Most common 1996 Plymouth Breeze problems
Share of the 182 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Plymouth Breeze complaints by model year
Best Breeze years: 2000, 1999. Compare all years →
1996 Plymouth Breeze recalls (6)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.
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.
Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The secondary hood latch spring can disengage from its retention hole if the hood is slammed shut.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch spring with a longer end hook spring.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
The brake master cylinder can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Corrosion of the ABS hydraulic control unit can cause the solenoid valves to stick in the open position.
Remedy: Dealers will install a plate and silicone grease injected into the solenoid cavity to eliminate the potential for this condition.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1996 Plymouth Breeze:
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
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…
What 1996 Plymouth Breeze owners say
Engine & cooling all 95 →
Brakes needed replacing 4 months after buying car. Dealer said was not under warranty. Had complete brake job on front 2 times, 1 on rear, cylinder replaced, shoes replaced, brakes still do not work properly, something comes loose if pressed suddenly causing car to slide and not stop. Pads have been replaced numerous times due to quick wear out. Accident could have been avoided if brakes worked properly. Car does not stop efficiently. Also,engine head gasket was replaced under warranty. Engine has been leaking oil again since 7/98. Dealer maintains that I will have to repair because out of warranty. Oil light does not work to warn when oil is low. Constantly adding oil to keep at proper level. Parking brake has been adjusted several times but does not stay long. Fuel gauge gives inaccurate reading. Appears to be empty when not. Air conditioner quit month before car accident in 8/99. …
Oil pan design defect caused initial report ..see odi 701385..reported nov 1998 when oil pan wore thru and developed slow oil leak and oil pressure warning light failed resulting in engine seizingnecesitating rebuild at aprx $3700.. At 5114 miles later(52900) while on hoist, owner checked pan and found that the pan has again worn almost through from road abrasions during just normal operation with occasional dragging on speed bumbs ,driveway inclines ,road gutters on drive in etc. If continues to wear at current rate expect failure on the new replacement pan in 2500-5000 miles.this pan area immediately below oil drain plug is totally unprotected and is 1st area of impact when car dips for any reason enough to make contact with road. It according to the mechanic at northglenn Dodge when showed to him on hoist and ask..is a common problem with the Breeze and seen alot. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 25 →
While parked on a slight incline with no keys in the ignition, the gear shift of the floor console was able to be moved. The vehicle rolled and hit a house. The vehicle had a child inside at the time that sustained minor head injuries. The owner received a recall notice one year later. NHTSA recall campaign 04V021000; floor shift console. Please provide details.
On November 15th, 1998, my husband was driving our Plymouth Breeze on his way to work. While driving he heard several terrible, loud noises coming from under the hood and immediately loss power. The vehicle was towed to aamco transmittions. Aamco transmittions found the problem to be, the differental pin worked its way out of place, catching itself on metal. The differential pin split into three pieces (aamco believes). The differential pin made several 3 inch holes in the casing of the transmission. The transmission was contaminated and destroyed. The solution, to replace the complete transmission. The Plymouth Breeze in this report has not ever been serviced for problems other than recalls. We believe the damage started to begin while the car was still in its warranty life. We have spoken to two Chrysler engineers, two transmission specialists, and three chrylser dealership employees. …
Brakes all 22 →
I was coming home one evening from town, and my brakes failed to stop. The brake pedal went all the way to the floorboard and never once slowed me down and I crashed into another vehicle. It was a pretty bad wreck and luckily no one was seriously injured.
Brakes needed replacing 4 months after buying car. Dealer said was not under warranty. Had complete brake job on front 2 times, 1 on rear, cylinder replaced, shoes replaced, brakes still do not work properly, something comes loose if pressed suddenly causing car to slide and not stop. Pads have been replaced numerous times due to quick wear out. Accident could have been avoided if brakes worked properly. Car does not stop efficiently. Also,engine head gasket was replaced under warranty. Engine has been leaking oil again since 7/98. Dealer maintains that I will have to repair because out of warranty. Oil light does not work to warn when oil is low. Constantly adding oil to keep at proper level. Parking brake has been adjusted several times but does not stay long. Fuel gauge gives inaccurate reading. Appears to be empty when not. Air conditioner quit month before car accident in 8/99. …
1996 Plymouth Breeze engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 33 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Plymouth Breeze a good car?
Based on 182 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Breeze rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Breeze at the same age. 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 1996 Plymouth Breeze?
The engine & cooling — 95 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (25) and brakes (22).
How many recalls does the 1996 Plymouth Breeze have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1996 Plymouth Breeze, the most recent from January 13, 2004 (floor shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Plymouth Breeze?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000 and 1999. See the full Plymouth Breeze years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Plymouth Breeze problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 miles; 8% 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.