Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I parked the car and went into the post office. I heard people stating the fire department was needed for a car on fire. I looked out the window and saw the Breeze with substantial smoke coming from under the hood. I walked outside as the post office called 911. Having a clear view of the car, there were bits of material with flames dropping from under the car. The police and fire department responded and put out the fire. The fire marshall indicated the fire started against the fire wall in the corner of the engine near the driver seat. The car was towed from site and is considered a loss.
Tl*- the contact owns a 2000 Plymouth Breeze. While driving on the road at 45 MPH the vehicle caught on fire underneath the hood. The fire spread throughout the whole vehicle. The fire department arrived, and stated that they didn't know what caused the fire underneath the hood. The manufacturer sent a technician to investigate the fire , and the technician stated that the fire was due to an engine rod blowout which caused the oil tank to heat up and spread flames all over the vehicle. The contact can provide pictures. The current and failure mileage were both 100,000.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Plymouth Breeze. While driving 30 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle was smoking. He pulled over and shortly afterwards, the vehicle burst into flames. The dealer stated that excessive oil caused the fire. The current and failure mileages were 120,000.
It seems as though everyone that owns a Plymouth Breeze must replace a head gasket. I know this May not be a safety concern in general, but an environmental hazard is apparent. Considering the anti-freeze and oil that is dumped on the ground as a result of this defect. It is a very costly repair to make, and is very common among owners of these cars. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the sources to go through to address these problems. I am bringing it to you in hopes that you will investigate this defect. The average working class family cannot afford to fix these types of defects while damiler Chrysler seems to get away with this obvious problem. No one to my knowledge has died, gotten injured, or crashed due to this defect, but think of the environmental hazards due to this vehicle considering the amount of oil and antifreeze dumped on our highways every day. …
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. …
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.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
On June 29, 2005, odi opened preliminary evaluation pe05-036 to investigate complaints of engine compartment fires in model year (my) 1999-2000 Chrysler cirrus, Dodge stratus and Plymouth breeze passenger cars (ja cars). The ja cars were introduced in my 1995 and ended with my 2000.they were produced with 2.0l, 2.4l and 2.5l engines.the incident data in the failure report summary of this resume are for subject…
Power steering fluid fires
Odi has received 29 reports of engine compartment fires that appear to be related to power steering hose leakage in model year (my) 1999 and 2000 Chrysler cirrus, Dodge stratus and Plymouth breeze vehicles (ja-cars) equipped with 2.4l engines.these reports indicate that the fire resulted from a power steering hose leak or that it occurred after an extended drive and shortly after being parked - conditions consistent…
Frequently asked questions
Which Plymouth Breeze years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (95), 1997 (83), 1998 (68), 1999 (29) and 2000 (8) model years. Engine complaints make up 52% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Plymouth Breeze engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Plymouth Breeze model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Plymouth Breeze engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles; 24% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (183 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (55).
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.