Most common 1998 Plymouth Breeze problems
Share of the 174 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 →
1998 Plymouth Breeze recalls (3)
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The right rear brake tube can contact the exhaust system clamp and wear a hole in it.
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1998 Plymouth Breeze:
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 1998 Plymouth Breeze owners say
Engine & cooling all 68 →
Tl contact owns a 1998 Plymouth Breeze. While driving approximately 35 MPH on normal road conditions, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the outside of the vehicle. The contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the front end, followed by flames underneath the hood. He extinguished the fire and the fire department arrived afterwards. Prior to the failure, the contact heard a clicking noise coming from the engine. He sustained minor hand injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and they stated that the engine was the cause of the failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 116,000.
About a month ago we bought a used Plymouth Breeze. We noticed a small oil leak and had it checked. The mechanic told us it was the head gasket. We did some research online and found out that Chrysler was aware that there was a problem with the head gasket in this model before the cars even came off the assembly line! Instead of fixing the problem, they produced and sold the cars that way, and later redesigned the head gasket and paid for some customers to have them replaced. We took our car to a local dealership, and they confirmed that it was a common problem. They told us that Chrysler had been paying to have the head gasket replaced. We were given a phone number to contact Chrysler about our car. We called the number, and after being given several other numbers and sent in circles finally reached Chrysler's "customer assistance" center. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 22 →
Dt: the contact owns a 1998 Plymouth Breeze. On 10-09-05 the car caught on fire and burned. It was parked in the driveway. The contact reported having no problems with the car prior to this incident. The fire department was called, and they said it was some type of electrical short that caused the fire. The police also responded. The fire originated from under the hood. The car was totaled. The contact had liability insurance on the car. The contact stated there was a recall concerning the power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift. He received the recall letter a tthe beginning of July-2005. He was back and forth with the Chrysler dealers since receiving the recall letter because the dealer said they needed a recall number and paper work from their home office concerning the recall. The consumer was unable to get the recall repairs done.
Check engine light came on, p0700 & p0725 codes. There are related to transaxle problems. Transmission will, after about 30 miles of freeway driving, jerk slightly, then "check engine" light will come on. Transmission then shifts poorly, jerks and slams on down and up shifts. Trans will then go into limp mode, limiting speed to 45 MPH max. Researched the problem online, there are 1000's of similar transaxle problems reported. So far, have changed trans fluid, twice. Last time cost was $150+. Replaced input and output trans sensors, input replaced twice. Cleaned all underhood grounds, reset computer by battery disconnect. Taken to independent shop, they said maybe crank position sensor or trans control computer. Took to dealer, they checked and found faulty input trans speed sensor. This car only has 63K miles, it should not be having this much powertrain trouble. …
Steering
Visible white smoke coming from engine compartment. Damaged power steering pressure line was found after diagnostic care was provided. Checked for other known issues, found recall # 06V001000 describing my exact issue and falling under similar model of car, however my car "does not qualify for that recall" and all recalls have been completed on the vehicle.
The steering column locked up which caused the consumer to strike a guard rail. The vehicle was towed home and is now in her garage. A recall was received two days later for the same problem.
1998 Plymouth Breeze engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 33 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 30 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Plymouth Breeze a good car?
Based on 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Breeze rates average: 1.2× 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 1998 Plymouth Breeze?
The engine & cooling — 68 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (22) and steering (18).
How many recalls does the 1998 Plymouth Breeze have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1998 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 1998 Plymouth Breeze problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 19% 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.