Most common 1997 Plymouth Breeze problems
Share of the 155 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 →
1997 Plymouth Breeze recalls (4)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1997 Plymouth Breeze:
Steering shaft binding
There is no summary currently available
Steering shaft binding
There is no summary currently available
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 1997 Plymouth Breeze owners say
Engine & cooling all 83 →
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot it caught on fire. The fire occurred without warning. There was a report made by the police and fire departments. The fire department determined the fire started in the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. Upon inspection the dealer determined the fire was caused by the electrical wiring. No repairs have been made. Updated 4/11/2006 -
The struts failed. The cause had not been determined. The part had been replaced three times within one year. There were engine problems, the spark plugs continued to get dirty, two sets of tires were lost, there was an odor coming from the ac, there was a leak coming from the main seal and left rear corner of the head, the heater fan only worked on high, there was a tapping noise coming from the engine compartment when the vehicle was first started then goes away, there was a clunking noise in the front wheels, the flash module caused the engine light to come on and the upstream #2 sensor was replaced, the steering rack had broken, the temperature gauge was inoperative, and the ac belt was cracked. The consumer has since traded the vehicle.
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Plymouth Breeze. While driving at various speeds, the contact heard a noise coming from rear wheel drum on the passenger side. While attempting to park, smoke emitted from the rear wheel causing a fire. The failure recurred three times. The fire was extinguished by the fire department and no police report was filed.the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake system needed to be replaced on the rear tire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
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!!!!!
Suspension
Upon arriving home from work I backed the vehicle into my driveway and found the vehicle would not move and the passenger side front tire was rubbing against the undercarriage. Investigation after removing the tire found the outer tie rod ball joint had separated and collapsed. Inspection of the part found no apparent lubrication and rust appeared on the ball section. Vehicle was towed to my mechanics shop and the part removed and replaced with a new unit. I asked if the drivers side tie rod was also in need of replacement but inspection by my mechanic apparently found the unit to be intact. The removed part was discarded unfortunately but the mechanic indicated he's seen the same failure on other vehicles of the same manufacturer [Chrysler corp]
The struts failed. The cause had not been determined. The part had been replaced three times within one year. There were engine problems, the spark plugs continued to get dirty, two sets of tires were lost, there was an odor coming from the ac, there was a leak coming from the main seal and left rear corner of the head, the heater fan only worked on high, there was a tapping noise coming from the engine compartment when the vehicle was first started then goes away, there was a clunking noise in the front wheels, the flash module caused the engine light to come on and the upstream #2 sensor was replaced, the steering rack had broken, the temperature gauge was inoperative, and the ac belt was cracked. The consumer has since traded the vehicle.
1997 Plymouth Breeze engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 34 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Plymouth Breeze a good car?
Based on 155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Breeze rates average: about 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 1997 Plymouth Breeze?
The engine & cooling — 83 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the brakes (18) and suspension (14).
How many recalls does the 1997 Plymouth Breeze have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1997 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 1997 Plymouth Breeze problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 miles; 24% 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.