IllustrationHEAD GASKET LEAKS APPROXIMATELY 1 QT. FOR EVERY 1,000 MILES. *AK
1998 Plymouth Breeze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
40–25K
525–50K
1250–75K
1375–100K
9100–150K
5150K+
48 reports with mileage · 126 unknown
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 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports11 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
174 reportsWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER. ENGINE HAD A LEAKAGE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
AFTER TURNNG VEHICLE OFF KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL, THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND O-RING, WERE ALSO LEAKING.*YD
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURIES TO CONSUMER. DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, CONSUMER FRACTURED LEFT WRIST, AND SUSTAINED BURNS ON RIGHT HAND. MANUFACTURER SHOWED NO CONCERN, AND REFERRED CONSUMER TO NHTSA.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH DOWN ROAD POWER WENT LOW/ FIRE STARTED AND INSURED PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT OUT ENGINE FIRE. POSSIBLE GAS LEAK BY THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. INSURED VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT.. IF YOU ARE INSPECTING PLEASE CONTACT JOHN DEWANE AT 800-735-0701 EXT. 2336 WHO IS WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH DOWN ROAD POWER WENT LOW/ FIRE STARTED AND INSURED PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT OUT ENGINE FIRE. POSSIBLE GAS LEAK BY THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. INSURED VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT.. IF YOU ARE INSPECTING PLEASE CONTACT JOHN DEWANE AT 800-735-0701 EXT. 2336 WHO IS WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE. *AK
I HAVE HAD THE PADS AND SHOES REPLACED 3 TIMES 01/22/00,05/16/00 AND02/02/2001 THE ROTORS REPLACED ON THE FIRST AND SECOND DATE AND THE REAR DRUM BRAKES REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND IT WAS A RENTAL CAR BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT 3 REPAIRS IN 14 MONTHS IS MORE THAN IT SHOULD BE. THE CAR HAS HAD 2 DRIVERS…
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I HAVE HAD THE PADS AND SHOES REPLACED 3 TIMES 01/22/00,05/16/00 AND02/02/2001 THE ROTORS REPLACED ON THE FIRST AND SECOND DATE AND THE REAR DRUM BRAKES REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND IT WAS A RENTAL CAR BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT 3 REPAIRS IN 14 MONTHS IS MORE THAN IT SHOULD BE. THE CAR HAS HAD 2 DRIVERS NOW IT ONLY HAS ONE MY HUSBAND DROVE PRIMARILY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS HIS DRIVING SINCE HIS DEATH I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER ARE YOU GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING. IT IS A PROBLEM OF MECHANICS AND PARTS NOT DRIVER. I HAVE PAID ALMOST 600.00 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS I FEEL THIS IS EXCESSIVE AND WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM CONSTANTLY AFRAID THE BRAKES WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN CAR BUT ONLY HAVE ONE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO WORK SO MY HANDS ARE TIED UNLESS YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU. *AK
HEAD GASKET DEFECT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM TO ALL MODELS TALKING TO THE DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS.*AK
THIS VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY- NOT RUNNING. WE WENT OUTSIDE, AND SAW THE REAR WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED WITH A HOLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE MEASURING ABOUT 2 INCHES LONG. IT APPEARED THAT IT ORIGINATED FROM THE INSIDE - AS IF THE VEHICLE IMPLODED. THIS IS BECAUSE THE BREAK IN THE GLASS WAS POINTED UPWARD (FROM THE IN…
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THIS VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY- NOT RUNNING. WE WENT OUTSIDE, AND SAW THE REAR WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED WITH A HOLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE MEASURING ABOUT 2 INCHES LONG. IT APPEARED THAT IT ORIGINATED FROM THE INSIDE - AS IF THE VEHICLE IMPLODED. THIS IS BECAUSE THE BREAK IN THE GLASS WAS POINTED UPWARD (FROM THE INSIDE OUT). IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE WEATHER RELATED AS THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN ABOUT 1-INCH AND THE OUTSIDE TEMP. WAS 78 DEGREES AND SUNNY. IT ALSO DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A BASEBALL OR FLYING OBJECT AS THERE WAS ALSO A SIMILAR CRACK ON THE OTHER SIDE BUT IT DID NOT ACTUALLY BREAK. ONCE AGAIN, THE CRACK WAS POINTED UPWARD- BUT DID NOT ACTUALLY FORM A HOLE. THIS WAS JUST A CASE OF THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON- PERHAPS THE GLASS IS NOT TEMPERED CORRECTLY??. *AK
AFTER TURNING CRUISE CONTROL OFF CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT COME BACK ON UNLESS CONSUMER SHUTS OFF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES IF HE HAS CRUISE CONTROL ON, AND HE HAS TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN, ONCE HE STARTS DRIVING AGAIN AND PUSHES THE RESUME BUTTON IT SHUTS OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL THE ENG…
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AFTER TURNING CRUISE CONTROL OFF CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT COME BACK ON UNLESS CONSUMER SHUTS OFF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES IF HE HAS CRUISE CONTROL ON, AND HE HAS TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN, ONCE HE STARTS DRIVING AGAIN AND PUSHES THE RESUME BUTTON IT SHUTS OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. *JB
Official recalls
304V021000 · 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.
99V244000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 15, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.
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.
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
2EA03011 · 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