Total Complaints
203 filings
PLYMOUTH BREEZE · model year
203 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997PLYMOUTHBREEZE carries 203 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 10 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 BREEZE is engine and engine cooling:engine with 54 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (17) and air bags:frontal (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1997 BREEZE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
203 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 54 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 17 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 9 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 4 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | 3 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 3 |
1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION RECALL AND OTHER RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD
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.
Mileage: 58,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FILLER TUBE FELL TO THE GROUND. GASOLINE BEGAN LEAKING OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THERE WAS A HOLE OR RUST IN THE GASOLINE TANK FILLER TUBE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 10/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/06/09
Mileage: 120,000
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER EASILY POPS OUT OF DRIVE .THERE IS NO LOCK TO HOLD IT IN DRIVE. NOT SURE IF IT WAS MADE THIS WAY ????? YOU CAN HIT IF FORWARD AND IT COULD GO IN TO REVERSE IM SURE. *TR
Mileage: 910,000
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] *JB
Mileage: 82,450
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 - *NM
Mileage: 98,000
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 - *NM
Mileage: 98,000
CONSUMER INQUIRY REGARDING THE DEFECT IN THE HUBCAPS ON THE PLYMOUTH BREEZE AND THE DODGE STRATUS.*MR *NM
RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR CRUNCHING NOISE. 45.000 MILES DUE TO LENGTHY RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OF MANY DAIMLER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. AFTER 27 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH 14 VEHICLES (MOSTLY GM AND FORD) I HAVE NEVER HAD AS MANY DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION/STEERING FAILURES AS WITH THIS PLYMOUTH BREEZE. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY) FOR POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECTS. THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR AND THEN FIND SUPPLIERS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I CONSIDER THE BREEZE UNUSABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SUCH AS ANYTHING OVER 30 MPH. FOR HAVING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN THIS SITUATION IS JUST SAD. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO CHRYSLER AS I AM IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING A SMALL CLAIMS COURT CASE. IF YOU CAN FORWARD THIS TO CHRYSLER PLEASE TELL THEM THAT WE JUST WANT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, NOT HAVING OUR LIVES AT STAKE. YOU SEE - IF YOU HIT A TREE OR
Mileage: 45,000
DT: CALLER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING TRANS AXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/ PARK INTERLOCK. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT, BUT THEY DID NOT GIVE HER AN INVOICE. ONCE SHE PUT SUPER GLUE ON THE SHIFTER, AND AFTER THEY FIXED IT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE PLACE WHERE SHE GLUED IT WAS STILL THERE. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Mileage: 165,000
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 WATER PUMPS IN 3 YEARS. I OWN A PLYMOUTH BREEZE(1997) AND I JUST HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER WATER PUMP PLUS IT DID DAMAGE TO VALVES AND HEAD. IT COST ME $1600.00. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE WAY THAT CHRYSLER MADE THIS CAR. HE SAID THE INTREPPIT AND THE BREEZE ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE OF HOW THE MANUFACTURER MADE THEM.I WAS NEVER WARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM NOR HAVE I HEARD FROM CHRYSLER THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFECT. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP SAVED FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EXAMINE IT!I THINK CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT IN THERE MANUFACTURE OF THIS VEHICLE.I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 10 CAR AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WATER PUMPS IN A 3 YEAR PERIOD.I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE 1 OTHER WATER PUMP BUT IT NEVER DID DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND VALVES.THIS IS A DEFECT OF THE CHRYSLER COORPORATION. *AK
PRIOR TO THE FIRE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WALKED OUTSIDE THE WIND SHILD WIPERS WERE GOING. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THEM TO STOP SO I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE OUT. THEN ON JULY 11 2004 MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD IT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FUSE BOX.*AK
Mileage: 98,021
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE HOSPITAL, THE INTERCOM ANNOUNCED THERE WAS A VEHICLE ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. *JB *NM
Mileage: 95,000
POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AGAIN.*AK
ON 11/05/2003 MY CARS HEADGASKET WAS GOING.I PURCHASED MY CAR ON 11/14/2003 THE CAR HAD 59,708. I ONLY PUT ON THE CAR13,000 MILES FROM THE TIME THAT I HAD IT. I DID A CARFAX ON THE CAR AND SAW THAT ON 5/02/2003 THE CAR HAD 96,113 THEN ON 8/06/03 IT HAD 59,294 MILES THERE WAS A 36,819 MILE ROLLBACK.NOW I NEED TO KNOW THE TRUE MILEAGE ON THE CAR BECAUSE IF THE MILES ON THE CAR WERE TURNED BACK THAT MEANS THAT MY CAR HAS OVER 148,000 MILES AND MY MACHANIC SAID THAT BEING THAT THE CAR WAS 7 YEARS OLD THAT CAR WOULD HAVE OVER 148,000 MILES. I NEED TO KNOW THE TRUE MILES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THE FIRST OWNER SOLD THE CAR.BECAUSE IM GOING TO COURT DUE TO THIS MILEAGE PROBLEM. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MILEAGE ISSUE.PLEASEIT WOULD BE VETY HELPFUL BEING THE FIRST OWNER WAS IN NEW YORK . THE DEALERSHIP IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME WITH THE PROBLEM .I TOOK GREAT CARE OF MY CAR ONE MONTH AFTER I GOT THE CAR I GOT AN OIL CHANGE THEN I GOT IT FLUSHED AND FILED W/ THE OIL CHANGE IN MAR
Mileage: 72,920
BRAKES MALFUNCTION, ABS LIGHT ON. *BF THE VEHICLE HAD CONSTANT BRAKE PROBLEM. EVERYTIME ON PROBLEM WAS FIXED SOMETHING ELSE FAILED. *NM
THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Mileage: 103,000
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON A DRY/SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURY TO REPORT. *AK
Mileage: 123,000
THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THE BULBS DO NOT NEED REPLACING, I'VE CHECKED. AND AS FOR THE FUSES THEY ALL OK. IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S HAVING THIS PROBLEM, MY FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE(PASSANGER). ON ANOTHER NOTE I GET A SMELL FROM THE HEATER CORE WHEN ITS ON. I HAVE TO KEEP IT ON OTHER WISE THE ENGINE OVER HEATS. I'VE HAD THE THERMOSTATE AND A RADITOR FLUSH TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP. BUT EVEN WITH ALL THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR REPAIRS IT KEEPS HAPPENING. *AK
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.