Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While waiting at a toll booth, transmission failed to operate properly. Would catch off and on to move forward. Prior to this problem, transmission was making a whining sound. Had taken vehicle to dealership and was informed that whining noise indicated defective transmission, which would need to be replaced. Dealer replaced transmission.
While driving on highway at 40, vehicle came to a complete stop and consumer was almost rear ended. Towed to dealer,and they said it was the transmission. Second and forth gears got so hot that they melted together, causing transmission to freeze up.
Dt: consumer states that 1999 Plymouth Breeze caught on fire and burned completely. Consumers parked the car and turned off the engine, and 5 minutes later consumer was notified that vehicle was on fire. The fire started under the hood around the engine compartment. The battery was severely burned and it looked like the fire May have started there. A week earlier NHTSA recall 04V021000 repairs were done. The fire department came and extinguished the fire. Fire and police reports were issued.
When the gear shifter was put into reverse, the vehicle suddenly accelerated at a high rate of speed and stopped when it crashed into a deck. The consumer's foot was depressed on the brake pedal when this occurred. Prior to the incident, the vehicle had an on going problem with the shifter jumping out of gear. The floor shift ignition-park interlock 04V021000 recall was performed a year ago. The vehicle is currently at a collision shop being serviced. The cause of the failures has yet to be determined.
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. …
I noticed a whining noise coming from the front end of my 1997 Plymouth Breeze from a minimum speed of 25 MPH and more. The vehicle experienced a noise in the automatic transmission when shifting into reverse and drive. My Breeze only has 40,000 miles on it. I took it to a local transmission shop for further diagnosis and they found that a retaining snap ring had broken loose and caused damage to the transmission (metal contamination, etc.). The cost to remove and reinstall the transmission, diagnosis, replacing the torque converter, and replacing the clutch discs and fluid will cost me about $2100. Is this a normal thing to happen on a vehicle with only 40,000 miles? Is there any other noted complaints or recalls that would help rectify this happening to other consumers? …
Good evening, I wanted to obtain more information about the class action suit against Chrysler. I have a 97 Plymouth Breeze that has had a head and a transmission replaced at 2 separate times. The head was replaced because of head gasket and the transmission after if overheated on highway use (5, 2003), got stuck 200+ miles away from home. Finally I sent my last payment last month but to my surprise my transmission is acting up again and the only services I get from the shop is for my to drive to them (200 miles away). Other issues brakes do not last and suspension is on the fritz.. Thank you daniel rodriguez [email] miami, fl
Related recalls (2)
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
Three of the manfacturer complaints and two of the manufacturer crashes reported above were duplicates of odi reports.the majority of crashes occurred after operators parked the vehicle without engaging park gear position; a non-functional ignition-park interlock system subsequently failed to prevent key removal before the operators exited the vehicle.most of the crashes were minor and involved minor property…
Frequently asked questions
Which Plymouth Breeze years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (25), 1998 (22), 1999 (20) and 1997 (11) model years. Transmission complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Plymouth Breeze transmission problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 04V-021 (floor shift, Jan 13, 2004); 98V-183 (park/neutral start interlock switch, Aug 6, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Plymouth Breeze transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles; 13% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (46 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (13).
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.