK
PURCHASED VEHICLE 9/97 W/23 MILES. ORIGINAL HEADGASKET FAILED AT AROUND 50,000 MILES IN 3/98 , PLYMOUTH OFFERED TO REPLACE 50/50. SECOND HEADGASKET FAILED AROUND 86,000 MILES 12/99 REPLACED AS "GOODWILL" SERVICE; 3/01 VEHICLE HAS AROUND 119,500 MILES AND NEEDS ANOTHER HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT. CHRYSLER NOR DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED VEHICLE 9/97 W/23 MILES. ORIGINAL HEADGASKET FAILED AT AROUND 50,000 MILES IN 3/98 , PLYMOUTH OFFERED TO REPLACE 50/50. SECOND HEADGASKET FAILED AROUND 86,000 MILES 12/99 REPLACED AS "GOODWILL" SERVICE; 3/01 VEHICLE HAS AROUND 119,500 MILES AND NEEDS ANOTHER HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT. CHRYSLER NOR DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE FOR FREE. WILL COST $750.00. I CAN NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE OIL IS LEAKING ALL THROUGH THE ENGINE, SPARK-PLUGS ETC. I NEED HELP DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!*AK
ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET LEAKED BADLY AND WAS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET IS NOW LEAKING ALSO. THE ODOMETER HAS GONE OUT ALTOGETHER.*AK
CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT
Official recalls
404V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Jan 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
98V183000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Aug 6, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
97V201000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Nov 13, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.
97V095000 · Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
Jun 6, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
EA99028 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened Sep 10, 1999 · Closed Jul 26, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE99030 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened May 3, 1999 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available