IllustrationTHE TIE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ROD IS LOOSE.*MR
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
What owners actually said
155 reportsWHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING OIL. DEALER FOUND THAT HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ENGINE: CANSHAFT OIL SEAL FELL OUT, RUINED ENGINE, REQUIRED REBUILDING ENGINE. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY. I FOUND A TSB THAT PROVIDES A RETAINER TO KEEP OIL SEAL FROM FALLING OUT. ENGINE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION AT IDLE. CAN NOT FIND CAUSE. FRONT SUSPENSION: LOUD CLUNK NEAR DRIVERS FOOTWELL, MANY RATTLES. FOUND FAILED FRONT LOWER C…
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ENGINE: CANSHAFT OIL SEAL FELL OUT, RUINED ENGINE, REQUIRED REBUILDING ENGINE. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY. I FOUND A TSB THAT PROVIDES A RETAINER TO KEEP OIL SEAL FROM FALLING OUT. ENGINE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION AT IDLE. CAN NOT FIND CAUSE. FRONT SUSPENSION: LOUD CLUNK NEAR DRIVERS FOOTWELL, MANY RATTLES. FOUND FAILED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR BUSHING. WHILE REPAIRING ALSO FOUND BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WORN AND LEFT SIDE INNER TIE ROD END WORN. SWAY BAR LINK WAS ALSO WORN. NO HELP FROM CHRYSLER AT ALL. REAR WHEEL BEARING LOOSE. TIGHTENED RETAINER NUT TO SPECIFIED 185 FT LBS. WHICH CORRECTED PROBLEM.
THE SPARK PLUGS ARE FULL OF OIL
OIL LEAL...HEAD GASKET....DEFECT IN DESIGN BRAKES
I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY '97 BREEZE SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN APRIL OF 2002. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DOOR PANELS SHAKE/VIBRATE WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A BOLT MISSING OFF OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE OTHERS WERE LOOSE AND THEY GOT FIXED BUT THE CAR STILL HAS …
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I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY '97 BREEZE SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN APRIL OF 2002. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DOOR PANELS SHAKE/VIBRATE WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A BOLT MISSING OFF OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE OTHERS WERE LOOSE AND THEY GOT FIXED BUT THE CAR STILL HAS THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
GOOD EVENING, I WANTED TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER. I HAVE A 97 PLYMOUTH BREEZE THAT HAS HAD A HEAD AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 2 SEPARATE TIMES. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET AND THE TRANSMISSION AFTER IF OVERHEATED ON HIGHWAY USE (5, 2003), GOT STUCK 200+ MILES AWA…
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GOOD EVENING, I WANTED TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER. I HAVE A 97 PLYMOUTH BREEZE THAT HAS HAD A HEAD AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 2 SEPARATE TIMES. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET AND THE TRANSMISSION AFTER IF OVERHEATED ON HIGHWAY USE (5, 2003), GOT STUCK 200+ MILES AWAY FROM HOME. FINALLY I SENT MY LAST PAYMENT LAST MONTH BUT TO MY SURPRISE MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN AND THE ONLY SERVICES I GET FROM THE SHOP IS FOR MY TO DRIVE TO THEM (200 MILES AWAY). OTHER ISSUES BRAKES DO NOT LAST AND SUSPENSION IS ON THE FRITZ.. THANK YOU DANIEL RODRIGUEZ RBDANIEL@BELLSOUTH.NET MIAMI, FL *LA
MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. BOUGHT CAR WITH 14,000 MILES, REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS AT 19,000 MILES, REPLACED CAM SEALS AT 32,000 MILES, HAD NEW BRAKES AGAIN AT 39,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 49,500 HAVING SPARK PLUG SEALS REPLACED. ALL MAJOR ENGINE WORK DONE AT NEWBURGH PARK MOTORS, NEWBURGH NY. THIS CAR HAS COST …
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MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. BOUGHT CAR WITH 14,000 MILES, REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS AT 19,000 MILES, REPLACED CAM SEALS AT 32,000 MILES, HAD NEW BRAKES AGAIN AT 39,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 49,500 HAVING SPARK PLUG SEALS REPLACED. ALL MAJOR ENGINE WORK DONE AT NEWBURGH PARK MOTORS, NEWBURGH NY. THIS CAR HAS COST ME MORE IN MAINTENANCE THAN MY CRAPPY 1979 GMC PICK-UP WITH A BILLION MILES ON IT! THE DEALER JUST SHRUGS IT OFF AND SAYS THIS IS TYPICAL AND IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. I SAY SHAME ON CHRYSLER FOR MANUFACTURING A SUB-STANDARD PRODUCT AND NOT STANDING BEHIND IT! YOU COWARDS!!!!! *LA
CHILD WAS ABLE TO PULL CHILD SAFETY SEAT PADDING OUT. THIS CAUSED CHILD TO CHOKE. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER A YEAR OLD, THE SAME OIL LEAKED WAS REPAIRED. *PH *JB
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